By Morris Seecharan
The batting offensive for Sunrise came alive as Wahab Hussein leads his team batting explosion against Horizon last Sunday at Seaview Park in Brooklyn. In back to back game Sunrise batsmen turned it on as they secure a playoff spot in the NYSCL 30 over competition.Deryck Basdeo, Sunrise captain opened with Roopnarine Dayal as they both was resilient to lay a solid batting foundation in this game.

Wahab Hussein hit an unbeaten 67. Photo by Loretta Cheong

Faced with the opening Horizon bowlers A. Jackson, and L. Person Deryck and Dayal stay to the basis batting fundamental of moving the ball around picking up single, doubles and putting away the loose balls. Together this pair stuck to the plan on giving their team an important start. Horizon opening bowlers bowling 4 overs each were not able to get an out as Sunrise opening pair was flawless at bat keeping a 6 runs average. K. Apollo the first change bowler for Horizon bowled a perfect delivery to Dayal who once more had an important open stance as he fell for 16 in the 9th over with the score at 59. Wahab Hussain joined Deryck and his bat showed sparks as he blasted back to back boundary to start his knock.

Deryck continued his solid batting as Wahab consistent batting was displayed. After a well crafted and exemplified opening bat Deryck blasted a shot to mid wicket and was caught by a brilliant catch for 27 with the score at 78 in the 11 overs. Sunrise lost 3 quick wickets including Selwyn Cheong who blasted back to back boundary was ran out for 12 with the score at 113 for 5 in 18th over.  Horizon players had a sigh of relief as wicket was not hard to come. Wahab who was punishing Horizon bowlers with his onside drive was joined by Stanley Lloyd as they both knows to stay and stop the free fall of wickets. Wahab a maestro batsman with abundance of experience knows that he needed to lead Stanley and bring his team back into the game. All of Sunrise member knows that once Wahab bat is alive they will rebound back quickly.

Stanley makes no mistake as he stood with Wahab and aggressively they build a much needed partnership. Stanley bat came alive as he was settled and hitting timely boundaries keeping up with Wahab explosive batting hitting boundaries. With the perfect batting combination and forecast for partnership Wahab mentor Stanley as batted building the perfect partnership for the moment.  After a 76 runs partnership Stanly who was going after the ball was bowled by K Jackson by for a sold 27 runs in the 28 over with the score at 190. Stanley outstanding knock put Sunrise at a poignant position as Shane Manbodh came in to finish up the batting. Shane wasted no time as he punished Jackson for his remain 3 delivers for 12 runs hitting him for a 4 and towering 6. Shane took control of the batting and showed his power hitting a lighting 25 not out 2.3 overs as he assaulted Horizon bowlers. Wahab who made a magnificent 67 not out treated his team with a batting masterpiece as Sunrise ending their batting with 227 for 7 in their allotted 30 overs.

Leading the bowling for Horizon was K. Apollo 3 for 27 followed by O. Jackson 2 for 43.

Horizon batsmen had full confidence that they will beat this runs as R. Mayes and K. Williams opened facing Kalif Salim and Khemraj Somaru. Salim and Somaru 1st over were accurate and stingy. Kalif whose bowling was attacking as his ball was moving had Mayes caught at slips as Alex Hussein took fine catch going backing and in his next delivery bowled K. William with the score 2 for 5 in the 3rd over. In his next over Kalif had P. Charles caught as Khemraj Somaru bowled T. Gill sending Horizon batsmen in shambles with score at 14 for 4 in the 6 over. Once more Sunrise bowlers displayed their bowling strength as Horizon batsmen was faced with a big dilemma to get Sunrise fat score.

With wicked falling and runs sacred to come C. Williams and O. Jackson needed to focus and build a partnership. As a partnership was hatching S. Lloyd hot from last week 5 wickets in a game was brought into the bowling rotation as he quickly bowled C. William in the 11th over with score at 39. Stanley who bowled with great passion eliminated D. Apollo and O. Jackson for 24 and the only batsmen who showed a fight as they score reads 6 for 55 in the 14 overs and at the end of 15 over read 67 for 7.

With Sunrise bowlers in full control of Horizon batsman faith Khemraj and Deryck with picket two wickets as score read 83 for 9 in the 20 over. With the last out Sunrise players felt that the game was wrapped up, however J. Jackson batting at #10 makes the game interest hitting sixes as he was help with several drop catches. After giving everyone their shot in getting this wicket Deryck Basdeo bowled J. Jackson for 22 as Horizon was stifled for 109 all out in 23.1 over. It was cherishing win for Sunrise players as they finished the regular strong winning by 118 runs and look forward to the play off.

Kalif Salim lead the bowling with 3 for 21 in six, and Stanly Lloyd continue to come up for big for his team with the score 3 for 23 in 6 overs. Deryck Basdeo was immaculate with 2 for 2 in 1.1 and Kemraj Somaru had a fine spell of for 2 for 22 in 5 overs.