By Morris Seecharan
For many cricket lovers their summer is not completed without the game of cricket and the start of the 2012 cricket season last Sunday was welcomed. For the Sunrise cricket team, sponsored by Vidya Bhagwat, and Kaieteur Liberty located at 120th Street and Liberty Avenue, members were jubilated for their season opener against Titans on a bright and sunny day. Most importantly with all teams looking poised and their eyes set on capturing victory in their first game automatically creates competition from the start as everyone wants to start on a positive note.
Kaieteur Liberty owner Rabindranuth Koobial (center) with members of Sunrise team.
At the North Conduit, Titans winning the toss and decided to bowl first. Sunrise was sent into bat as Ropnarine Dayal, Sunrise newly elected captain lead his team batting and the player of choice to partner with him was his predecessor Deryck Basdeo, Sunrise former captain.
With Dayal striking the first ball off B. Haniff for a single as the first over went smoothly but the long winter break and first game jitters was obvious as the batsmen searched to find their touches. However Haresh found his first ball racing to cover as Dayal scored his first boundary, and the rust of the long winter break was shaken off.
In the 3rd over Deryck opened up took Haniff for his first boundary looking comfortable at the crease. As the overs were dealing Dayal and Deryck moving the ball around and crafting an innings, it became apparent to Titan bowlers that this duo stubbornness was of concern. Haresh in his 3rd over was wallop for a fat over as Deryck was striking the ball commandingly. Most importantly the batting aggression of Deryck surfaced as he was in full control commandingly dictating to Titan bowlers the pace of the game. Dayal the batting architect also had the perfect recipe in cooking up a batting partnership. After using four bowlers Titans find it impossible to break through the batting defense of Dayal and Deryck and tried their 5th bowler Benji Ramkission who Deryck knocked around the park and out of the bowling rotation and the end of 10 overs with the score was 87 and significant partnership brewing.
Ramjit Singh took a hat-trick with figures of 3 for 9.
The 6th bowler Dave Singh was introduce in the 12th with no success as Dayal and Deryck poignant batting partnership grew to 105 at the end of the 13 overs half. Most entertaining was Deryck cover drive shots which was admired as he place it between gaps as Titans fielders was racing to stop toward the boundary only to lose. This batting spectacular brought made their team member elated with the beliefs that their team batting offensive was on track.
Titan’s bowler returned in the second half with the hope of redeeming themselves and salvage what they can in the second half of Sunrise batting. In the early inning of the second half Dayal and Deryck was fighting off some penetrating deliveries off of Titan bowler. Also with the run rate dropping and the last of no wickets Deryck looked to turn it on defaulted to the aggressor of the two batsmen looked to hit high bounced pitched which struck high in the air and was caught by the keeper. Deryck started his 2012 batting making a statement with 55 and batted to the 19th overs leading a 135 runs partnership with his captain Dayal.
Rohit Kowlesser a new member of Sunrise joined Dayal whose aggressive batting crept out as he pounced on Titans bowler with his favorite offside stokes scoring his doubles, triples and timely boundaries. Dayal staunched batting reveals his focus and commitment as a captain staging a full inning batting. He made his half century with many single, doubles and triples proving his skillful batting experience. After a 48 runs partnership Rohit departed with the score at 182 for 2 in the 23rd overs. join Dayal batted the full 25 overs making a significant 63 not out and giving his team the score of 207 for 2. Dayal and the rest of the Sunrise team looked satisfied with their opening batting offensive.
For Titans Peter bowling figures was 2 for 42 as the rest of the bowlers suffered heavily at the hands of Dayal and Deryck.
Titans opening pair S. Ramsaran, and C. Durgano looked up to the task as they were faced with Khemraj Somaru, Sunrise opener who was attacking from his first delivery backing up the opening pair. Ravi Etwaroo was no different as he look sharp bowling in line. As Somaru continued with attacking the bowling, Ravi in his second over struck as he bowled Durgano for 1 and two deliveries later bowled D. Ramkisoon for duck leaving Titans with 15 for 2 in the 3rd over.
Ravi and Somaru bowling was penetrating and attacking as Ramsaran was run out for 9 and the next over R. Khemraj was caught by Rohan Kowlesser off the bowling off Ravi with the score 28 for 4. With the damaged that Khemraj and Ravi caused Dayal kept his opening pair on as they completed their full spell as the score read 45 for 4 in the 10th over. Deryck was brought into the rotation and picked up Benji Ramkisson for. Rohit Kowlesser in his first ball of his spell bowled D. Harricharan leaving Titan 6 for 57 in the 13 overs and in trouble.
Sunrise bowlers in control of the game left Titan batsmen with no room to escape as Rohit bowled C. Hiralall as Titan wicket continue to fall. Ramjit Singh another important addition was given the ball to get a feel and had B. Ramkisson caught for 16 at short long on as Dayal took another brilliant catch with the score 8 for 60 in the 15 overs. Titan’s batsmen seem to have no answer to Sunrise bowlers and as Ramjit in this 2nd over had A. Kisson caught and his next deliver clean bowl D. Haniff setting up a hat-trick to end the game. Titan manage to make 72 as they bowled out in 16.2 overs.
Ravi Etwaroo whose bowling was immaculate had bowling figures of 3 for 13 as Ramjit Singh who wrapped up the game at the end bowl for 3 for 9. While Remit Kowlesser had figures of 2 for 9. Most notably Khemraj Somaru opening spell of 5 overs for 15 runs set the stage for Sunrise defense.
It was an important win for Sunrise as they start on a positive note with this win hoping to build on their positives and improve on weakness. Most importantly member of Sunrise club extend their gratitude to Vidya Bhagwat and Khemraj Somaru for their continue registration sponsorship. In addition it was an honor for Sunrise to have Kaieteur Liberty sponsoring their uniforms this year, as the team went and meet Mr. Rabindranuth Koobial the owner of Kaieteur Liberty in person after their first game and thank him for his generosity. Mr. Koobial displayed great satisfaction and conveyed it was an honor to associate his Restaurant brand with the likes of Sunrise Cricket team.