By Royo Sankar
A Superb all round effort by Richmond Hill Cricket club completed a resounding victory over East Side Warriors Cricket Club last Sunday at Brentwood Park.
Royo Sankar (left) and Mahendra ‘Murph’ Seeram shared in an 80 runs partnership.
Winning the toss, the veteran skipper Ramphal Bactowar did not hesitate to take first strike under glorious sunshine. Debo Sankar and Jerry Heyligher opened the innings and with the score on 18, Jerry Heyligher was run out going for a quick single, soon after Dhaniram Seepersaud 8 and Debo Sankar 16 were back in the pavilion and with Richmond Hill precariously placed at 47 for 3 wickets. Due to some fine bowling and fielding by East Side Warriors.
However, Royo Sankar and Mahendra ‘Murph’ Seeram staged a superb 4th wicket recovery with a partnership of 80 runs. Royo Sankar batted brilliantly before being caught in the deep for 46 (3×4) with the score on 127, Deryck McDonald joined Mahendra Seeram and took the score to 186, before Mahendra Seeram trying to up the ante in the final overs was caught for a superb 51 (3×4-1×6). Deryck McDonald remained unbeaten on 30 (2×4) as the innings closed at 192 for 5 wickets off the allotted 35 overs. Wickets fell at 18, 36, 47, 127and 186. Sajjad Ishfaq was the most successful bowler with 2 victims.
East Side Warriors needing 193 for victory at 5.5 run per over and with Richmond Hill fielding only 8 players as Jerry Heyligher had to leave the field after a few overs with a severe back pain on a typical fast Brentwood track. It appeared that the target looks like an easy home run.
However, that was easier said than done as the stalwarts of Richmond Hill cricket club persevere for victory with a superb team effort.
Ali Alvi led the charge with a well composed 65 (4×4-1×6) before Ramphal Bactowar rattles his stumps. Mahendra Seeram bowled the dangerous Sabeeh Rafique for a duck, while Saud Alvi was brilliantly caught by Alim Ibrahim at short cover for 16 by the same bowler. Sajjad Ishfaq was trapped lbw for 12 by Dhaniram Seepersaud, part time bowler Alim Ibrahim accounted for Shahid Ahmed 4 and Usman Rafique 5 as wickets continue to tumble.
However, with the asking rate climbing to 7 and later 8 an over, Salman Rafique give East Side Warriors some hope with a cameo 26 toward the end before being bowled by Mc Donald. Perseverance from the Richmond Hill player was too much for East Side Warriors as Ramphal Bactowar clean up the last two wickets to give Richmond Hill a victory by 28 runs.
East Side Warriors wickets fell at 21, 22, 50, 82, 88, 95, 158, 158, 160 and 165. Ramphal Bactowar accounted for 3 wickets, Mahendra Seeram; Alim Ibrahim And Deryck McDonald had 2 each.
As the RHCC players celebrated some of them happily declared, that is was one of the best game they had played.