Spoilers clinch dramatic one-run Southern Sports victory

The Guaracara Park venue was alive and kicking near the end of Friday’s final.

Spoilers skipper Timothy Narine won the toss and batted and with scores of 44 from Nandlal Jalim, Krishna Narine 31 and Joseph Williams 15, they were bowled out for 142.

Visham Ramroop was the main destroyer taking four for 24, while Varoon Samaroo took two for 19 and Syed Mohammed two for 26.

Metronomes were soon in dire straits losing six wickets for a meagre 16 runs after just four overs, before Keegan Jagessar 58 and Geno Balram 36 brought the game back to life.

But just when the defending champions seemed to be on the recovery road and looking for victory, Jagessar was run out and then Balram was trapped leg before with the total on 100. Varma Ramkissoon (23) and Shammi Mahase saw the Metronomes total creep to 131 entering the final over with 12 needed for victory.

First ball of that final over bowled by Avalon Cuffy was swung over long-on by Ramkissoon for a huge six but it all came down to the final ball with Metronomes needing just three runs for victory.

Then came the high drama when Ramkissoon swung, missed and there was no run, Spoilers players and supporters began celebrating victory, but the umpire signalled a wide.

Two runs needed, one to tie to send the game into a Super Over, but again Ramkissoon went for the big hit only to miss. He and Mahase scampered for that tying run but the wicketkeeper collected the ball and shied down the stumps with Mahase short of his ground. It was victory for the Spoilers who had overcame a double tie and Super Over to make it into the final by hitting more boundaries against Sunrise Sports in the semis. Metronomes had to settle for the $8,000 runners-up prize money.

Kris Goomansingh who took three for 12 when Metronomes batted was adjudged Man-of-the-Match and collected $1,000 and a $3,000 Sunny SG bat, while Keegan Jagessar (Metronomes) got $1,000 for his finals top score of 58.

Summarised scores: SPOILERS 142 - Nandlal Jalim 44, Krishna Narine 31, Visham Ramroop 4/24, Varoon Samaroo 2/19, Syed Mohammed 2/26 vs METRONOMES 141 - Keegan Jaggesar 58, Geno Balram 36, Varma Ramkissoon 23, Kris Goomansingh 3/12, Timothy Narine 3/24, Shammi Rampersad 2/25.