As the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) Pepsi-sponsored first division 50-over tournament resumed yesterday at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) Ground, the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) escaped their encounter against police with a one-wicket win.
MYO won the toss and sent in Police to bat, bowling them out for 194 in 37.3 overs, a fair total considering they were teetering on 109/7 in the 26th over.
The fact that police eventually got to 194, a challenging total in the end, was due to a tail-end onslaught from Chemroy Kendell, who smashed 61 from just 31 deliveries after coming in at number 9 with his side in trouble. Kendall’s 61 included five fours and five sixes as he put on 76 with Amir Mohamed for the 9th wicket.
Earlier, MYO’s pacer Leon Swamy had the perfect start, having opener Kevon Boodie caught behind for a duck to put the police under pressure in the first over of their innings. Kyle Michael (14) was next to go off the first ball of the fifth over, caught by Zeynul Ramsammy to become Swamy’s second victim.
Troy Benn (23) and Lennox Andrews (28) then staged a fightback, taking their side from 15/2 to 60 before Benn was out-caught by Zeynul Ramsammy to the bowling of Abola Ramsammy.
From there, wickets tumbled as Andrews, Quentin Sampson (1), Dwain Dick (2), and Kelvin Leitch (7) all made their way back to the hut.
By the time Kendell’s lower-order assault was ended by Suresh Dhanai, he had already taken his side to a decent total. Mohamed (39) and Ivor Trotz (1) were the last two wickets to fall, the latter bowled by Swamy, who ended with impressive figures of 3/34 (9.3 overs).
In response, MYO’s top order did most of the heavy lifting, as openers Andrew Lyght (29) and Richard Ramdeholl (35) had an opening stand of 74 before the former was trapped LBW to Benn.
Ramdeholl followed soon after, caught behind off the same bowler along with Omesh Danram, who became Benn’s third scalp to leave MYO at 82/3. However, Zeynul Ramsammy hit a solid 53 (44 balls, 4sx5, 6sx2) while teaming up with Vishwanauth Ramlakhan to take their side out of trouble.
When Ramlakhan fell to Benn for 36, his departure sparked a collapse that threatened to give victory to the police. From 168/4, MYO nosedived to 182/9 as Dhanai (6), Dexter Solomon (1), Keon Roberts (0), Abola Ramsammy (0), and Zeynul Ramsammy all fell in quick succession. However, after his display with the ball, Swamy guided his team home to victory with 13 not out, which included a six and a four to engineer a narrow escape. MYO ended on 195/9 from 32.2 overs, despite Benn’s 5/48 (10 overs).
For his effort with the ball, Benn was adjudged man-of-the-match. The GCA/Pepsi first division 50-overs competition will continue in the coming weeks with the next round of fixtures yet to be released by the GCA.
