On Saturday, May 16th, Guyana Cricket Club took on Lagaan Cricket Club in Norton, Massachusetts, with both teams declaring strong line-ups; a keenly contested match was anticipated. The game was started in overcast conditions and remained the same for the duration of the game.
Parmanand Doodnauth struck 61 in Guyana Cricket Club win.
Lakhram Sanichar and Parmanand Doodnauth propelled Guyana to their third consecutive win. Lakhram Sanichar struck a shot filled 50 not out, while Parmanand Doodnauth anchored the innings with a well-composed 61 with 7x4s.
Lagaan captain Zeshan Muhammed won the toss and elected to bat first, Guyana’s veteran swing bowler Lall Balgobin struck in his second over when he bowled Vikas Mathrotra for one. Lazarus Joseph also made it difficult for the batsman to score with tremendous pace and accuracy.
Sandeep Chiniwar (16) and Sai Vajha (11) were looking to build a partnership when Sandeep was caught at short mid-on off the bowling off Balgobin. Naresh Goolcharran then took an excellent low catch to dismiss Sai Vajha (11) off the bowling of Lakhram Sanichar. Haider Imran and Zeshan Muhamma (13) then put on a 50 runs partnership for the 4th wicket.
Rudy Jagall trapped Zeshan LBW attempting to hit over the mid-wicket boundary. Haider Imran was brilliantly stumped by Sharaz Baksh looking to advance down the wicket off the bowling of Rudy Jaglall for a well-played 34, which included a couple sweetly timed and lofted extra cover drives. Nirav Patel (3) found it difficult to score off Rudy Jaglall and eventually lost his off-stump leaving alone a straight delivery.
Bhamin Chhatrapati and Nikhil Lavana both scored 18 apiece and provided valuable lower order support, while Manpreet Singh (36) smashed a few lusty blows to carry his team to 184 for 9 when the 40 overs expired. Lall Balgobin finished with figures of 7-0-23-3, Rudy Jaglall 8-1-28-3, Lakhram Sanichar 8-0-37-1 and debutant Mahfuzur Rahman picked up two wickets in as many overs.
Chasing 185 for victory Guyana got off to a great start with opening batsman Parmanand Doodnauth and Naresh Goolcharran (16) posting 44 for the first wicket. Parmanand Doodnauth was severe on the new ball pair of Jogindar Sani and Sachin Agarwal playing some lovely straight drives and flicks.
Lakhram Sanichar played an anchor role compiling an unbeaten 50.
Naresh Goolcharran then lost his off-stump to Manpreet Singh in his second over. Sharaz Baksh (43) then joined Doodnauth at the wicket, and the pair batted sensibly, rotating the strike and picking up boundaries. Doodnauth played the supporting role by picking up singles and turning over the strike while Baksh was more aggressive dispatching any loose delivery to the boundary.
After 20 overs, Guyana was well positioned at 92 for 1. Nirav Patel then had Baksh caught at the long-off boundary. Quite a few people thought the fielder was over the boundary when he took the catch never-the-less Baksh respect the umpire’s decision and walked. That brought Lakhram Sanichar to the wicket and he immediately took on the bowlers.
Parmanand Doodnauth continued to anchor the chase beautifully, and he brought up his half-century with a four to the mid-wicket boundary while Lakhram Sanichar was doing the bulk of the scoring playing some amazing cover and extra cover drives and cut shots.
Parmanand Doodnauth then lost his middle stump looking to go over the top with 11 needed to win. Mohabir Balgobin (3*) ensured that Lakhram Sanichar would reach his first half-century of the season. Sanichar brought up his half century with a sweetly timed extra cover drive that rocketed into the boundary and giving Guyana CC victory.
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