Sudesh Dhaniram is seen here trapped LBW by Rocky Kowchai. Photo Shem Rodney
EACA 40-Overs Tournament
By Shivnan S. Ramjattan
Big Apple Cricket Club (BACC) powered their way to 4-0 with a fantastic 55-run victory over arch-rival—Richmond Hill Cricket Club (RHCC) in front of a large and voluble crowd at Baisley Park—known as the ‘Cage’ in Queens , NY last Sunday.
The long awaited match-up between these two behemoths could not be more entertaining, unnerving and full of suspense. But perhaps the most important feature of the match was the cohesiveness that BACC displayed—that contributed to the toppling of RHCC.
Clain Williams during his knock of 71. Photo Shem Rodney
With so many stars on display, Clain Williams stood -out with a delightful and authoritative 71 (2x4s,6x6s), that drove BACC to a total that most spectators feel was within grasp with such a star-studded batting line up on paper. On this beautiful father’s day weekend —it wasn’t to be as former West Indies Fast bowler Adam Stanford sent down a hostile and testing opening burst, before Troy Doodnauth and Rocky Kowchai sliced through their middle order of which they never recovered from.
BACC were off to a slow start from openers Brandon Datt (8) and Donwell Hector (34), their opening stand of 32 from 78 balls give RHCC the early momentum. With both back in the pavilion, Zaheer Saffie (31) and Travis Ross (32) then took control of the game with some thrilling shots taking the score to 96 before Saffie, prodding half-forward was given out LBW.
Clain Williams joined Ross, and some sensible batting saw BACC progressed to 156, courtesy of some brilliant shot selection, Williams was at his best as he thumped six ferocious sixes with two boundaries to go with that. Ross soon lost his head and wicket, holding out to Ronald Evelyn in the deep.
The rest of the BACC wicket fell in quick succession, trying to up the tempo in the final overs.
Their final total, 218 for nine in 40. Nandalall was the chief wicket taker with four, Shameer had two while there was one each for Stanislaus, Dhaniram and Bactowar.
Troy Dudnath bowled with great accuracy picking up 3 for 23. Photo Shem Rodney
With an asking rate of 5.45 per over and with the wicket beginning to play through, the target appeared achievable. However, it wasn’t to be , Adam Stanford and Troy Dudnath bowled with accuracy and hostility, at times to peg back RHCC. Their first eight overs yielded 23, before Rocky Kowchai, introduced from the basket-ball court end bowled Wahid Ward for 11 then had Sudesh Dhaniram LBW padding up first ball, umpire Sam Soopersaud had a very long look before raising that dreaded finger, in his own unique fashion. A very unhappy Dhaniram walked back slowly towards the pavilion.
Sean Stanislaus (46) in company with Debo Sankar (42) took the score to 100 in the 23rd over, Stanford in his second spell then uprooted Stanislaus stumps, but not before he braced him for consecutive boundaries.
And with A climbing run rat , Debo was caught at deep-cover by Shiv Raghubar trying to keep abreast— followed by Zaheer Sadloo (4) caught at deep mid-wicket, Shameer Sadloo (4) Bowled and Deryck McDonald (3) taken smartly by Saffie at short-cover as RHCC panicked , the scorecard 139 for 7 in the 30th over. Kumar Nandalall (14) and Ronald Evelyn (17) give their best shot in the closing overs which proved futile, Mark Gomes accounted for Nandalall while Kowchai rattled the stumps of Evelyn.
Bactowar was left unbeaten with five. Giving Big Apple victory by 55 runs. The main bowlers responsible for the victory were Kowchai and Dudnath with three scalps, Gomes with two—while Stanford had one.
