Eastern American Cricket Association
By Royo Sankar
As a large crowd gathered to witness a keenly contested game at the famous Baisley (Cage) supporting their favorite team. They would not be disappointed as Richmond Hill Cricket Club (RHCC) and Big Apple Cricket Club (BACC) battle for supremacy. Skipper Zaheer Saffie sent RHCC to bat after winning the toss, soon they was in trouble as Telston Johnson sent back Royo Sankar with the 3rd ball of a opening spell caught at the wicket for a duck.
Veteran spinner Shameer Sadloo bagged 5 for 32 as Richmond Hill defeated Big Apple. Photos by Shiek Mohamed
Zaheer Sadloo joined Debo Sankar as the pair took the score to 62 before Debo Sankar (31) was run out in a mixed up. Shameer Sadloo was caught for 2, Brandon Best for 15. Deryck McDonald was brilliant with his shot selection and placement in his 45 that included (5×4-3×6) as he held the RHCC innings together. M. Seeram fell for 19, R. Lovell 10, D. Seepersaud 1, and D. Puran for a duck while Ramphal Bactowar was left stranded at the other end with zero.
Final Score 170 all out in 36 overs. RHCC wickets fell at: 1-1 (R. Sankar), 2-62 (D. Sankar), 3-71 (S. Sadloo), 4-81 (Z. Sadloo), 5-88 (B. Bess), 6-145 (M. Seeram), 7-163 (D. McDonald), 8-165 (D. Seepersaud) 9-170 (R. Lovell), 10-170 (D. Puran).
Kumar Nandalall and Charlton Senior was the most successful bowler with 3 wickets each.
Chasing a modest 170 at 4.25 an over, BACC was in cruise control with an opening partnership of 47 in 6 overs as the Guyana national pacers Brandon Bess and Roderick Lovell struggle to find their rhythm.
Rhett Ramotar was caught at 3rd man for 17. The elegant Zaheer Saffie and Francis Mendonca took the score to 91. Saffie was in brilliant form as he struck the pacers for huge sixes, one over Foch Blvd and the other in the basket ball court, followed by another, high over the fence on 158 street, off Shameer Sadloo as he looked to finish the game for an early celebration. Going for one too many would be his downfall, as Brandon Bess took a brilliant running catch off Sadloo. That would trigger a Big Apple Cricket Club batting collapsed as Shameer Sadloo and Ramphal Bactowar spun webs around them. F. Mendonca (20) was smartly taken at 1st slip by McDonald, Shawn Thompson was trapped LBW for 3, Shiv Raghubar was caught by Royo Sankar at deep mid-wicket for 4, Mark Gomes was brilliantly taken at square leg by Deoram Puran for a duck, Kumar Nandalall was caught at long on by M. Seeram for 1, Mark (Chucky) Gomes edge to McDonald at 1st slip for a duck, Telston Johnson was trapped LBW for 10 and N. Balram was caught at deep mid-wicket by Seepersaud as BACC folded for 126 in the 25th over.
Ramphal Bactowar produced an economical spell of 4 for 13.
Richmond Hill Cricket Club pulled of a stunning victory.
BACC wickets fell: 1-47 (R. Ramotar), 2-91 (Z. Saffie), 3-93 (F. Mendonca), 4-102 (S. Thompson), 5-107 (S. Raghubar), 6-107 (M. Gomes), 7-110 (K. Nandalall), 8-110 (M. Chucky Gomes), 9-126 (T. Johnson) and 10-126 (N. Balram).
Summary:
RHCC 170 all out in 37 overs, D. McDonald 45 , D. Sankar 31, Z. Sadloo 30 and M. Seeram 19.
Bowling BACC, K. Nandalall and C. Senior had 3 wickets each.
BACC 126 all Out in 25 overs, Z. Saffie 32, F. Mendonca 20, R. Ramotar 17 and N. Balram 17.
Bowling for RHCC, S. Sadloo 5 for 32 and R. Bactowar 4 for 13.