By Danesh Deonarain

May 9, 2012

Playing his first match for Liberty Sports Club, Vijendra ‘Jay’ Singh, put together a steady performance with the bat and ball to boost Liberty Sports Club to a nail biting tie against Richmond Hill Cricket Club.

LSC lost veteran batsman, Marlon Kallicharran, early after they were asked to bat by RHCC. Hemchandrabose Persaud kept the momentum going for the men in blue, scoring a solid 35. However, the loss of Bose Persaud triggered a mid order collapse for LSC as Danesh Deonarain, Michael Noble & 2011 Liberty MVP, Dilly Khilawan, fell shortly after.

With LSC in some trouble Jay Singh joined his captain, Imtiaz Hassan (36), and contributed a valuable 24 in the closing overs of the innings as Liberty SC posted 182 in 39.2 overs Baisley Park “Cage” outfield.

Vijendra “Jay” Singh scored 24 with the bat and took 2 for 32 to help Liberty kept Richmond Hill in check

Sankar brothers Debo & Rayo got RHCC off to an ominous start in their chase. The opening pair put on 103 by the 20^th at which point Richmond Hill looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory. Some athletic and smart work in the field by LSC put a damper in RHCC’s plans, however. Three RHCC bats were run out in a short period of play to even things up.

Jay Singh then made his mark with the ball to remove the Debo (77) off a superb diving catch by 2011 LSC Best Bowler, Thakur Singh.  Jay’s strike swung the match in LSC’s favor with RHCC needing 60 odd runs at a run a ball.

At the other end the veteran spinner Ramratan Jagnarine (8 overs for 26) was strangling the run flow along with Terrence Madramootoo (8-0-35-1). Jay would go on to make another important strike in the latter stages to bowl Fidel Sooknandan.

The game wound down to RHCC needing 7 runs off the last Micheal Noble over. Needing 3 run off the last ball, the young duo of Deoram Puran & Surrendra Naul held their nerve to scamper 2 singles to tie the game for RHCC. Bowling for Liberty Noble had 1 for 31 and Jay Singh 2 for 32.

Earlier in the match Fidel bowled superbly for RHCC, knocking over the top 4 LSC batsmen in his opening spell of 8 overs for 32 runs, able support came from Mahendra Seeram with 2 for 29 and Deoram Pooran 2 for 3.

Both teams will gain 3 points in the Eastern American Cricket Association Zone I points table.