Opening batsman Mario Belcon finally came good with 45 runs which helped Scorpion Titans Blue Devils to a six-wicket victory over Valinis Supermarket Leatherback Giants in the final of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Dream 11 Trinidad T10 Blast Tournament which concluded at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando, on Friday.
Batting first after being asked by captain Rayad Emrit, who won the toss, Giants lost its first wicket with 20 runs showing on the scoreboard when Jahron Alfred was stumped by wicketkeeper Aaron Alfred for 17 runs off eight balls after striking one four and two sixes. His opening partner Kjorn Ottley fell for six and Saiba Batoosingh, who scored 55 in Thursday's semi-final against Tiger Tanks Cocrico Cavaliers failed to get off the mark and fell for a second-ball duck.
However, a 53-run partnership between skipper Terrance Hinds (46) and Yannic Cariah (16) pushed Giants to 97/7. Hinds had one four and five sixes.
Bowling for Blue Devils who defeated Scorchers in Thursday's semi-final, Christopher Vincent and West Indies Test bowler Shannon Gabriel took two wickets each for seven and 13 runs respectively from the six bowlers used by Emrit, who also went wicket-less with 24 runs coming off the one over he bowled.
In reply, Belcon, who scored 47 runs against giants back on June 10 and 49 against Fides Limited Scarlet Ibis Scorchers four days later, shared in an opening stand of 34 with Nicholas S'singh, who was the first wicket to fall. He scored 12 runs while Dejourn Charles was hustled back to the pavilion by Cariah, who had him caught and bowled. Vishan Jagessar joined Belcon and the pair added 36 runs for the third wicket that of Belcon for 45 off 25 balls. His stay at the crease saw him struck five fours and three sixes before he was run out by Narad Kissoondath in the eighth over.
Jagessar added 13 as Blue Devils reached their victory target of 97/7 off 9.1 overs with Belcon, who was named "Man of The Match".
Bowling for Giants, Cariah took two for 14 from his allotted two overs.
<Ramdin helps Cavaliers secure 3rd place>
Former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh, who scored 61 against Blue Devils on Sunday but followed that up with a first-ball duck the next day against Scorchers, ended on a high note when he scored 53 off 26 balls with three fours and five sixes.
The top four batsmen all contributed significantly after being put into bats by Scorchers captain Tion Webster with Ramdin's opening partner Amir Jangoo (20), Jesse Bootan (240 and Akeem Alverez ended on an unbeaten 32 in their 147/2 which is the highest team score recorded in the tournament. The previous high score was 129/4 by Cavaliers against Steelpan Strikers on June 9.
In response, Scorchers who lost in their semi-final match against Blue Devils on Thursday, struggled in their chase with Kamil Pooran scoring 31, Webster 29, and Dexter Sween 20 as they totalled 99/5 off their ten overs. Brian Charles took two for 23 off his allotted two overs.
SUMMARISED SCORES
TITLE MATCH
LEATHERBACK GIANTS 97/7 in 10 Overs (T Hinds 46, J Alfred 17, Y Cariah 16; C Vincent 2/7, S Gabrel 2/13) vs BLUE DEVILS 99/4 in 9.1 Overs (M Belcon 45, V Jagessar 13, N S'singh 12; Y Cariah 2/14). Blue Devils won by 6 wickets.
THIRD PLACE
COCRICO CAVALIERS 147/2 in 10 Overs (D Ramdin 53, A Alverez 32 no, J Bootan 24, A Jangoo 20) v SCARLET IBIS SCORCHERS 99/5 in 10 Overs (K Pooran 31, T Webster 29, D Sween 20; B Charles 2/23). Cavaliers won by 48 runs.