By Royo Sankar.

A superb all round efforts by Richmond Hill Cricket Club with just 9 players completed a resounding victory over East side Warriors cricket club last Sunday at Brentwood Park. Winning the toss, the veteran skipper Ramphal Bactowar did not hesitate to take first strike under glorious sunshine. Debo Sankar and Jerry Heyligher opened the innings  and with the score on 18, Jerry Heyligher was run out going for a quick single,  soon after Dhaniram Seepersaud 8 and Debo Sankar 16 were back in the pavilion  and with  Richmond Hill precariously placed at 47 for 3 wickets,  due to some consistence bowling and fielding by East Side Warriors cricket club.

Royo and Seeram led the recovery for Richmond Hill

However,  Royo Sankar and Mahendra ‘Murph’ Seeram staged a superb  4^th wicket recovery with a   partnership of 80 runs. Royo Sankar batted brilliantly before being caught in the deep for 46 (3×4) with the score on 127, Deryck Mc Donald joined Mahendra Seeram and took the score to 186, before Mahendra Seeram trying to up the ante in the final overs was caught for a superb 51(3×4-1×6). Former Guyanese youth player Deryck Mc Donald remained unbeaten on 30(2×4) as the innings closed at 192 for5 wickets off their allotted 35 overs. Wickets fell at 18, 36, 47, 127and 186. Sajjad Ishfaq had the most success with 2 wickets.

Eastside Warriors needing 193 for victory at 5.5 run per over and with Richmond Hill fielding only 8 players as Jerry Heyligher had to leave the Field after a few over  with a severe back pain on a typical fast Brentwood track. It appeared that the target look an easy run home. However, that was easier said than done as the stalwarts of Richmond Hill C.C. persevere for victory with a superb team effort.

Ali Alvi led the charge with a well compose 65 (4×4-1×6) before Ramphal Bactowar rattle his stumps. Mahendra Seeram bowled the Dangerous Sabeeh Rafique for a duck while Saud Alvi was brilliantly caught by Alim Ibrahim at short cover for 16 by the same bowler. Sajjad ishfaq was trapped lbw for 12 by Dhaniram Seepersaud, part time bowler Alim Ibrahim accounted for Shahid Ahmed 4 and Usman Rafique 5 as wickets continue to tumble. However, with the asking rate climbing to 7 and later 8 an over, Salman Rafique give Eastside Warriors some hope with a cameo 26 toward the end before being bowled by Mc donald. Perseverance from the Richmond Hill players was too much for Eastside as Ramphal Bactowar clean up the last two wickets to give Richmond Hill victory by 28 runs. Eastside Warriors wickets fell at 21 , 22, 50 , 82, 88 , 95, 158 , 158 ,160 ,and 165. Ramphal Bactowar   accounted  for 3 wickets , Mahendra Seeram , Alim Ibrahim And Deryck Mcdonald had 2 each.

As the RHCC players celebrated some of them happy declared “This is one of the best game I ever played”. As final round  of Zone 1 came to an end.

In other matches in Zone I, Camelot failed to show against Everest/ACS . Liberty confirmed their place in Division a with a convincing win over Enmore as Noble scored 9o not out to follow up his ton last week. Nicholas Stanford scored an unbeaten double ton, 201 as Atlantis steam rolled Phantom.