Horace Diaz capitalised on being dropped early in his innings to blast a tournament-best 54 runs to lead defending champions Santa Cruz Cruzers to a commanding 95 runs defeat of previously unbeaten Head Quartes Blue Steel in the 2015 T&T Fire Service Northern Division Windball League final at the Tyro Recreation Ground, Bourg Mulatresse on Sunday.
Winnings of its round-robin five-team group with a 4-0 record, Blue Steel won the toss and elected to give Cruzers first strike in the 12-over per-team final.
However after restricting the title-holders early on, Blue Steel missed the chance to snare the vital wicket of Diaz when he was dropped in the deep by the normally sure Kylie Sylvester off the bowling of Hayden Sookraj when he waas on 17.
Diaz, the eventual "man-of-the-match" went on to be the main stay in his team's massive total of 133 for the loss of five wickets with Akil Melville adding 29 while Giovanni Sylvester was Blue Steel's best bowler with one for 19 from his three overs.
In their turn at the crease, Blue Steel never got going and following the early loss of key batsman Giovanni Sylvester's wicket for duck, folded for a meagre 38 all out with Heston Wilson and Nigel Meltz, grabbing two wickets each for Cruzers to keep hold of its title.
In the semifinals, Cruzers defeated Headquarters Black The Bravest by six wickets while Blue Steel won by four wickets over Headquarters Red Rockets.
Red Rockets were gifted third spot after The Bravest failed to show for their playoff encounter.
Results
Quarterfinals:
March 30:
Santa Cruz Cruzers def HQ White Eagles by 1 run in a super over.
Eagles 108 for 4 (Othieno Manuel 51 n.o, Darren Roberts 10, Horace Diaz 1/20, Susan Bobb-O'Brien 1/14) vs Cruzers 108 for 7 (Crayson Balkaran 33, Nigel Meltz 21; Garvin DesVignes, 2/10 Elwin Mitchell 1/15, Kori Dollaway 1/14) - In the super over, Cruzers batted first and scored 10 for 2. Eagles scored 9 for 2, in reply.
March 31:
Headquarters Red Rockets def Woodbrook Playaz by 7 wickets.
Playaz 68 for 7 (Kenneth Lindsay 17, Jameel Collins 13 n.o, Ranjeev Maharaj 2/13, Onika Charles 1/4) vs Red Rockets 71 for 3 (Kiel Murray 35 n.o, Reon Balotje 11 n.o, Barry Alleyne 1/10, Brian James 1/14)
Semifinal:
Headquarters Blue Steel def Headquarters Red Rockets by 4 wickets.
Red Rockets 77 all out (Reon Balotje 15, Curtis Boatswain 13; Larry Roberts 2/5, 1/15 Hayden Sookraj) vs Blue Steel 81 for 6 (Jeremy Carter 28, Hayden Sookraj 10 n.o, Ranjeev Maharaj 2/20)
Santa Cruz Cruzers defeated HQ Black The Bravest by 6 wickets.
The Bravest 74 all out (Lesely Sam 10 n.o, Lee Wilson 3/18, Horace Diaz 2/12) vs Cruzers: 75 for 4 (Horace Diaz 15; Ricardo Mejias 2/13)
Final:
Santa Cruz Cruzers def Headquarters Blue Steel by 95 runs.
Santa Cruz Cruzers 133 for 5 (Horace Diaz 54, Akil Melville 29; Giovanni Sylvester 1/19) vs Blue Steel 38 all out (Kylie Sylvester 12; Heston Wilson 2/6, Nigel Meltz 2/11) *Man of the Match: Horace Diaz
Individual awards:
Men:
Most runs: Jeremy Carter (Blue Steel) - 92 runs
Highest Score: Ricardo Mejias (The Bravest) 36, vs Blazers
Most wickets: Hayden Sookraj (Blue Steel) - 8
Best bowling performance: Garvin Des Vignes, 4 for 7 vs Swordsmen
Player of the Tournament: Ricardo Mejias
Women:
Most runs: Carla Bolah (Rebels) 25
Highest Score: Carla Bolah, 20 vs Cruzers
Most wickets: Nikita Frederick 7
Best bowling performance: Nikita Fredericks, 3 for 12 vs Swordsmen
Player of the Tournament: Carla Bolah