EACA 40-Overs Tournament
By Shivnan S. Ramjattan
Debo ‘Sachin’ Sankar lit up the park last Sunday in front of a small crowd, where sparkling stroke-play blended with youthful daring, inspired Richmond Hill Cricket Club (RHCC) to a mammoth total before Sean Stanislaus produced a magical spell of medium-fast bowling to scythed through East Side Warriors Cricket Club (ESWCC) top order with five for 28 that included three maidens.
Zaheer Sadloo and Debo Sankar during their knocks of 74 and 91 respectively. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
In a game where batsmen, wanting to score big, Zaheer Sadloo produced an intelligent 74 to complement Debo’s blitz, taking RHCC to an impregnable 287 for seven in 40 overs. A lone defiance from Sabeeh Rafique with 36 was their only glimmer in a disappointing 91 all out. As RHCC progressed to five and one.
However, on a day where the toss was important on a through mid-summer Baisley track and a well-manicured outfield. Skipper Shameer Sadloo was in all smiles as the coin turned in favor of RHCC, he signaled to the dressing room and four men could be seen padding up immediately.
However, there was one man and his innings that protrude at the end of the days play, branded the late bloomer, Debo Sankar presented the maker’s name of his willow to all of the East Side Warriors bowlers with authority, elegance and conventional stroke play to a tune of 91 off a meager 53 deliveries that comprised of 16 scorching boundaries.
With RHCC precariously placed at 76 for two with a dipping run rate in the 16 overs, and with the prolific Sudesh Dhaniram (18) back in the pavilion, lobbing one back to the bowler. Debo, coming at number four then announced his arrival at the crease with an extravagant drive that raced to the fence.
He and Zaheer taunted the ESWCC bowlers to all parts of the park with a third wicket partnership—that blossomed 83. But the latter completely overshadowed Zaheer’s innings, who was batting on 50-plus.
Sean Stanislaus picked up 5 for 28. Photo by Shem Rodney
Zaheer would depart with the score on 159, but not before a flamboyant innings that was filled with sizzling strokes—in his own unique style. However, Debo then continued to torment the bowlers, accumulating quick runs in the process that had all of his teammates applauding with every boundary that were dispatched to the fence.
A late flourish from the lower order saw RHCC get passed the 250 mark. Azeem Dada had most of the top order with three scalps, while Sabeeh Rafique took two and there was one for Sajjad Ishfaq. RHCC wickets fell at: 46, 76, 159, 195, 246, 246 and 252.
At their turn on a belter of a batting track—ESWCC failed miserably chasing 287 at just over seven an over. Opening bowler Sean Stanislaus had them reeling early with Saud Alvi (12) and Ahson Qudeer (0) while Deryck McDonald accounted for Ali Murtaza (0) with the score on 16. Sabeeh Rafique coming at number four then thumped McDonald for two sixes to give some life to their innings.
But as soon Nandalall removed him for 36, the rest faltered and from there—they never recovered as Stanislaus ran through the middle order to finish with five for 28. Azeem Dada (11) and Sajjad Ishfaq (15) were the other two to double digits. While the other wicket takers were Kumar Nandalall with two and Ramphal Bactowar with one. ESWCC wickets fell at: 10, 16, 16, 32, 32, 36, 70, 71, 89 and 91.
