Belle Vue Sports Club journeyed to the Amerindian settlement of St. Cuthbert’s Mission and beat the hosts by four wickets in a hard fought 25-overs a-side match on Indigenous Heritage Day 2016.
The match was specially arranged by the Rockaway Group of Companies whose Chairman, Hafeez Ali has adopted Belle Vue Sports Club and has a sporting interest in the Indigenous community of St. Cuthbert’s Mission.
Ali and his family were special guests of the community on the auspicious day and celebrated the occasion with the feature cricket match and donations to the community where all visitors were given a meal while being entertained.
Players from the Belle Vue Sports Club and St Cuthbert’s Mission Cricket Team pose with Hafeez and Floretta Ali at the presentation ceremonyTimothy Andrews (right) making the presentation on behalf of St Cuthbert’s Mission to the Alis of Rockaway Group of Companies
The day started in brilliant sunshine with the visitors winning the toss and bowling. St Cuthbert’s began cautiously on the two paced track and heavy outfield which was sandy and lacked grass for most parts. In the fifth over with the score on 23, Julio Ferriera was caught at mid-on off Dyal Rajpat for four. Rayon Ganpath came at number three and immediately stamped his authority by blasting two sixes and two fours in an attacking 26 to give the innings some momentum. He witnessed opening batsman Stallone Simon, who is a school teacher in the village, bowled by the lanky Royston Austin for 15 at 45/2 at the end of the eight over.
When the attacking Ganpath was adjudged LBW to medium pacer Krishna Singh at 67/3 in the 10th over, Belle Vue were back in the game and put the brakes on the home team. Another school teacher, Avenash Poonsammy became Austin’s second victim at 77/4 in the 12th over. Captain Timothy Andrews came and stabilized the middle order but found the going tough and was soaking up deliveries and not scoring freely due to tight bowling. At the other end, Clinton Wong (02) and Alfiaz Dundas (0) were removed in the 17th over which was bowled by seamer Sarfraz Baksh with the score on 88/6 before a sharp shower sent the players off for about an hour.
Upon the resumption, Belle Vue wrapped up the hosts tail with only Andrews, 11 showing fight. Anand Persaud bowled after the rain to claim 3/7 from two overs and five balls to see the home team limited to 105 from 22.5 overs. Persaud was well supported by Singh with 3/10, Austin 2/10 and Baksh 2/20 with Rajpat claiming one.
The eventual victors were made to work hard for their runs as the home team showed great fight in defending the runs on the board and their home territory. Belle Vue eventually scrapped home with four wickets and 11 balls to spare as St Cuthbert’s used six bowlers smartly with Andrews returning to take 2/12 with his medium pace while there was one each for Alfiaz Dundas (1/10), Ronnie Simon (1/14), Julio Ferriera (1/18) and Avenash Poonsammy (1/20).
It took a brave innings of 36 not out from Man of the Match Kerwin Benntte to guide Belle Vue home after they were struggling at 30/4 in the ninth over with Rockaway boss Hafeez Ali (0), Sahadeo Hardaiow (3), Colin Boucher (6) and Krishna Singh (2) all back in the hut. Dyal Rajpat (14) and Bennette added a crucial 26 for the fifth wicket from 35 balls to put the run chase back on track. When Rajpat was dismissed at 56/5 in the 14th over Imran Khan stroked 10 and added 40 runs with Bennette in eight overs before Royston Austin came and blasted a maximum to seal the deal after it was getting too close for comfort.
At the presentation ceremony that followed, Bennette received a cricket bat for his efforts while Persaud was named best bowler and collected a trophy. The Rockaway Group of Companies presented cricket gears and uniforms to the male team from St. Cuthbert’s while the female team got uniforms and four softball bats. Hafeez Ali also presented the St. Cuthbert’s football and volleyball teams with uniforms and balls while the Belle Vue Sports Club received tee-shirts.
The St. Cuthbert’s community through their male cricket captain, Timothy Andrews, presented the Chairman of the Rockaway Group of Companies, Hafeez Ali with a hand carved ornament in the shape of a bird while Mrs. Floretta Ali was presented with handmade jewellery and a knitted shoulder bag. Andrews thanked their special guests for the memorable day while an emotional Ali (Hafeez) thanked the wonderful hosts for the opportunity and said the day’s event will not be the last.
