Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club family. Photo by Bobby Ramlagan
Scarborough Cricket Association
By Ravendra Madholall in Toronto
Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club produced another stunning performance over the weekend en-route to become the first team to ever win the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Premier 50-over competition for five successive years.
On Saturday, they whipped Bawa X1 by 136 runs in the semi-final while Sunday, when history was created, they were awarded victory in their contest with East West Cricket club after the game ended in a controversial manner.
Set to make a modest 128 from the reduced 45-overs, Arctic was cruising at 27-1 in the 5th over when one of the opposing players pulled out the stumps in protest of the umpires’ not out decision against Reyaz Prabulall of Arctic.
The appeal was made after an apparent edge was taken but ruling umpire Azad Khan said not out and consequently the game finished without further action.
However, Arctic limited East West team to that total through a fine bowling effort especially from occasional off-spinner Harrienarine Chattergoon, who nabbed 4-25 from his allotted 9 overs.
Pacers Zaheer Allard and Shiv Shiwram ended with two wickets apiece for 29 and 30 respectively to support the penetrative Chattergoon on a responsive pitch in blazing sunshine.
Yunus Mortara offered resistance with a fighting 27 which included three fours and 22 from the experienced Mohamed Shakir.
Former Guyana opening batsman Krishna Arjune was at the crease on 20 with four fours already and Prahalall yet to score when the encounter ultimately concluded.
Harrienarine Chattergoon was the man back in the hut having scored only three runs but was later voted as Most Valuable Player for his sterling bowling performance.
At the presentation session just after the incident, skipper of the team Hemnarine Chattergoon, related that he was disappointed with the end of the game cognizant of the fact that it was final and the players should have respected the umpire’s decision.
But the former Guyana and West Indies under-19 player and Ex-Canada batsman, reserved special mention to the Arctic side on this unprecedented achievement.
“I was definitely disappointed the way things finished here today (Sunday) knowing was final but we still win the game and certainly we are delighted with the history we made here, we have a great team and deserved the championship again,” the right-hander revealed.
In the semi-final showdown, Hemnarine hit a pugnacious, unbeaten 217 to lead Arctic to the win while the side was unstoppable again in this year’s edition win 16 consecutive matches, inclusive of two walkover fixtures.
“As I said we played as a unit and that was very important; thanks to the support from our friends, families and the members of the club certainly hard work has paid off greatly,” Chattergoon, the elder brother of former West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon, expressed.
President of the club, Archie Mohan was also in a jubilant mood following the completion of the game and stated that the guys played tremendously well since the commencement of the competition and duly deserved the championship honors for the fifth successive year.
“First, I do hope the SCA looks into the matter with East West team for this inappropriate behavior which certainly unacceptable and they did it before and something must be done seriously about it, however, I am indeed happy with the success of Arctic again,” Mohan declared.
Apart from Arjune and the Chattergoon siblings who represented the club, several other senior Guyanese cricketers have also played pivotal role towards this victorious and incredible feat.
Some of those are: Royston Crandon, Trevon Garraway, Keon Joseph, Azib Alli Haniff among other established players.