New York Softball Cricket
Nationals Strikes Phantom Hard, But Fails To Conquer
By James Persaud
As Phantom continued to blather in the field, Nationals struck early and hard, in a game where fielding looked to be off the least of interest to the Phantom fielders. It was an exact continuation of one Sunday ago when the Phantom fielders floored three very valuable catches late in the game and somber to be defeated.
Ryan Ramjas
The Nationals members arrived very early at the park and got in some very valuable practice, while the Phantom players sat around and played with their fancy electronic gadgets. Nationals took the crease first with Anand Singh and Salim Ulla. The Phantom bowlers, Amit Doma and Harold gave their team a perfect start as they held both batsmen in check. Anand Singh was batting defensively, while Ulla looked a little uncomfortable at the crease as the bowlers were on top.
After eight overs the scoring rate was about four runs an over, and Anand Singh was already dropped twice, he ended the day scoring 103 runs after being dropped five times. Anand Singh made use of his chances and took the challenge to the bowlers; he lost his partner Ulla in the tenth over with a total of 53.
The new batsman coming in at number three was the Nationals captain Faizul Ulla, after another ten runs was added Faizul was caught of Leonardo Vasquez. Shazam Husain joined Singh at the crease and they created huge trouble for the Phantoms. It was not as if the bowling was bad, it was just that the fielders could not hold onto to the ball.
This pair would bring much life to the huge Nationals supporters’ base that was present; Phantom would use a total of seven bowlers in trying to break the partnership. After Anand Singh reached his century he retired hurt on a score of 103. The next wicket fell in the twenty fifth over with a total of 216 runs.
Steve Ally came to the crease and tried to keep the run rate up but was unable to put Vasquez or Doma and Harold away, he scored seven runs including a boundary before losing his stump to Vasquez. Ramkarran added ten runs with Husain before Vasquez bowled him for one. The bowling was good to this point and Husain looked determine to get his score to a triple figure. R. Ulla partner with Husain and gave him most of the strike, this Husain made use of as the overs were coming to an end.
Husain treated the slower blowers with no respect, especially Javid Salim and Ryan Ramjas he struck 24 and 25 runs off one over each. Husain was very powerful with his straight drives over long on and long off; he was dropped by Terry Sital at long off when his score was on 68. It was a good display of powerful stroke playing by Husain as he reached his century with two balls remaining in the innings.
Husain finished with 100 not out and R. Ulla on 7 not out in a total of 252 for 4, the only wicket taker for Phantom was Vasquez with 4 for 15 of his six overs.
Phantom sent Ryan Ramjas and Rudy Narine to reply to Nationals huge total, Nationals had the feeling after scoring well over two hundred runs that this game was already in their pocket. But Phantom had other plans and they were not prepared to go down easy. As the sun made its way across the field and a most welcoming wind gushing off of the bay at Bay Park, it was a do or die for Phantom or rest in peace and waits for the Twenty20.
National handed the new ball to Shazam Husain and Ramjas greeted him with two boundaries of the over. Faizul Ulla continue the attack and Narine knocked him over the ropes to get off the mark and Ramjas would take two more boundaries of the same over to finish with 17 runs of the second over.
The fireworks continued well past Independence Day as Phantom score raced to 56 after four overs, a double bowling change was made in the sixth and seventh over with Ramkarran and Anthony Howard. Ramkarran was on target and bowled well and put a check on the free flow of runs, while Howard took some heat and Phantom reached 100 in the twelfth over. The Nationals captain changed his wicketkeeper as fast as he could change his bowlers, they used about 6 keepers.
The thirteenth over from Howard started with a boundary and the fifth delivery had Narine hooking, the ball took the edge and went high into the sky, the keeper moving to his left took the catch. Phantom losing their first wicket, Narine was gone for 25 in a total of 105. With the fall of the wicket, this brought the tall and lanky hard hitting Leonardo Vasquez to the crease, Vasquez moved up the order to try and continue the fireworks and that was exactly what he did. He opened his account with three consecutive boundaries bringing the total to 125 after fifteen overs.
Phantom took a water break and knew that they were in a very comfortable position only losing one wicket, while Nationals had a team meeting of their own, knowing that to stay in the game, they would have to get wickets.
When play resumed Faizul Ulla continued the attack against Vasquez, his first delivery knocked back the middle stump and Vasquez walked back to the pavilion looking very disappointed. Nateram Seepersaud came to the crease and after hitting a boundary; he played a very poor shot to Ramkarran and lost his stump in the process. Andrew Haniff and terry Sital was moved up the order to put some speed in the running between the wickets.
Both Haniff and Sital played very poor shots, Haniff (3) giving Faizul Ulla his second wicket and Sital (7) gave Howard his first. The game had made a sudden shift Phantom losing 3 wickets for only 18 runs added; Deodat Boodhan strides to the crease to do some damage repair with Ramjas. Ramjas was looking solid as his selection of strokes was very good; he played every ball by its merit.
Ramkarran was bowling well and Ramjas tried to face his bowling whenever he was on since he is a much better defensive batsman, it worked for a while until a running mix up between Boodhan and Ramjas, Boodhan was run out for 5 and the total 189 and twenty three over gone.
With 64 runs of seven overs still needed by Phantom, it was as if the sun just went away-the chill was on, on the other side Nationals knew that they were back in the game. Harold joined Ramjas at the crease and they had a long mid wicket conference, Nationals had many meetings themselves.
For the next three overs Nationals did exactly what was needed, they bowled very tight and only 10 runs were added. As the inning prolonged Ramjas was looking stronger as he played some superb cricket strokes, he was dropped at deep backward square when he was on 78. Harold looked very desperate especially when he played defensive, he was great when he played attacking strokes and made contact. With the run rate climbing the batsmen knew they would have to take the attack to the bowlers. This they did in the twenty-seventh over 13 runs come off, in the twenty-eighth over gave up 11 runs.
With Phantom still needing 24 runs from two overs, Nationals still had a chance. But this was not to be Husain bowled the twenty ninth over, Ramjas struck 3 consecutive fours and a single to bring up his century, Harold took the strike and hit a huge six and a four to finish the over. After twenty nine overs the game was tie, Nationals captain set a very close field to start the thirtieth over and Ramjas hit the first ball from Faizul Ulla to the long on boundary for the victory. Faizul Ulla finish with 2 for 69, Ramkarran took 2 for 32 and Howard claimed 1 for 22 off 3 overs.
Ramjas top score for Phantom with 105 not out and Harold was left unbeaten on 33.This was a very exciting game, in a game where over five hundred runs was scored both teams display great sportsmanship and friendship, the umpiring was excellent, umpires Sumra and Massiah did great work. Ramadan greetings to all my Muslim brothers and friends and I will be seeing you at the parks.
Royal Challengers B trounce Caribbean Boys
By J. Misir
A match winning performance by Captain Shuk Dundee ensured a convincing victory by Royal Challengers B over Caribbean Boys at Roy Wilkins Park last Sunday. Batting first, Royal Challengers B made 172, with Dundee hitting a quick fire 74 not out, R. Peters 41 and Albert Baldeo 19.
Dundee and Peters featured in a crucial partnership of 102 runs after Baldeo was incorrectly given out, adjudged caught by a delivery that was bowled over his shoulders. At this point, Royal Challengers were in trouble at 58 for 6, before Dundee and Peters struck Caribbean Boys bowlers to all parts of the ground. K. Williams took 4 wickets for 22 runs with some accurate bowling.
Caribbean Boys, desperate for their first win in this competition, were bowled out for 158 in a spirited reply, led by Gary and Vishal with 53 and 24 each. Tony Thakurdeen bowled impressively to take 4 wickets for 42 runs, including a stunning return catch.
He was well supported by J. Sukhu with 2 for 19 and J. Misir 1 for 14. Needing 15 runs for victory, it was Dundee who bowled an accurate maiden over to deny Caribbean Boys victory.
United Crucify GT Punisher
By Danny Singh
It was another fantastic day for the United cricket team since they have proven to be unconquerable against GT Punisher. United won the toss and decided to bat. The team made a phenomenal score of 229 all out.
In addition, unfortunately the United team had a big struggle when opening batsman Danny Singh and third order batsman A. Ali went down regretfully at a sore of 8 runs for 2 wickets. It began to look like United was being incarcerated by the GT Punisher. However, United made a huge combat with their two distinguished, all-rounder batsman. Both players Anoop Mangar and F. Khan made an impressive partnership of 115 runs. This partnership puts United back on track.
Furthermore, four brilliant batsmen were recognized for their outstanding performance for the match. These Players were A. Mangar with 58 runs, F. Khan with 51 runs, D. Persaud with 46 runs, and S. Deodat with 27 runs. The main bowler for GT Punisher Darren who took 3 wickets for 29 runs, G. Narine and V. Persaud took two wickets each.
GT Punisher accumulated a poor score of 63 runs all out. It appears that the GT Punisher was getting a taste of they own punishing medicine. Their main scorers were Ravin with 20 runs and Daren with 18 runs. Y. Maystry was the key bowler for United who acquire 3 wickets for 8 runs while A. Ali and F. Khan took two each.
Young Warriors Defeat Friends For Their Fifth Victory
By Roy Jaikaran
Last Sunday, match between Young Warriors and Friends played at the North Conduit, Young Warriors won the toss and bat first. Young Warriors made 144 all out in 24.5 overs. Akash Jagdeo made 33, G. Sarwan scored 18 and Roy Jaikaran had 18 runs, and these were the top of the batting. Best bowling for Friends was D. Rampersaud with 5.5 overs 3 maiden 6 runs and 4 wickets and Farouk with 2 wickets for 13 runs.
Friends replied with 104 all out in 23.4 overs. A very impressive batting display was done by openers C. Fitzpatrick who top score with 34 runs and J. Ramdial with 20 runs. Bowling for Young Warriors was Roy Jaikaran with 2.4 overs 10 runs and 4 wickets and A. Gobin with 3 wickets for 12 runs in 6 overs. This massive victory will take Young Warriors with a record of 5 victories from 5 matches.
Knight Riders Beat Flasherz B To Stake Claim For Playoff Spot
By Sase Radhay
On a humid Sunday afternoon Flashers B won the toss and invited Knight Riders to take first strike. Knight Rider’s young Kevin Hardial once again opened the batting and after five overs Knight Riders were struggling at twenty four for two. Kevin was joined by his captain A. Singh and together they added one hundred runs in a power hitting third wicket stand.
Kevin Hardial
A. Singh was caught in the thirteenth over for thirty one and was followed next ball by Kevin Hardial who was bowled for a well played ninety two. His knock was made off forty two deliveries and contained twelve sixes and three four. In the second match in this 30 Over Cup competitions Kevin Hardial scored one hundred and seventeen runs against Falcons.
Eventually Knight Riders were bowled out for two hundred made in twenty overs. Other useful contributions were made by Joseph Jerrick who made twenty five and fifteen each by Alvin Seemadray and M. Hassan. Bowling for Flashers B Avinash took five for fifty six and Rabin Sookraj had three for twenty one.
When Flashers B took their turn at the wicket they found batting tough and were bowled out for one hundred and seven in seventeen overs. Andrew contributed twenty five, Rajiv twenty and Kevin seventeen. For Knight Riders M. Singh took five for seventeen in four overs and T. Hardial three for eight in three overs.