By Morris Seecharan
We all know Dayal have a huge appetite to bat and Alex Hussain explosive batting and defensive fielding has no boundary as this duo stellar performance make it hard for Essequibo last Sunday at Seaview Park in Brooklyn.
Roopnarine Dayal struck an unbeaten 57. Photos by Loretta Cheong
As Deryck Basdeo and Roopnarine Dayal, Sunrise captain opened the batting facing Carlos Johnson in this Twenty/20 game against Essequibo whom they knocked in the 25 over competition. Deryck blasted a four to start out his account as Dayal moved the ball around against M Tappin who joined the bowling attack. Deryck who was punching the ball to cover batted with command and along with Dayal they raced away with eight runs an over. In the six over M Tappin had Deryck who was on 22 caught at long off with the score at 43. Wahab joined Dayal who anchored down and giving opportunity to his teammates to go after the ball. Wahab looked very promising as hit some quick boundaries but was bowled by R. Britton with the score at 64. Sunrise lost another quick wicket and ended at 71 for 3 at the 10 over.
Dayal who was freeing up his arm and picking up timely boundaries continue to lead his team batting as Essequibo bowlers had found no solution to get him out. As Dayal witnessed most of his teammates wickets dropping at regular interval Khemraj Somaru batting at no 6 joined Dayal and build a quick partnership of 25 runs as he was run out in the 15 over with the score 101 for 5. With Sunrise batsmen going after the ball Sunrise losing quick wickets found themselves with the score at 122 for 7 in the 18th overs. Young Alex Hussain was sent to bat with 2 overs remaining as he blasted couples of quick boundaries taking the soccer to 149 for 7. Time and Time again Alex found a way of displaying a big bat as he scored and unbeaten 16 in the few ball faced. He was an important and crucial partnership of 27 with Dayal who batted the full 20 overs scoring 57 not out. It was good to see Dayal batting came alive as he placed his team in a very competitive position.
For Essequibo Y. Bascum lead his team bowling with 3 for 34 as M Tappin and R Britton picked up a wicket each.
Essequibo opening pairs seemed comfortable as E. Martin and C Johnson faced Khemraj Somaru and Ravi Etwaroo who did not make it easy as they kept the run rate down in fist few overs along with Rohan Kowlesser. Johnson who batting offensive found success against Sunrise bowlers was hitting the ball with commands picking up big boundaries. However Martin was totally hold down by Sunrise bowlers. In the seventh over Ramjit Singh was brought into the bowling attack as Johnson connected for two sixes but Ramjit fought back and got Johnson caught behind by keeper Wahab. Johnson whose batting was a threat to Sunrise had a solid knock of 39. Cedrick Beaton joined Martin but Cedric got dismissed as he walks into his stump off the bowling of Stanley Lloyd as Essequibo at 10 overs was 54 for 2.
Young Alex Hussain was intrumental in three run out.
To start the 11 overs Khemraj removed Martin in his first delivery but Essequibo with many wickets in hand was a big threat. As D Hooper and I Butler settled down picking up runs and hitting boundaries keep moving towards their target. As this pair worked their batting to the a brilliant partnership Hooper who trying to pick up a runs got himself run out by a direct hit from Alex fielding at back stop. After a 33 runs partnership the score at 81 Hooper contribute 13 as D Defreitas joined butler. In the same over Butler found himself run out by another direct hit form Alex again with the score at 82 for 5 in the 14 overs. Alex throwing was a target and as he changes the game by running N. Tappin as well with the score 91 for 6. Defreitas who was hitting the ball hard seemed like he would make a difference and bring Essequibo closer to their target by picking up big overs. With the score at 105 Defreitas was run out in the 17 overs. Defreitas made an important 19 runs and with him gone gave Sunrise a breath of fresh air fresh set of batsmen to deal with. Essequibo was faced to make 45 in 3 overs which are not possible as Y Bascum and J Patterson looked to give their team a victory. Bascum showed some commanding strokes as they picked 11 runs in the 18 overs and needed 34 in the last tow. However Deryck Based who bowled the 19 overs was stingy as Somaru bowled the final over and had Bascum caught to end the game. Essequibo made 125 for 8 and fell short by 25 runs. Alex Hussain direct hit run outs was the game changing moment of this game and contributed by giving his team Sunrise the win.
Khemraj Somaru bowling was on top as he led his team bowling figures with 2 for 9 as Ramjit Singh and Stanley Lloyd picked up 1 wicket each.