PowerGen cricket club defeated defending champions Queen's Park to become the first team in the seven-year history of the UWI UNICOM T20 tournament to win two titles.
Rain affected the match as it was reduced to an 11-over affair at the University of West Indies, St Augustine, UWISPEC Grounds. However, PowerGen going into the finals as underdogs against the powerful Parkites fought well and in the end, the team was $40,000 richer. Queen's Park the 2019 champions walked away with $15,000 for its efforts while losing semi-finalists Merry Boys and Maltenoes of Guyana each pocketed $4,000.
PowerGen was up against it early as they lost the toss with the rain about and had to take the first strike. Initially going out to bat thinking the team had an 18-over game to play, the openers Steven Katwaroo and Cephas Cooper went out with that mindset. After batting five overs, the rain came and this resulted in the match being reduced to an 11 overs per team affair.
PowerGen struggled but Steven Katwaroo with 24 and Jeron Maniram who clobbered 22 off 11 balls in the end, give his team something to work with, as PowerGen closed on 103/4. Philton Williams was the best of the bowlers for Queen's Park taking 3/19. The Parkites were sloppy on the field as they put down a total of nine catches on the night.
Queen's Park lost Sunil Narine for his third 'duck' of the series and this gave PowerGen the belief. Narine had earlier in the morning scored a century in the Seenath's Auto series.
PowerGen captain Ansil Bhaggan who picked up the Man of The Match award as well as the Player of The Series honours was difficult to get away and took 2/10. Kavesh Kantasingh also took 2/29 and the former West Indies player Dave Mohammed making a comeback took 1/22 off four overs. Queen's Park fell short by 10 runs as under the Duckworth/Lewis method they were left to chase 113 to win. Despite some lusty blows by Isaiah Rajah 28 not out off 16 balls, they fell short at 98/6.
SCORES
Powergen 103/4 (11) (Steven Katwaroo 24, Jeron Maniram 22,
Cephas Cooper 20, Philton Williams 3/19, Christopher Vincent 1/16) vs QPCC - 98/6 (11) (Isaiah Rajah 28* (16), Jesse Bootan 19 (11),
Ansil Bhagan 2/10 (2), Kavesh Kantasingh 2/29 (3) - PowerGen won by 10 runs.
D/L target - 113 for victory.
Man of the Match - Ansil Bhagan
Man of the Series - Ansil Bhagan