UPSL Esmeralda were thrown into the bamboo the other night as Seenath's Auto Bamboo United walked away with the Championship 40 overs title at the Avidesh Samaroo Recreation ground in Endeavour. Batting first Bamboo tallied a competitive 250 for eight off their allotted 40 overs. Leading the way was all-rounder Jamal Francis, who smacked a quick-fire 82. This thrilled the large crowd on hand and from the moment he started to take apart the Esmeralda attack, it was going to be a long night for Raffie Ali's boys.
Joining in the run spree was opener Yosif Ramlogan who was unlucky to fall just one run short of his half century. Towards the end Ryan Baksh 35 and Hospedales Singh also contributed as Bamboo went to the dinner interval satisfied. Esmeralda in their run chase lost wickets at regular intervals and Eugene Lefluer was left to fight a lone battle. He scored a run-a-ball 62 but it was not enough, as his team folded for 203 to lose by 47 runs.
Scoreboard
Bamboo 250/8 (40overs)
Jamal Francis 82, Yosif Ramlogan 49, Hospedales.Singh 21, Ryan Baksh 35, Ricky Jaipaul 2/36, Maxie DeJonge 2/50) vs UPSL Esmeralda 203 all out (35.3overs) (Kevon Edwards 43, Eugene Lafleur 62, Kareem Rodriguez 27, Keon Isaac 4/38, Harry Baldeo 2/33, Shaahid Mohammed 2/44) Bamboo won by 47 runs.