Savannah Boys and Santa Cruz will contest the 2024 North Zone T20 finals after dominant victories in the semifinals on Thursday night at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex.
Savannah Boys took care of former champions Glenora Sports by seven wickets while Santa Cruz battered Barataria Ball Players by 130 runs.
Santa Cruz, joint-winners of the North Zone 40-over tournament, powered to 201 for 3 in 18 overs with Tion Webster and Daren Bravo scoring half-centuries.
After losing Kashma Mitchell (1), Webster (92) and Bravo battered 121 runs for the second wicket off only 63 balls.
Bravo went in the final over for 67 off 49 balls with five fours and three sixes.
Webster’s 92 came off only 45 balls with 10 fours and five sixes.
Kevis John had 1 for 29, while Derron Wilson took 1 for 31 for Barataria Ball Players.
Barataria, which has produced several impressive performances with the bat in the tournament, did not show up in the semifinal.
They quickly sank to 18 for 4 in the fifth over with Chadeon Raymond taking 2 for 13 in his four overs against Santa Cruz.
Dejourn Charles (19) and Matthias Ramdular (16) provided brief resistance as Keron Raymond (2/6) and Isaiah Hayes (2/3) ran through the Barataria batting line-up.
Barataria meekly surrendered with 71 all out off 13.4 overs as Santa Cruz won by 130 runs to install themselves as favorites to win the title.
Summarized Scores: Santa Cruz Sports 201 for 3 in 18 overs (Tion Webster 92, Darren Bravo 67; Kevis John 1/29) vs. Barataria Ball Players 71 in 13.4 overs (Dejourn Charles 19; Isaiah Hayes 2/3, Keron Raymond 2/6, Chadeon Raymond 2/13). Santa Cruz won by 130 runs
Meanwhile, Navin Bidaisee’s all-around performance led Savannah Boys to a seven-wicket win over Glenora Sports Club in the other semifinal.
Bidaisee took 2 for 10 as Glenora fell for 106 in 19.1 overs despite Mikkel Govia’s 35.
Leonardo Julien hit 18 off 15 balls while Isaiah Ali had 14 in a disappointing showing with the bat for Glenora.
Ravi Naidoo (2/8) and Mark Sankar (2/8) cleaved through the Glenora batting line-up to create their team’s pathway for victory.
Savannah Boys’ run-chase did not start particularly well with Sankar (2) going early.
However, Bidaisee and Isaiah Rajah (47) set things right with a partnership of 77 off 62 balls.
Bidaisee led the chase superbly to end on 31 off 34 balls to take Savannah Boys to the final with 19 balls to spare.
Savannah Boys will meet Santa Cruz Sports in the final on Friday from 7 pm.
Summarized scores: Glenora Sports Club 106 in 19.1 overs (Mikkel Govia 35; Ravi Naidoo 2/8, Mark Sankar 2/8, Navin Bidaisee 2/10) vs. Savannah Boys 107 for 3 in 16.5 overs (Isiah Rajah 47, Navin Bidaisee 31; Isiah Ali 2/30). Savannah Boys won by 7 wickets.
