The NYNCL Trinweld A Division finals truly lived up to expectations, with Kingsmen XI CC emerging victorious and claiming the title.
In their second consecutive final, NYC Renegades won the toss and chose to bowl. The overcast conditions at Marine Park set the stage for a beautiful day of cricket. NYC Renegades bowlers initially applied pressure on the Kingsmen XI batters.
Brandon Cabose bowled 6 overs, conceding 34 runs for 2 wickets, while Pooran Harrichan had figures of 4 overs, 0 maidens, 30 runs for 2 wickets.
Captain Rameez Mohamed also picked up 1 wicket in his 5 overs, conceding just 23 runs. The opening pair of Mahendra Parsaram and Kheshram Seyhodan crafted a solid foundation, helping Kingsmen XI post a total of 169/7 in 30 overs, thanks to a crucial innings from Temall Jaikarran, who scored 45 off 52 balls, batting all the way to the end.
Kingsmen XI’s confidence in their bowling attack was well-founded, and they proved their mettle in the finals. With a near-perfect performance in the fielding department, where 7 catches were held, Kevin Augustin opened the innings with a brilliant spell, giving away just 16 runs in his 6 overs while taking 1 wicket.
This set the stage for the rest of the Kingsmen bowling unit. Kheshram Seyhodan, named Best Bowler of the finals, took 3 wickets for 19 runs with 1 maiden in his 6 overs, while Vishal Roopnarine also claimed 3 wickets for 20 runs in his 6 overs. Together, the spin duo restricted NYC Renegades to just 39 runs for 6 wickets in 12 overs.
Falling behind the required run rate, NYC Renegades were bowled out for 96 runs in the 28th over, with Brandon Cabose and Dineshwar Budhoo each contributing 15 runs. Temall Jaikarran was named Best Batsman and MVP of the finals.
The finals also highlighted and reinforced that cricket is a gentleman’s sport, with great camaraderie between both captains and players.
When asked about the winning formula for a first-year team that not only clinched the division but also won the finals, skipper Daryl Heerasingh reflected on their journey. “We’ve been working diligently since last November. I remember our very first team meeting in the back of a small restaurant in the heart of winter; we were very excited and grateful. Having structure, a committed core, and staying humble are some of the things that make a good club great. The guys fought hard in every game we played. Win or lose, we never dropped our heads and trusted in each other’s abilities. We’re already looking ahead and planning for the 2025 season.”