By Ritesh Patel
Commonwealth Cricket League’s Premier division’s defending champions Seven Star CC, played its season opener against Pasban CC against the beautiful backdrop of the NYC skyline at the Whitestone Park cricket ground.

Prolific Moshin Khan struck 105 in Seven Star win over Pasban.

Prolific Moshin Khan struck 105 in Seven Star win over Pasban.

There has been a tremendous amount of buzz generated regarding the upcoming season, as during the off-season, most of the competing teams have upgraded their rosters with the aspirations of knocking the two-time defending champions off its throne.

For the champs though, it was business usual.  Except for two new starters, the core of the roster remained intact and returned to action, with a single goal in mind, to three-peat as champions!!!

And what a day it turned out to be for the defending champions, as they thumped the upstart Pasban CC.  In the process they announced to the rest of the league that they will need to bring their A-game if they hope to dethrone the champs. Other than losing the toss, there was nothing else the champs could do wrong on this day.

Pasban CC chose to bat after winning the toss, and posted a challenging score of 210/8 in 35 overs, with an impressive contribution of 119 from Hammad. For Seven Stars CC, Sarmad Khan, Ryan Persad (an impressive debut, as he also posted 27 runs with the bat), and Ritesh Patel who took two wickets each.

In reply, Seven Stars CC chased down the total in 23 overs, while losing only three wickets in the process.  Seven Stars reply got off to a bang with Greg Sewdial scoring 8 runs off the first two balls (with a mighty six), unfortunately for Greg though he was adjudged out on a questionable call on the fourth ball of the over.  But have no fear, Moshin Khan is still here!!!  The other half of the most fearsome opening pair in the division, played his usual cool, calm, and collected innings to steer the ship home.  Moshin, ended up carrying his bat through the innings with a brilliant knock of 105.  Handy contributions were made by Ryan Persaud, 27, and Sarmad Khan, 28 not out..

Seven Stars has thrown down the gauntlet, will anyone respond?