In a season dedicated to their colleague and opening batsman the late Ray Ramsammy the Everest Masters (EM) team held their nerves in the last over to secured a narrow three runs victory over Village Rams at Lido beach field last Saturday.
Zamin Amin of Everest Masters. (Photo by Shiek Mohamed)
Before the start of the match, Everest Masters ‘point man’ Haseeb Sheriff reminded the ‘boys’ of the masters purpose; that of enjoyment and camaraderie among all cricketers and then proceeded to reminded his players to cherished life in a small unpredictable world in making reference to our late and dear friend Ray who opened the bating for us just last October and a few months later he succumbed to a dreaded illness.
While the memories of Ray remained fresh in our minds, the 2010 season bowled off with new comer, Canadian national opening batsman Ganesh Ramsingh partnered the flamboyant Iqbal Sheriff walked to the crease. Sheriff (7) hooked and drove but only managed to find the space behind the wicket -keeper in a brief stay at the wicket. Ramsingh anchored his end and showed his class with shots around the wicket and some well executed drives as he and former Guyana U19 player Sohan Dass (15) featured in a 40-runs partnership before Dass had his stumps knocked back. Sham Ali (27) and Ramsingh (65) then build a solid 3rd wicket partnership of 80 runs. Everest then lost a few wickets as they pushed to improve on their rate. Former US Captain Zamin Amin then stroked an aggressive 48 runs while Haseeb Sheriff, Trevor Walke chimed in with a few lusty blows as the Everest Masters inning closed on a fighting 220 all out in the final over.
In reply, Village Rams appeared intent on knocking off the Everest total with overs to spare as the hard hitting Paul Salmon took control after Dass picked up C. Dowman in his first over. A ‘calm’ Amen rotated himself from either end while looking for support from his bowlers to end a partnership. H. Sheriff would deliver the crucial blow for his team when he bowled Salmon (70) and then picked another two quick wickets to set Rams on the back foot. Sham Ali and Zamin Amin then combined for the final overs to give their team a fighting 3-runs victory with two balls to spare in the 35th over.
