By Morris Seecharan
After restricting Crown Eleven to a low score and winning convincingly for their first victory to start the 2016 season, Sunrise looked ready. Last Sunday at Kissena parking in Flushing, matched up against One Love who won the toss and put them in to bat, Sunrise was given the chance to test their batting. Raj Balgobin and Antonio Dallai lead as N. Singh had Antonio popped up for a simple returned catch in the first over with the score at 1 and what seems like good plan by One Love to put Sunrise in to bat.
Raj Balgobin let Sunrise batting with 77.
Alvin Barratt joined Raj as they were cautious in mending their team opening batting stand. With the score at 10 for 1 after the 3rd overs, M. Sing in his 2nd over was tagged with 14 runs as Raj and Alvin look settled and ready to pace their innings. Picking up the run rate and plans in setting a good target Raj and Alvin hit timely boundaries keeping up to a 6+ runs per over. After repairing and setting a sold batting foundation, and a 55 runs partnership, Alvin went for a big shot playing over the ball and bowled by Shane Manbodh for a well batted 24 runs with the score at 56 for 2 in the 10th overs. Robindra Singh (Vicky) joined Raj as they continued on forward moving the score to 81 for 2 at half time.
With Raj anchoring his team batting and others batsmen batting around him, Sunrise look to capitalize in their 2nd half with 10 wickets on hand. Vicky who scored quickly in his batting stance fell for 18 runs off the bowling of K Sing with the score at 86 for 3 in the 14th overs. A. Gobind a hard hitter of the ball joined Raj and opened his account by hitting triple sixes exploding the run rate. In addition, Raj continued the heat on One Love bowlers as he led in blasting a 25 runs over along with Gobind as they raced to close Sunrise batting in the depth overs.
With an exceptional batting strike rate and instrumental in accelerating his team run rate Gobind was caught at deep long on boundary in the 21st over with score at 173. Gobind blasted a solid 37 runs which included 5 sixes and a much needed 85 runs partnership with Raj. Opening the batting and hanging around to the end Raj displayed profound responsibility in making his team batting offensive counts.
After scoring three quarters of a century, his teammate’s was routing to see him made his century. Unfortunately, D Balli was able to penetrate Raj’s guards dismissing him for a significant 77 runs with the score at 178. After Raj dismissal, One Love found success with the remaining Sunrise bating lineup, with the exception of Harold Deokinanan who made 15 runs as Sunrise closed with 197 for 9 in 25 overs.
A. Gobind (left) and Krishna Kemraj picked up four wickets each.
One Love knowing they had close matches against Sunrise in prior meetings, rightfully felt confident to chase down this target. Openers R Sing and K Singh faced Krishna Kemraj, Sunrise captain who bowled a tight over to start. A Gobind in his first over had R Sing run out with score at 9, as Krishna bowled another stingy over in the second over of his spell.
In Gobind second over he knocked down K Singh stumps in a maiden over as Krishna Kemraj in his 3rd over had D Balli caught behind by keeper Wahab Husain without scoring. Gobind returned in his 3rd over bowling Z Abbas as Krishna in his 4th over dismissed M Sing with the score at 17 for 5 in the 7th overs and the ideal start for One Love shattered with half of their batsmen dismissed.
With One Love batsmen caught between what appears to be a fierce bowling duel between Krishna and Gobind, Sunrise target became unattainable. Seeing the success of wickets falling Sunrise captain continue to bowl himself and Gobind, who in his 4th over bowled S Manbodh. Krishna in his 5th and final over of his spell was attacking bagged another two wickets having D Budhu caught and clean bowled H Balli as score reads 8 for 20 in the 9th overs. Krishna and Gobind opening bowling combination was superb as One Love batsmen couldn’t find success. Gobind summed up his excellent bowling spell by cleaned bowl V Verapee, leaving N Singh the only One Love batsmen to score double figures with 13 to be caught off the bowling to Robindra Singh as One Love was dismissed for mere 43 runs in 11.5 overs.
Sunrise opening bowling pairs were dominant as Krishna Kemraj went for 4 for 7 and A. Gobind 4 for 14 knocking down all stumps for all his wickets.
One Love bowlers faced some gruesome batting from this Sunrise squad as K. Singh went for 3 for 28 and D. Balli 3 for 21 and the only mentionable bowling figures.