Atlantis Guyana Tour 2012
By John L. Aaron
Georgetown, Guyana – July 19: Atlantis Cricket Club – NY yesterday started off its 2012 Guyana Tour on a winning note defeating the Guyana Police Officers in a 12-overs encounter at the latter ‘s Eve Leary headquarters ground.
Atlantis' Secretary John Aaron (right) hands over a commemorative plaque to Assistant Guyana Police Commissioner Gavin Primo. Looking on at left is Atlantis' Tour Liaison Officer Leslie "Tulu" Lewis and at center with hat is EACA's VP Courtney LeGall.
Winning the toss and electing to take first strike because the Atlantis’ batting line up needed practice having not played a match in the EACA for almost two weeks, the New York based team quickly adjusted to the heat and humidity and the immaculately manicured fast outfield hitting 117 for the loss of three wickets off the agreed upon 12 overs. The match was shortened because the team’s flight was delayed out of JFK in New York and arrived in Guyana at Noon having camped out at the New York airport since midnight on Wednesday.
After losing wicketkeeper/opener and newly-wed Ryan Sukhdeo with less than a dozen ticks on the scoreboard, Ron Andrew opened up the Guyana tour with a well-made 72. The left-hander delighted the partisan crowd hitting 3x4s and 7x6s, while Jason Greaves who has been struggling to retrieve his 2011 form, contributed 29 including 3x4s. Extras chipped in with 16, while Police Officer bowlers R. Alli 2-0-24-1; P. Azore 3-0-22-1 and T. Benn 2-0-16-1 were responsible for the three Atlantis’ wickets.
In reply the Guyana Police Officers responded aggressively but kept losing wickets rapidly, resulting in the team reaching 105 for the loss of seven wickets in the 12 overs allocated them. In the final over the Officers needed 19 runs, but with the exception of one six off the final delivery from Atlantis’ skipper Prashant Nair, it was a done deal and Atlantis had one win under their belts.
Top scorers for the Guyana Police Officers were L. Lord 21 (1×4, 3x6s), R. Alli 20 (3x4s, 1×6) and H. Jessamy 14 (1×4, 1×6). Bowling for Atlantis: Skipper Prashanth Nair grabbed 3 for 19 off 3 overs, hometown boy Jermaine Horatio arrested two wickets and Casper Davis, Jr and Hugh Craig each snared one wicket apiece.
It was scheduled as a practice match for the big encounter today against the Demerara Cricket Club XI that’s expected to include several Guyana national players.
The tour is in connection with the 100th anniversary celebration of the Demerara Cricket Club, with the Guyana Police Force rounding out a triangular T20 tournament partnership and participating as centennial supporters of DCC.