By Orville Hall
The USA registered its fifth win today by defeating Suriname by 6 wickets at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida, but not before struggling to put together a few partnerships to get over the finish line.
Japen Patel was named man-of-the-match for his 27 not out.
It was not a particularly good day in the field for the USA, as they spilled four chances, giving Suriname an opportunity to register their best opening partnership of the innings and also of the tournament. Suriname, batting first, made a 110 for 6.
Openers Charles Douglas, 23, and Arun Gokoel, who was dropped by Barrington Bartley on 8, added 40 runs for the first wicket, and Sauid Drepaul, who got chances at 9 and 22, top scored with 28; he was eventually run out by a smart piece of fielding by wicketkeeper Akeem Dodson with a direct throw at the non-striker’s end. After Drepaul’s dismissal at 86 for 4, Surinam added another 24 runs to finish on 110 for 6 at the end of the innings. Set a reasonable target of 111 runs for victory.
The USA began in grand style, as Steven Taylor wasted no time in belting two fours off the first over. Timothy Surujbally, at the other end, was having some difficulty getting the ball away, and with the score on 22, he was finally out for a nine-ball duck. Dodson joined Taylor, but 11 runs later, Taylor would be run out for 23. Orlando Baker was the next man in, and he and Dodson added a few runs before Dodson was bowled for 15. With the score on 49 for 3, Nicholas Stanford joined Baker, and the pair added 20 runs before Baker was caught and bowl for 19.
At 69 for 4, it would be up the Stanford, 23 not out, and Japen Patel, 27 not out, to get the job done for the USA. At the end of 17th over, and with the USA still needing 14 runs from the remaining three overs, Patel took 11 runs off the 18th over to put the game squarely in the USA’s column at 108 for 4. The pair shared in a 42- run, fifth-wicket unbroken partnership to get the USA over the finish line.
The USA will play two games today; the Bahamas at 10:00AM and Bermuda at 3:00PM. Saturday is a rest day, and the tournament will conclude with the USA taking on the Cayman Islands on Sunday.
