Challengers CC Upsets Rockaway CC In The Nassau Cricket League 2007 Super-4 Final

September 9, 2007 – Baisley Oval, Queens
Led by Captain Steve Massiah, Challengers CC upsets defending champions Rockaway CC in the Nassau Cricket League 2007 Super-4 Final at Baisley Oval Sunday, September 9, 2007.

Challengers came in this match as the under-dogs. Rockaway CC, managed and captained by Hafeez Ali and the regular season and defending Super-4 champions, was highly favored to win this match.

Steve Massiah Sudesh Dhaniram

Their star player Sudesh Dhaniram was already in ripping form. He scored a brilliant century in the Ed Ahmad 20/20 final for Guyana.

However, Challengers CC, captained by Steve Massiah and managed by Shook Shivmangal, had other plans.

Earlier in the year, Challengers CC with three USA National Players (Massiah, Awan and Shuja) handed Rockaway CC their only loss for the season, but this was a different Challengers CC team without USA National Players Awan and Shuja.

After winning the toss, Challengers CC decided to take first strike. They were all out for 163 in 38.4 overs. Captain Steve Massiah top scored with 29. Useful contributions came from Denis Rampersad 26, David Mohamed 25, Kulkarni 21 and Hemchand Hardeo 17.

Bowling for Rockaway, Richie Seiwchan captured 3 wickets for 86 runs, Harrinarine 2 wickets for 22 runs and Jumadeen 2 wickets for 26 runs.

Rockaway suffered an early setback when they started their inning. Saud Hussein was out first ball, LBW for a duck.

Sudesh Dhaniram, the man who has dominated cricket in the Nassau League for the past ten years, winning several championships, came to the wicket next.

He immediately announced his presence and was particularly severe on Massiah. He hit some cracking shots of the bowling of Massiah. Massiah’s first three overs yielded 48 runs.

However, after clobbering Massiah for a huge six in the sixth over of the match and with the score on 59, Dhaniram was out for 37, brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Kulkarni, diving full length to his right. Dhaniram’s inning included five 4’s and one 6.

Although Hardin (19) and Harrinarine (11) showed some resistance later in the Rockaway inning, this match winning catch saved the day for Challengers CC.

Rockaway was eventually bundled out for 111. Dhaniram topped scored with 37, Richie Seiwchan 17, Hardin 19 and Harrinarine 11.

Bowling for Challengers, Denis Rampersad finished with 3 wickets for 8 runs, Massiah 3 wickets for 63 and David Mohamed 2 wickets for 15 runs.

Challengers won by 52 runs.

Within the span of two weeks, Steve Massiah was victorious as the captain in three championship games. What an accomplishment by the Challengers, Guyana (USA) and National USA Team captain?

First, he led Guyana to victory in the Ed Ahmad 50 Overs Competition against Trinidad, then captained the Guyana side to victory over Jamaica in the Ed Ahmad 20/20 competition and now leading is team Challengers to victory against Rockaway CC in the Nassau League Super-4 Final.

The umpires for the Match were two of the finest in the country, Mr. Steve Kalloo and Mr. Mohammed Baksh.

SCORECARD
Nassau Cricket League
2007 Super-4 Final
Challengers CC vs. Rockaway CC

Challengers Inning
G. Ramsingh c R. Seiwchan 3
H. Hardeo c & b R. Seiwchan 17
S. Massiah lbw R. Seiwchan 29
D. Rampersad stp. Jumadeen 26
D. Mohammed c Hardin 25
A. Kulkarni run out 21
J. Lall b Jumadeen 4
A. Shakur b Dhaniram 7
M. Ramdeo c & b Harrinarine 1
S. Ramphal c Harrinarine 1
A. Bonner not out 0
Extras: 29
Total: 163
FOW: 19 59 64 112 124 140 160 161 163 163

Bowling
S. Dhaniram 7-0-26-1
R. Seiwchan 8-0-46-3
H. Harrinarine 7.4-0-22-2
J. Jumadeen 8-1-26-2
J. Hardin 8-0-36-1


Rockaway CC Inning
S. Hussein lbw M. Ramdeo 0
R. Seiwchan c S. Massiah 17
S. Dhaniram c S. Massiah 37
J. Jumadeen b S. Massiah 1
J. Hardin b D. Rampersad 19
H. Harrinarine stp D. Mohamed 11
H. Ally run out 3
G. Kundan b D. Mohamed 0
P. Bepath stp D. Rampersad 0
I. Massiah lbw D. Rampersad 0
R. Singh not out 1
Extras: 22
Total: 111
FOW: 0 59 63 74 104 106 106 110 110 111 111

Bowling
M. Ramdeo 6-1-23-1
S. Massiah 7-0-63-3
D. Mohamed 6-0-15-2
D. Rampersad 5-2-8-3