Richmond Hill Liberty Cricket Club (RHLCC) turned in a dominating all-round performance on Saturday, September 21st to be crowned the 2019 New York National Cricket League (NYNCL) thirty-over champions! The commanding 8 wicket victory with 14.3 overs to spare against Bachan Cricket Club (BCC) was led by the Most Valuable Player, Dino Chooweenam, who smashed 78 off 29 balls in chasing 149. Best Bowler, Terrence Madramootoo, picked up 3 wickets for 26 runs when RHLCC won the toss and bowled first.
The NYNCL thirty-over tournament began in late May with RHLCC finishing second on the points table. #TheBlueNation finished with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses in the league stage of the tournament. In the quarter-final RHLCC made light work of Columbia Cricket Club chasing the 152 posted in just 15.2 overs Francis Mendonca scored 88 to lead the way. The semi-final against Punjab 11 was a whole lot more challenging with Randy Budhu scoring a match winning 97 not out to chase down 186 runs in the final over.
The final began with RHLCC captain Tegana Mckenzie winning the toss and inserting BCC. Derick Narine had the BCC scorecard rapidly ticking over early on. BCC posted 55 in the first 5 overs but RHLCC did a brilliant job pulling back the run rate. At the 10th over mark BCC was restricted to 80 while losing three wickets. Narine went on to score 50 runs off 32 balls which was highlighted with 4 fours and 4 sixes.
Through the early onslaught Terrence Madramootoo, who started the new ball, bowled brilliantly. He picked up Vejai Somai and Sudesh Dhaniram early in their innings and bowled the danger man Narine before his spell ended. He finished his six over spell with the three wickets and an economy rate of 4.3 runs per overs.
Chooweenam and Leon Mohabir entered the attack and strangled the remainder of BCC’s batsman. Picking up one wicket each, the pair bowled their 6 overs for 27 and 17 respectively. Moien Khan who is the league’s leading wicket taker came back after an expensive opening spell to pick up two wickets while McKenzy and Michael Sultan picked up a wicket each.
The BCC inning was wrapped up for 149 all out in the 30th over. Beejai Somai 28, Mark Tyrell 20 and Vijay Somai 15 were the notable scores along with Narine. The score meant that RHLCC required 5.3 runs per over on a batting friendly Baisley Pond wicket.
Chooweenam, who scored back to back centuries for RHLCC’s Sunday squad the previous week, came out in his usual brutal manner and made the required run rate of 5.3 seem silly. He rocketed to a half century off just 19 balls, in the 6th over. He continued to 78 off 29 balls, hammering 5 fours and 9 maximums, before he was run out. By that time, however, Chooweenam had all but wrapped up the chase with the score on 107 in the 10th over. His opening partner Francis Mendonca departed shortly before for 20 but Azim Khan (17) and Michael Sultan (27), who also was named best fielder, wrapped up the chase in the 16th over.
Club president, Vickey Khilawan, acknowledged the opposition’s success and thanked his players for their efforts over the season and in the playoffs. He also thanked the club’s 2019 sponsors; Sawh Voltcom, Century 21 Professional Realty, Rockaway Group of Companies and B&R Sheet Metal Corp. Khilawan also showered praise for the management of the New York National Cricket League and congratulated them for putting on another successful and well-organized tournament.
The 2019 Liberty Sports Club Inc. is based in Queens, New York and is locally supported by SVC Sawh Voltcomm, Century 21 Professional at 119-17 Rockaway Blvd, B & R Sheet Metal Corp, Rockaway Group of Companies, New York National Cricket League, EBS, LLC and Cricket Helmet Covers, Inc. The club has open membership to all who are interested. Reach out to us via our social media sites by searching ‘Richmond Hill Liberty Cricket Club’ or @LibertySportsC and www.LibertySportsClub.org.