By John L. Aaron
The Eastern American Cricket Association in an upset victory over the Nassau New York Cricket Association last Saturday, knocked the Steve Massiah led league out of the 2007 New York Cricket Region’s Inter-League tournament, despite both leagues enjoying 2-1 records. The dramatic third-round 45-Overs match played at Idlewild Park saw the Lennox Cush led league advance to the finals against the American League.

Eastern American won the toss and elected to take first strike, opening with Marlon Kallicharran and Dennis Evans. The duo was off to a decent 73-run opening start, before Kallicharran was caught off the third delivery of Denis Rampersad’s first over, for a well-made 40. However, it was his opening partner Evans who was the dominant factor, using the singles and doubles to build the score while continuing to occupy the crease.

Nassau led by USA national captain Steve Massiah and including Rampersad, Sudesh Dhaniram, Glenn Lorick, Dave Mohammed, Jerry Jumadeen, Steve Samuel and others was the odds-on favorite to win the match. With the exception of a few players, the EACA was out-manned by Nassau on a player-to-player basis. However, under the astute captaincy of Guyana national player Lennox Cush, the somewhat inexperienced EACA squad rallied to reach 218 for 9 in their 45 overs.

Dennis Evans top scored with a patient knock of 55, including 3x6’s, 2x4’s and 19x1’s. His contribution was the backbone of the EACA’s innings. Outside of Kallicharran’s 40, Bhim George enjoyed a solid knock of 30.

Nassau skipper Massiah had figures of 6-0-43-4, Mukesh Persaud 2 for 27, Denis Rampersad 2 for 37 and Sudesh Dhaniram 1 for 36.

Nassau in reply, lost their first wicket at 44, as Steve Samuel was caught by Zamin Amin off the bowling of Bhim George. His opening partner Denis Rampersad was the next to go after contributing 25 and being caught off the bowling of skipper Lennox Cush. Steve Massiah was joined by the hard-hitting Sudesh Dhaniram and the duo began to pummel the EACA bowling, adding a 68-run partnership, with Dhaniram being the more aggressive of the two and scoring a spanking 71 (5x6’s, 3x4’s). He would follow the departure of skipper Steve Massiah bowled by Steve Raghubir for 25 and Glenn Lorick caught off Raghubir without scoring. Veteran Dave Mohammed would be the only other significant contributor, adding 30 not out, as Nassau succumbed for 209 for 9 in their 45 overs, and to Raghubir’s 6-0-42-4. Cush with 2 for 39 and George 2 for 43 were the other EACA bowlers who helped secure the victory.

As Nassau’s middle order collapsed following the departure of Dhaniram, a buoyant EACA exhibited tremendous team spirit against all odds to pull off the upset and cause many a betting fan a lot of anguish.

The nine-run fight to the end saw two players Massiah and Cush vying for best skipper bragging rights. Cush, it appears won the battle despite being somewhat out-gunned by the Nassau line up. In the end the fans enjoyed a fantastic day of cricket and an exciting finale.

The EACA with a 2-1 record is the division winner, having defeated Nassau (2-1) and thus earned the right to meet the American League in the finals scheduled for Saturday, August 18, at Idlewild Park, Queens.
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