CUL DE SAC- Sun Insurances Jaguars snatched a thrilling come-from-behind win to defeat NAGICO United Cricket Club in the inaugural Bharo/Mc Rae T10 Guyana Republic Cup at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark.
The Jaguars successfully chased 72 runs with one ball to spare. The man of the moment was Harold Jn-Baptiste with an important 19 not out off just nine balls(1x4, 2x6).
There were four teams in the tournament: Sun Insurance Jaguars, NAGICO United, Motorworld and WINAIR Conquerors. Heavy rain delayed the start of the tourney and caused the final to be reduced to eight overs per side.
At 5.2 overs, the Jaguars were badly wounded at 48 for five with still 25 runs to get when Captain Dwayne Elgin unsuccessful dive, as he pursued a second run, found him short of the crease. He took an eternity to pick himself up from the turf, and his slow lingering walk back to the pavilion told the fair-sized crowd that his team was down and out.
By the end of that over, Jaguars needed 21 from 12 balls.
In the penultimate over of the match, the little known Jn-Baptiste smashed a six over mid-wicket into his St. Lucian supporters to ensure that 10 runs were collected in that over.
With 11 needed off the last over, everyone was focused on the match, knowing that the Jaguars were about to pounce on a now wounded opponent.
The reliable Moreland Le Blanc was asked to bowl the final over the match. All eyes were on Baptiste, but his partner in Chemeiko Landefort also did enough to create the team's winning chance. The first ball was a wide. Landefort then hit the next ball to long-off for a single. And then, Jn-Baptiste powerfully scooped a low full toss over wide mid-wicket for six to send the crowd into a frenzy. The Jaguars only needed three runs off four balls. No run came off the next ball to raise the tense level of the match with three off three required. The match was tied off the fifth ball and with one more ball to spare Le Blanc inexplicitly bowled a wide to give Jaguars their first significant win.
Landefort was left not out on five from seven balls. The other main contributors were Elgin and Joel Brown with 14 apiece.
When NAGICO batted, extras top-scored with 19 in the score of 72 off eight overs. The batsmen in double figures were Nathan Edward with 18 off 15 balls (2x4), Iassie Gabriel with 13 off six balls (1x4, 1x6) and Captain Colin Hamer with 11 off five balls (1x4, 1x6).
Brown, with two for 16 was the best bowler for the winners.
Man of the final was Jn-Baptiste while 15 year old Tyanick Honore was the player of the series.
To make the final, NAGICO defeated Motorworld by 17 runs and Jaguars beat Conquerors by six wickets.
Bharo Ragubir was present to hand the trophy to the winning team.
