New York Softball Cricket
By Morris Seecharan
With this being the last game before 30 over competition and just a game separating these two teams, it was game that both team needed to win. Most notably matches between them have always been highly contested as National batting first know that they need put runs on the board for Sunrise.
Deryck Basdeo took 4 for 16.
S. Singh and S. Ulla faced Khemraj Somaru who was attacking as the batsmen had to fend off penetrating delivery. Rohit Kowlesser was no different as Ulla was injured by a high bounce ball to his noose. After an interim pause to get Ulla ready back for batting Somaru bowled Sing with the score on 11 as Rohit in his 2nd over had Ulla caught by the keeper Wahab. Rohit in his 3rd over cleaned bowled F. Ulla as Sunrise bowlers was on top with score at 3 for 22 in the 6th over.
Deryck Based who continued his flawless bowling at number 3 struck in his 1st over having S. Hussain popped up and in his 3rd over bowled Awad Satar, and before the break bowled J. Satar as the score read 70 for 6 in the 15 overs with National top batsmen sitting back in the pavilion. Once more Sunrise bowlers were successful and struck early putting a dent in National top batsmen, however they continue to struggle in finding their line which help National scoring.
In the second half of National batting S. Ali who made 21 was the only batsman having some success against Sunrise bowler was taken out Rohan Kowlesser with the score at 82 for 7. A. Satar batting at no 8 and R. Ulla at no 9 looked to put up a fight covering up their wickets and moving the ball around were successful as they build the only partnership of this game.
With the score building, Sunrise miss catches, and bowling excess extras Satar and Ulla capitalize on a 29 runs partnership moving the score to 111 as Deryck came back and removed Ulla. R. Ramkaran batting at no 10 was inspired by his teammate and joined Satar whose batting was remarkable contributing a big innings for his team. Satar lead Ramakaran as they put together the biggest partnership of 44 for National. With the score at 155 Satar was run out for a solid 25 runs and in the next delivery Ramjit Singh bowled Ramkaran as National came back making a total of 155 runs in 27.5 over. With this score National felt they had the upper hand and was pumped up to make Sunrise record to tie for a playoff advantage.
Harris Khemlall contributed a knock 44.
Yet again Deryck Basdeo has another gem of a bowling spell as batsmen found him hard to bat as he lead Sunrise bowling with the figures of 4 for 16. Rohit Kowlesser went for 2 for 28 while Khemraj Somaru, Rohan Kowlesser, and Ramjit Singh picked up 1 wicket each.
As Rohit Kowlesser with his captain Roopnarine Dayal tried to set a foundation for their team in response to Nationals opening pair S. Hussein, and S. Singh were serious business ready to defend their total. S. Singh struck early removing Dayal leg stumps with the score at 4 in the 2nd over.
Wahab Hussein joined Rohit as they tried to set a good offensive. With runs not easy to come Singh in his 4th over had Rohit popped back to him for a returned catch and the same over bowled Selwyn Cheong. Singh came right back in his 5th over and bowled Deryck Basdeo doing serious damage to Sunrise offensive with the score 36 for 4 in 12 overs. With runs hard to come against a bowling attack that was relentless Wahab Hussain was the only batsmen scoring but was removed S. Ali for 24. Harris Khemlall joined by Ravi Etwaroo and was left to mend their team batting and did so moving the score to 68 for 5 in the 15 over.
Khemraj Somaru struck an unbeaten 34.
Ravi and Harris with no doubt looked settled staging a comeback in the second half batting intelligently and Harris explosive bats they took the score to 81 for 6 in the 18 over as Ravi departed. Harris was joined by Khemraj Somaru as they continue to bat toward their target. Harris whose bat was heating was hitting key boundaries found a partner in Somaru who seemed flawless as he worked with Harris to build a partnership. Harris and Khemraj rotated the strike picking up singles, doubles and key boundaries batted with sense as they built the most vital partnership of this game.
With the score at 125 and after 44 runs partnership with a mix up Harris was run out in the 25th over. Harris whose batting was important made an important 43 runs and bring his team closing to victory. Ramjit Singh joined Khemraj who molded a crucial knock for his team looked to close out the game. With 31 runs needed Ramjit wasted no time banging a huge six down to Deep Square taking the air out of the National team. With the score at 152 and 4 runs to go A Ali found the stump of Ramjit who blasted a quick 16 bringing his team closer to the victory. Khemraj stayed to the end making sure the job is done winning the score as Sunrise top National with the score 156 for 8 in 29.1 overs. Khemraj made 34 not out showed his batting caliber as he was stubborn bringing the fight to National bowler coming out above.
J. Ali who was dominating from the start took the first 4 wickets and put a scare in Sunrise batsmen as his figures read 4 for 22. While S Ali kept up with Ali bowled for 3 for 25 as F. Ulla picket up 1 wicket.