By Royo P. Sankar
EACA 40-Overs Tournament
Richmond Hill Cricket club—NY (RHCC) completed a comfortable victory over Falcons Cricket Club in their opening game of the season—winning by a huge 228 run margin, and sending a clear message across the cricketing circle—or you can debate whether such a team should be playing at the first division level—based on such a lackluster performance.
Sudesh Dhaniram slammed an unbeaten 162 against Falcons. Photos by Royo Sankar
Former Guyana national player Sudesh Dhaniram —continued his fine form from last year, blasting a superb 162 not out. He looked imperious during his 83 balls stay, smashing 12 fours and 15 sixes in the process as he and Debo “Sachin” Sankar (78) racked up 143 for the 2nd wicket. Debutant Colin Dukes then returned with the new ball to left a gaping hole in their top order with 4 for 11, from 7 that included a maiden, of which they never recovered from.
The match was reduced to 35-overs due to a late start with baseball been the culprit. However, that did not distract the players from their focuses, geared up ready for action. RHCC won the toss and opted to take first strike under brilliant sunshine and cool conditions. Debo and young Tyrell Datt put together 43 for the first wicket—Tyrell then got a beauty from Brahma Sanichar that shattered his stumps.
Sudesh Dhaniram coming in at number 3 then watched some couple of deliveries before unleashing a series of shots all over the park. He made a mockery of everything they could throw at him. And made it look so ridiculously easy with just a flick of his wrist. He and Debo Sankar feast on all of the Falcons bowlers as they sent down a variety of pies, gulab jamuns and ladoos (Indian-Goodies).
With the score on 188—Debo went for an impetuous shot and was stumped for 78 (3x4s, 5x6s) Wahid Ward joined Dhaniram, but lasted only 2 deliveries as he missed a rank long-hop that rattled his stumps. Colin Dukes promoted up the order, clubbed 19 along with Dhaniram—who continued to torment the un-penetrative and lackluster attack—all the way to the end of RHCC innings.
Megnauth Homraj was most successful with 2 for 59 from 7. RHCC wickets fell at: 43, 188, 191 and 294. Their final total of 294 for 4 in 35 overs proved to be a monumental task, with an asking rate of just under 9 per over. Falcons chase was off to a disastrous start as Colin Dukes made early inroads into their top order.
Debo Sankar struck 78 in Richmond Hill opening game.
And before you knew the scorecard was reading 5 for 38. However, there was a bit of reprieve from the basketball court-end as Rajendra Khan (18) and Zulfikar Ali (23) two of three batsmen to reach double figures— Licked Deryck McDonald mid-afternoon syrup for a couple of boundaries, his 4 overs leaked 32, but had the final laugh when Khan drove straight to Tyrell Datt at cover. Komal Shamsundar (11) was the other batsman to record double digits.
Spin duo Kumar Nandalall and Ramphal Bactowar then cleaned up the tail with 2 wickets each. As Falcons was all out for a paltry 66 in 18.3 overs, their wickets fell at: 0, 23, 23, 38, 38, 42, 55, 64 and 66.
