By Morris Seecharan
In the 30 over competition Sunrise team had a few breaths taking and nails biting games. Having tied a game with Flashers, and losing by 3 runs to Liberty Knight, Ravi Etwaroo was immaculate as he stopped NY All-stars batmen for a remarkable victory for Sunrise last Sunday at Kissena Park in Flushing.

Sunrise winning the toss decided to bat opening with Deryck Basdeo, Sunrise captain, and Harris Khemlall faced M. Jagroop who was not on target bowling wide and giving up extras. S. Dhanram NY All Star 2nd bowler looked more penetrating and in the 4th over had Deryck caught behind with the score at 27. Wahab Husain, Sunrise vice captain and a staunched batsman for his team joined Harris as they try to build a defending total. K. Rameshar bowling at 5th in the rotation had Harris popped up to short cover and Roopnarine Dayal caught at deep midwicket with the score at 48 for 3 in the 8th overs. Selwyn Cheong batting at 4th down was settled as he tried to lead the batting. However Sunrise experience an usual out as Kalif Salim was given out resulting from double hitting the ball with score 57 for 5 in the 11th covers.   Cheong joined by Shane Manbodh stable the batting as they aggressively hit timely boundaries pushing the total to 90 for 5 in the 15th overs.

Selwyn Cheong during his knock of 27. Photos by Loretta Cheong

In the second half Ramehwar broke Cheong and Shane partnership of 42 runs as he had Cheong caught behind for a solid knock of 27 with the score at 99. Cheong batting very responsible as Sooman bowled Shane who made an important 17 with score 107 for 7 in 17 overs. What transpired next was the collapsed of Sunrise batsmen as they were bowled out for 126 in 20.3 overs.

K. Ramehwar led NY All stars bowling silencing Sunrise bats taking 4 for 29 in 4 overs. Followed by O. Sooman 2 for 22 in 5.3 overs, M. Jagroop 2 for 24 in 4 overs and S. Dharam 1 for 18 in 3 overs.

NY All Star coming off a high scoring game looked poised for an easy victory opened with Oliver Sooman, and Salendra Arjune. Kalif Salim opening for Sunrise was hit for 4 as Sooman get off the mark. Arjune and Sooman look comfortable as they raced away with 8 run rate after the 3rd over. Khemraj Somaru bowling at #2 had the break for Sunrise as he had Sooman caught at cover with score at 24 in the 4th over. Stanly Lloyd bowling at the #3 in his 1st over bowled Arjune for 16, and right after had K. Persaud caught bringing his teammates to life with score 40 for 3 in the 6th overs.

Ravi Etwaroo had figures of 4 for 17 in 5.3 overs

Ravi Etwaroo bowling at #4 also in his 1st over knocked down the stumps of N. Mohamed, and in his 2nd over bowled Harry Juggernaut with score at 47 for 5 in 9th overs. Stanly and Ravi combination give Sunrise the defensive bowling and momentum that they needed setting this game in contention. Shane Manbodh once more came through bowling at #5 as he had D. Harripaul caught at long on with score at 64 for 6. A. Simmons batting with sense moving the ball and effectively utilizing the running game settled their batting with R. Ramehwar hitting timely boundaries as they took the score to 89 for 6 in the 15 overs during a few rain delays.

With 38 runs needed and 4 more outs NY All-stars looked more optimistic as Simmons continue his running game turning singles into double. Shane was brought back into the rotation breaking up the 40 runs partnership as he had Ramehwar caught at long off for 11 in a vital moment of the game. Ravi was brought back on as Kalif plugged the stump from long on taking out the vital wick of Simmons for 26 with the score at 107 for 8 in the 18th overs. Ravi bowling on target in his next deliver removed D. Sing for back to back wickets.

Ravi bowling brought elation to his teammates putting NY All star last pair to make 20 runs. At the pivotal point of this game and both teams fighting for the win Stanly Lloyd who started the bowling devastation was brought back to the rotation. M. Jagroop slugged Stanly first ball to long off for a catch to Kalif with everyone thinking the game was over as Kalif does not miss catches. Surprisingly Kalif over ran the ball allowing it to go to 4. Jagroop blasted another boundary to square leg and with help of loose fielding ended with 4 boundaries in the over making 16 off the 20 runs needed. At this point it seems a win for Sunrise will not come easy.

However Ravi had the ball with score at 123 and 4 runs needed for NY All star win. What seem like a daunting tasks Ravi showed determination to write the ending of this game. With Jagroop at the crease and 2 runs needed Ravi closed this game in style as clean bowled Jagroop dimming the lights off NY All-stars as they fall short by 2 runs and wrapped up for 125 in 19.3 overs. It was much celebrated win for Ravi and his teammates and finally after living on the limb for several games Sunrise pulled out a savoring victory.

Ravi Etwaroo bowling was penetrating and key in taking out NY All-stars as he took 4 for 17 in 5.3 overs. Followed by Shane Manbodh who always take timely wickets for his team went 2 for 13 in 2 overs. Stanley Lloyd most importantly laid the bowling foundation early in the game took 2 for 27 in 5 overs.