The Rush To Father’s Day

Erapali Sahadeo of Cavaliers. Photos by Shiek Mohamed.

By James Persaud
In American College Basketball the playoffs is called “March Madness”, in New York softball cricket I would say “The Rush To Father’s Day” and the rush has began. As last Sunday the New York Softball Cricket League enter the playoffs stage of its 25 Over Championship. This competition is planned to finish on father’s day and there are many sons or fathers out there wishing to make pops proud.

There are already enough surprises in the quarter finals round and this was so palpable in the lower divisions. The first competition of the season is always full of surprises as teams get the feeling that this is a must win to put them self in place for a run at the “Triple Crown”. The “Triple Crown” is every team dream, many have tried and a few have accomplished this feat.

Bobby Pahalad of United Star.

In division IIB two of the favorites will have some extra rest, Rising Sun was demolished by Young Brothers and Falcons bats just went cold at the wrong time as Crown XI sending them packing. Young Warriors put on a good show against the powerful Brooklyn Boys but came up short when it all was over. T. Bros Superstar and Legends did battle in a very low scoring game; it was a day for the bowlers. And T. Bros Superstar will move into the second round for the first time.

Royal Challengers continues to dominate division IIA and has played superb cricket to maintain their winning streak. With Lions destroying Nationals for a measly 24 runs, this could well be Royal Challengers time.

Last season they went to the playoffs two times and they could not get past the first round. Not to take away anything from the rest of teams in the division, United Brothers and New Horizon, the field is still wide open and teams will have to step up their game to stay in. I watched some of New Horizon Vs Unpredictable game last Sunday and the fielding was a little off on both sides, catches win game. Flashers won the qualifying game against United Brothers, but United Brothers return and knockout them out of the quarter finals in a flash.

G. Arjune of Cavaliers.

The Lions, Ramdhani brothers and assisted by M. Singh prove to be too much for the Nationals batsmen. Together they send back seven Nationals batsmen for “duck”. Lions Manager Sase Radhay have done a splendid job with this team and will be looking for more of this performances to keep the “ducks alive” and the flag flying.

Now to the last step before the Premier leap, there was not any big surprise in this division as all the teams are playing good cricket and it was too hard called or picks any winner. Then again if you want to call the New Jersey punch out by Better Hope no big deal. It had to be a big deal for the Better Hope boys since in the last two matches between these two teams Better Hope were the losers. Better Hope is playing good cricket at present but they will need a little extra in the semi-finals against Country Boys this Sunday. Country Boys made easy work of Waves as their batting put enough runs on the board. This gave Andrew Jerrick, Chance and Giddings the chance to send Waves packing for 83 all out.

Sheffield got the better of Wildfire in a close game, Sheffield won by 12 runs. It was the bowling of Sheffield skipper E. Dodson who bowled a splendid spell to restrict the Wildfire batsmen from finding the boundary and in the end singles was not enough.  Super Chargers took charge of Essequibo XI. This was an evenly match up with both sides bowlers restricting the other team batting on a flat and dry pitch. Super Chargers will take on Sheffield and Country Boys will host Better Hope.

Anand Singh of Assassins struck an entertaining 47.

In the Premier division Assassins dominate Titans and continue to put huge score on the board. The Assassins captain for the last two games has being changing his batting line up as if to get everyone in form for a long competition to Father’s day. United Stars got past Cavaliers in a squeaker, Cavalier batted first and put a total of well over 170 on the board a score than looked good to get them into the next round. The United Star batting finale found some breathing space and the top order all chipped in with reasonable scores to reach their target with one over to spare. United Stars will now take on Assassins and they will need a very good performance this Sunday to keep the hope alive.

Hustlers knock off Untouchable in a somewhat low scoring game, speaking to some of the Hustlers team members last week. I asked why I have not seen any real big score and the answer was they didn’t have a chance to chase any big score so far. Mafia got past Liberty Knights who is struggling with their batting, the bowlers are restricting the opponents’ batting and their batmen cannot get the job done.  Both Hustlers and Mafia would have a big challenge ahead this Sunday and we could a high scoring game. Mafia has scored well over two hundred runs in a game so far this season and this could be Hustlers chance to chase or defend something big.
Regardless of which teams play on Father’s Day in the finals, this competition is going well and the league has all the arrangements in place for a grand finals.

Khaleem Bux was among the runs for Assassins, hitting 42 and returned to take 2 for 3.

These 25 Over Championships is co-sponsored by PK Realty & Mortgage Co and Drexel Mortgage Corp. The 25 Over Championship finals could well be a prelude to the NYSCL Inter States Tournaments, Independence and Legends Cup 2010 starting Friday July 2, through Sunday July 4, 2010.

Undefeated Royal Challengers rolls in Semi Finals
By Mike Lall
The undefeated Royal Challengers made easy work of PM All-Star with a resounding 10 wickets win to advance to the semi final of NYSCL 25 Overs DIVISION IIA Championship. After winning the toss PM All-Star chose to bat and was skirted out for 81 runs, only M. Karran showing any resistance to the powerful
Royal Challengers bowling attack with a well played 32.

The Royal Challengers bowling attack was led by Paul Verapin with clinical bowling performance, taking 6 wickets for 10 runs. As group, the Challengers were extremely sharp in the fields, especially Ravi Murry, who pulled off three spectacular catches that could have easily made the top plays of ESPN’s sport center.

In reply to PM All-Star’s total of 81 runs, the Royal Challengers opening pair of Krishna Persaud and Shameer Issak knocked off required runs in 8 overs, with Shameer making 58 not out and Krishna 17not out. This coming week (June13th) the Royal Challengers will take on Lions. The Royal Challengers manager, Babby Persaud believe this encounter will be true test for his team and expect that the Lion will bring their A game for the contest.

Navin Narine of Assassins had 3 for 24 against Titans.

Other Match Summary
Division IA Premier
United Star Vs Cavaliers
Cavaliers 171 for 7
E. Sahadeo 44, G. Arjune 33, M. Persaud 26
S. Wilfred 2-11, R. Ivan 2-40
United Star 173 for 7
B. Pahalad 44, R. Ivan 31, S. Wilfred 25, J. Sookraj 23
E. Sahadeo 3-27, M. Persaud 2-36, N. Sahadeo 2-40

Assassins Vs Titans
Assassins 241 for 9
Raja 48, A. Singh 47, K. Bux 42
I. Ali 3-38, K. Roopnarine 2-24, D. Singh 2-34
Titans 118 all out
P. Ramkissoon 38, R. Bisnauth 18
N. Narine 3-24, K. Bux 2-3, G. Chattergoon 2-24

Division IB
Country Boys Vs Waves
Country Boys 152 for 7
T. Fernandez 29, G. leacock 29, A. Jerrick 24, N. Thom 19 n/o
T. Narine 2-35, L. Bisram 1-10, L. Lilkumar 1-21, R. Ramroop 1-19
Waves 83 all out
K. Lilkumar 16, A. Ally 11
A. Jerrick 4-14, E. Chance 3-12, Y. Giddings 3-20

Super Chargers Vs Essequibo XI
Super Chargers 164 all out
A. Ali 61, K. Gopaul 24, D. Singh 22
L. Sinclaire 3-30, C. Beaton 2-12, R. Britton 2-28
Essequibo XI 130 all out
N. Collins 25, W. Blackman 18, C. Johnson 14
D. Singh 3-9, M. Ramkissoon 3-28, K. Gopaul 2-28

Better Hope Vs New Jersey
Better Hope 121 for 6
F. Razack 23, A. Aproo 17, B. sanichar 15
S. Seeraj 2-21
New Jersey 82 all out
Y. Sooknarine 32, S. Seeraj 11
C. Rajpaul, L. Mangra, B. Sanichar and R. Razack 2 wkts each

Division IIA
Lions Vs Nationals
Lions 117 all out
R. Boodhan 19, A. Singh 17, D. Ramdhani 15
Videsh 3-28, S. Husain 3-24
Nationals 24 all out
Videsh 7
R. Ramdhani 5-9, M. Singh 3-0, D. Ramdhani 2-3

Division IIB
Crown XI Vs Falcons
Crown XI 222 for 8
R. Ali 42, R. Williams 38, Harrychan 37, M. Ramoutar 27
V. Ramnarine 4-32, N. Beepat 2-31, N. Tiwari 2-32
Falcons 157 all out
Azam 42, Eric 38
A. Ali 4-19, S. Harrychan 2-24

T. Bros Superstar Vs Legends
T. Bros Superstar 91 all out
C. Mohabir 36
S. Morrison 3-20
Legends 54 all out
Morrison 13
Dave 3-4, Robin 3-20, Sunil 3-21, Elvis 1-15

Rising Sun Vs Young Brothers
Rising Sun 88 all out
R. Itwaroo 22, Shankar 22
D. Jagnarine 5-19, K. Ramoutar 2-12, Roopnarine 2-28
Young Brothers 89 for 8
C. Roopnarine 28, P. Ramphal 18
R. Baldeo 4-24

15 Overs Knockout
Division I
Wolfpack Vs NY All-Star
Wolfpack 121 all out
A. Jaikaran 33, S. Adam 29, D. Autar 18
O. Sooman 4-8, H. Jagannauth 2-21
NY All-Star 82 all out
M. Jagroop 18, H. Jagannauth 13
D. Autar 3-17, A. Mowla 3-15

Division II
PM Youth Vs Better Hope B
PM Youth 80 all out
Suresh 23, D. Vedo 20
K. Mangra 4-12, J. Mahabir 3-15
Better Hope B 82 for 7
M. Singh 23, N. Ramroop 15
Yakoob 2-2, D. Kaydoo 2-8, S. ramesh 2-25

Ravens Vs Vipers
Ravens 126 for 5
D. Bhikkham 38, T. Arjune 39
A. Nandalall 2-18
Vipers 122 for 9
A. Nadalall 19, H. Halsase 19, J. Khuldph 18, A. Dhanraj 18

Volcano Vs Apollo XI
Volcano 122 for 7
D. Jitlal 50, R. Jitlal 20, S. Singh 16
Omesh 3-12
Apollo XI 97for 8
Trini 42, Manoj 23
D. Jitlal 4-17, R. Jitlal 2-10