New York Softball Cricket League
Pooran Century Steer Hustlers To Finals

By James Persaud
June 18th, 2009
At the beginning of the 2009 softball cricket season all most all the cricket pundits were asking or guessing who would be the champions or who could win the Triple Crown for the year. The Hustlers team was always one of the favorite in the NYSCL Premier division and last Sunday they show why they have that ranking. After winning a lopsided encounter with United Star they knew that playing the undefeated Liberty Knights thing would be a little more difficult.

Prolific Pooran Beria in action batting.

Liberty Knights won the toss and took the field first and by the 13th over this looked like a bad decision because they were only able to get 2 wickets out. Hustlers opened their innings with Ravi and Pooran Beria; both openers bat patiently and were willing to taking singles and doubles, and making no mistake in giving away their wicket. The only highlight for Liberty Knights in the first half was the two close attempts for run out which went in favor of the batsmen. Ravi was the first to go and he was replaced with Nigel Briglall who tries to speed things up with the encouragement from his team camp.

After Briglall was out the Hustlers skipper Kris Shobai came to the crease and he began immediately to swing his bat looking for the boundaries. At the other end Beria was batting solid and looked determined to build a total well into the two hundreds.

With 3 overs remaining in the Hustlers innings and Beria still needing 12 runs for his century, in the next over get got 6 runs and in the 24th over he reach his century. By the end of the 25th over he was left on 102 not out. Hustlers scored 194 for 4 wickets in their allotted 25 overs, this was a good score because Liberty Knights had scored well over two hundred in the competition before.

When Liberty Knights took the crease they never got the start they were looking for and loss a few early wickets. The Liberty Knights batsmen never got settled at the crease except for Brian Manniram and Ken Sanichar who build a solid sixth wicket partnership.

Manniram was batting well stroking the ball and the bowlers kept on forcing him to drive outside the off stump until he cut one unto his stump. With Manniram departure Sanichar knew for his team to stand any chance of victory he would have to get the ball to the boundary. He was successful a few times until he got short rising ball and trying to pull through mid wicket and was only to find the deep mid wicket fielder waiting to take the catch.

With the fall of Sanichar wicket it was just a matter of time before the Liberty Knights innings came to an end, all out and still needing 24 more runs.

Assassins Won A Thriller at Rockaway Park
Over at Rockaway Park Assassins won a nail biter by 1 run, Assassins batting first scored 125 for 9 wickets of 25 overs. Eon Ellis top score with 28, Amit Moonsammy got 23 and G. Chattergoon scored 22. N. Sahadeo, M. Persaud and R. Singh took 2 wickets each.

Cavaliers reply with 124 all out of 25 overs, R. Persaud 29, N. Sahadeo 27 and J. Arjune were amongst the main runs scorers.

Bowling for Assassins R. Bisnauth and Amit Moonsammy grabbed 2 wickets each for the victory.

Note: This game is in protest, Cavaliers has filed a protest claiming that Assassins has played illegal or unqualified player in the game. Hustlers will have to wait for the other finalist.

Canal Crushed By Titans
Canal after playing a superb quarter finals against Sunrise the Sunday before, let their bats went sleeping for too long. Canal won the toss and asked Titans to bat and this looked like the best decision for the day as Titans first 6 batsmen went running from their tent to the crease and back. The Canal bowlers strike early and had Titans reeling at 6 for 64 in 13 overs. But a solid 47 runs eight wicket partnerships between A. Kissoon (25) and I. Ali (26) stole the show from Canal.

Canal was able to end the Titans innings for 124 all out, a score well within their reach. But this was not be as Canal batsmen never apply themselves and wicket kept on falling rapidly. I Ali return with the ball and shut down the Canal batting, it was a fine all round performance for him as he grabbed 4 wickets for 4 runs. And the Canal innings came to an end in the 15th over, all out for 52. Titans will now take on Master Blaster in the division IB finals.

Masters Blaster Send Ranchers to Play for Third Place
On Sunday, June 14th 2009, Gerristen Park, Masters Blaster blasted their way to victory during the semi-finals game against Ranchers in the New York Softball Cricket League division 1B 25 overs competition. Ranchers won the toss and asked Masters Blaster to take the first strike with trashing talking claiming victory before the game even started. However, this only motivated Masters Blaster.

Masters Blaster taking strike first seemed like a good decision on Ranchers part as the opening pair of V. Sawh and S. Seeraj failed to start off with a blast. Ranchers had exceptional fielding and quickly strike in the third over of the game, with the wicket of V. Sawh falling for 10 runs. S. Algoo (14) went on to build a much needed partnership with Seeraj before getting out in the twelfth over. As the thirteenth overs finished and the inning breaks, Masters Blaster was 60 for 2.

As play resume and wicket in hand Masters Blaster went on and plays a more aggressive second half. With contribution from Y. Shivkumar (25), S. Seeraj (25), and J. Debarros (21), Masters Blaster made 146 for 8.

With the target score of 147 from 25 overs, Ranchers players were very confident. With a poor opening spell from S. Sawh, it was all up to Y. Shivkumar to get a break through wicket. In which he did and struck twice in the fourth over with back to back wicket. Opening batsman J. Singh from Ranchers, tried to save the game but his team was no match for the Masters Blaster’s stupendous blowing.

J. Singh top score with 30 runs; however the rest of the team did not muster up any offenses. All-rounder S. Seeraj and Y. Shivkumar played an outstanding game. Masters Blaster bowled out Ranchers for 113 runs. Masters Blaster now has the satisfaction of redemption from their defeat with Ranchers in the first game of season.
Masters Blaster 146/8
Y. Shivkumar 25, S. Seeraj 25, J Debarros 21
S. Singh 5-27-2, N. Singh 5-33-2
Ranchers 113 all out
J. Singh 30, Paul 15
S Seeraj 5-18-4, Y Shivkumar 5-23-3, A. Kadir 5-8

Volcano To Play Essequibo XI in Finals
Essequibo XI got past Unpredictable in a close semi finals game last Sunday at Rockaway Park, Essequibo XI will now take on Volcano in the finals. Volcano beat Port Mourtant All-Star in the other semi-finals game.

Young Brothers Goes To Finals
By N. Tiwari
On an overcast Sunday morning at Roy Wilkins Park young brothers were getting prepared to take on Ravens in the 25 over semifinals. Brothers won the toss and invited Ravens to have a first crack at the wicket and were in early trouble as Sunn and Mario opening the innings; but were both sent back by C .Roopnarine for a duck apiece; in came Alvin a batsman whom seems to be in terrific form picking the bad balls and putting it away, he was eventually bowled by V. Gunga for a well played 35.By the half time Ravens were 72-5.

At the resumption Ravens continue to score at a pretty good rate in the end captain T. Dhanraj grab 4 quick wickets to end Ravens innings at 130 in 24.1 overs with Mel 23, Steve 12 were the next main scores for Ravens. Bowling for Brothers T. Dhanraj 5-2-16-4, C. Roopnarine 5-15-2, N. Dwarka 4.1-26-2 with N. Tiwari and V. Gunga taking one wicket apiece.

Young Brothers open up with the in form N. Tiwari and P. Mohan, with Mohan went in the first over of the innings, Young Brothers continue to lose wickets rapidly and runs was very hard to come by due to some disciplined bowling which was well backed up by some excellent fielding, by the half Brothers were in a lot of trouble at 56 for 5 with Tiwari still standing solid as a rock.

At the resumption the Brothers know they had to score at just over a run a ball. With C. Roopnarine joining Tiwari the two batsman consolidated well while scoring at a good rate but as the old saying goes it is not over until the game is over. Roopnarine was bowled by Shaw for 10 and yet another mini slump as Tiwari could only look on ,but in came P. Ramphal (tiger) who hooked, pulled, cut and even drive to all parts of the park in cracking unbeaten 24.

With 4 runs require from 2 overs, Ramphal pulling a short ball to midwicket and after attempting a third run Tiwari was adjudge run out for a well played 60 by then Young Brothers was just in touching distance of a victory as A. Ramphal drive one in the air and was drop at mid off as the batsman ran two which was enough to take the Brothers home and into the finals against Champions. At this time the Young Brothers team and its supporters would like to congratulate Captain Tillanram Dhanraj for taking his team to four (4) consecutive finals and best of luck.
Ravens 130 all out in 24.1 overs
Alvin 34, Mel 23 and Steve 12
T. Dhanraj 5-2-16-4, C. Roopnarine 5-15-2 N. Dwarka 4.1-26-2, N. Tiwari 5-24-1, V. Gunga 5-19-1
Young Brothers 131-8 in 23.5 overs
N. Tiwari 60. P. Ramphal 24 not out, C. Roopnarine 10.
S.Beharry 5-17-2, R. Willams 4.5-20-2 and S. Shaw 5-22-3
 
NYSCL 15 Over Knockout
In the 15 over knockout competition, in division I Braveheart beat Horizon and will know play Triumph in the finals Sunday. In division II, Invaders got past Rising Sun and Lions beat Young West Indies to qualify for the finals Sunday.