Assassins cricket club.

Assassins Battle East Coast In Clash Of Giants

By Orin Davidson
One of the most keenly contested seasons in New York softball has boiled down to the very last game which sees East Coast and Assassins colliding for the right to be crowned 2007 Division 1A champions in the Truck and Trailer 20 overs final tomorrow (November 4).

The venue is the Rockaway/ 150th Street ground and with both finalists holding one title each from the other two New York Softball Cricket Association (NYSCA) competitions staged, the winner of the Truck and Trailer final will be crowned number one in 2007.

East Coast cricket club.

The feature game will be supported by three others that will determine the Division 1B, Division 2A and Division 2B winners.

Fielding an array of star players, predicting a winner between Assassins and East Coast is proving a difficult task in the Division1A final. Assassins though, which captured the PK Realty 30 overs title and who won all three titles last year, should have the slightest of edges.

They have a well balanced lineup of batsmen and bowlers but East Coast which topped the field in the Sheriff Jewelry 25 overs competition, comprise the deepest complement of all-rounders of all the competing teams.

But significantly, East Coast should have the psychological advantage, having defeated Assassins for the Sheriff Jewelry title in the final.

Their campaign will be spearheaded by irresistible non-playing leader Shafeek Ali whose enthusiasm alone can motivate the team to winning performances. Nevertheless all-rounder Peter Sukhdeo is a tower of strength in both departments of the game. His bowling can wreak havoc on any batting lineup and his batting is a weapon down the order. Captain Peter Persaud is a rock in the top order as are Jomel Mathai , Mahendra Seeram. Shan and Amarnauth Parsram, who were big contributors in East Coast's run to the final which included the elimination of Untouchables in the semi-finals.

Assassins though, is stronger on paper with the likes of run machine Kris Shobai spearheading the batting order. Andrew Gonsalves who played first class cricket for Guyana is the most celebrated name in the competition and would be aiming to recapture his exploits of 2005 when he set a record for the number of softball centuries scored.

Ronald Evelyn in a star in own right, having bowled Assassins to victory in the PK Reality final, earning the MVP award in the process, and is currently the most dangerous bowler in the league.

Captain Navin Narine gives the attack extra bite that is likely to give the East Coast batsmen fits.

It makes for an enthralling battle that could boil down to a last over decision.

The action will start at 11.30 am and will have all the trimmings of a big final complete with commentary by the popular Onkar Singh.

NYSCA President Eric Ferrier is reserving special plaudits to Mike Bansie and Mike Rogers of Truck and Trailer Service for providing the sponsorship.

In the Division 1B final United Brothers led by Ramgopaul and Durja Tahal will battle Ron's Auto to be spearheaded by captain D. Heeralall and prolific all-rounder Satro Sara, for the championship trophy.

Murtland Fraser, Trevor Chan and H. Jaggernauth will be the players to watch for New York All Stars who take on Nationals in the Division 2A final. Captain and key allrounder Sherwin Hussain will carry Nationals' challenge.

And in the Division 2B final Bronx rivals Tic Tavern and Flashers will vie for the title. Sunil Persaud is Tic Tavern's trump card while Flashers will depend much on A.Vickram in their victory thrust.
Orin Davidson Column Homepage