By Morris Seecharan
The Sunrise Softball Cricket Club, sponsored by Kaieteur Express Restaurant and Bar, located at Liberty Ave, and 120th Street in Richmond Hill, moving up to division 1B for the NYSCL 25 over President Cup, quickly put behind their unfortunate loss in the final against Blitz and turned their focus on competing in this new competition.
Winning the toss and batting against Country Boys at 150th and Rockaway Park in Queens, opening pair Alvin Barratt and Wahab Hussain of Sunrise faced tight bowling off A. Williams and Ivor Chan as Alvin looking good after his first boundary was bowled by Williams in the 3rd over with the score at 8. Robindra Singh (Vicky) joined Wahab but didn’t fear well either as Ivor had him caught with the score at 29 for 2 in the 6th over. Wahab who was batting cautiously was joined by A. Gobind who had a short stay as well, caught off the bowling of A. Towler with the score at 45 for 3 in the 9th over. With wicket falling at regular intervals and partnership not building, Raj Balgobin dropping down the batting line joined Wahab as they worked to resuscitate Sunrise batting. However, with Country Boys slow but accurate bowling they only manage a score of 64 runs for 3 at their 13 overs half.
In Sunrise second half batting, Wahab and Raj looking to pick up the run rate started the 2nd half well picking up 13 runs in the 14th over. Batting safely, and after a significant 36 runs partnership looking for a short single Raj was run out for 17 runs, and in the next delivery Wahab was bowled by a full pitch as Towler placed Country Boys at good position with the score at 81 for 5 in the 15th overs. With two new batsmen Harold Deokinanan and Antonio Dallai at the crease, they were left with the daunting task of saving Sunrise batting. Harold opens his account by hitting a boundary looking sold and in good touches. He quickly turned the tide on Country Boys blasting towering boundaries, and ignited an onslaught on Country Boys blowers as Antonio joined in the action. A Jerrick and Y. Giddings were tagged for big overs as Sunrise run rate jumped from 5+ to 7+. Harold who is one of Sunrise consistent batsmen and striking at a very high rate blasted 48 runs which included 8 boundaries of which 4 were sixes. Harold led in this crucial partnership of 78 runs with Antonio whose stellar blast racked in 24 important runs including 4 boundaries. After the departure of Harold and Antonio and the score at 159 for 7 in the 23rd overs, Deryck Basdeo returning for the first time to Sunrise lineup in 2016 closed out the game with an unbeaten 13 runs knock as Sunrise posted 176 for 7 in their allotted 25 overs and looked solid.
Country Boys looked focused in chasing Sunrise target opened with G. Leacock and T. Fernandez as they faced Khemraj Somaru and A. Gobind. Leacock hit a boundary to get off the mark and batting along safely A. Gobind got the first break through for his team having Leacock caught with the score at 20 for 1 in the 4th overs. Right after, A. Gobind in his 3rd over knocked over G. Hanover stumps as the score read 31 for 2 in the 6th overs. Fernandez who looked settled was joined by A. Williams, who showed sharp batting defenses partnered in putting up a fight. This pair safely steered Country Boys batting taking the score to 69 for 2 at their half.
With Sunrise bowlers restricting the runs flow, Fernandez and William batted smartly not giving up their wickets with the high hopes for a Country Boys batting explosion to close out their innings and reaching their target with wicket in hands. Batting along smoothly Hernandez struck a big shot to deep long leg off Harold’s bowling but Deryck Basdeo took a brilliant catch to break up this staunched partnership of 58 runs as the score read 89 for 3 in the 17 overs. Right after Deryck Basdeo struck by bowling A. Andrews for a duck, bowled A. Towler and smartly knocks down A. Williams who was a treat at 30 runs leg stump, quickly changing the game in Sunrise favor with score at 102 for 6 in 21 overs. A. Jerrick batting at 8 looking to make a comeback belted a fast 24 runs but was run out by Raj Balgobin by a direct hit from back stop as Robindra Singh (Vicky) had Ivor Chan caught at long on by Wahab. With quick wickets falling off of Deryck’s bowling Sunrise hold down Country Boys at 145 for 8 in their 25 overs winning by 31 runs.