Dhanai leads Long Island Raptors to maiden Guyana Cup title in New York

The Long Island Raptors captured their first-ever New York National League Guyana Cup championship over the past weekend, completing an unbeaten run through the 2026 tournament under the leadership of Guyanese skipper Suresh Dhanai.
The Raptors dominated the competition from start to finish, overcoming rain interruptions and challenging conditions to emerge as champions. Their title-winning campaign culminated in a convincing victory over Queens Sharks in the final, where they successfully chased 132 to seal the trophy.

The Raptors set the tone in their opening match against GT Bulls after restricting their opponents to 76 runs in a rain-affected 10-over contest. Rohin Dutchin then launched a brutal assault with 47 from just 13 balls, including six sixes, while Kevin Sinclair blasted 17 from six deliveries as the Raptors raced to 78 without difficulty in only four overs.
In their second outing, another weather-shortened encounter, Dhanai and Sinclair starred with the ball against Demerara Eagles. Dhanai claimed 3-6 from two overs while Sinclair supported with 3-11 as the Eagles were limited to 67-8 from their allotted overs. The Raptors responded emphatically, reaching 68-1 in just 5.3 overs. Dutchin once again led the charge, smashing 53 from 17 balls with four sixes and five fours.

Persistent rain forced the Raptors’ third preliminary match to be abandoned, but their earlier victories ensured they topped the standings and progressed to the semi-finals.
Facing Essequibo Jaguars, the Raptors maintained their momentum by restricting their opponents to 106-9 from 20 overs. Dhanai, Sinclair, and Mario Lobban each claimed two wickets while Nial Smith and Trinson Carmichael picked up one apiece. Dutchin continued his impressive form with 44 from 30 balls and Akshay Homraj contributed 25 from 15 as the Raptors cruised to 108-3 in just 12.2 overs.
The final against Queens Sharks proved to be the toughest test of the tournament. Queens Sharks posted a competitive 131-9 from their 20 overs, but the Raptors remained composed in the chase. Sinclair struck a rapid 35 from 12 deliveries, Homraj added 32 from 22 balls, and Dutchin chipped in with 24 from 20 as the Raptors reached 132-6 in 15.5 overs to secure the championship.
Dhanai and Sinclair were also influential with the ball in the final. Dhanai returned figures of 3-18 from four overs while Sinclair claimed 3-9 from his four-over spell to help restrict Queens Sharks.
Reflecting on the triumph, Dhanai said winning the toss in each match gave his side confidence heading into games. He also credited the strong support within the squad and the investment made in players by the team’s sponsors, including Movements Family Hotel & Bar and Naven’s Construction.
Dhanai finished the tournament as his team’s second-leading wicket-taker with eight wickets. His best performances included figures of 3-6 against Demerara Eagles, 2-16 against Essequibo Jaguars in the semi-final and 3-18 against Queens Sharks in the final, underlining his pivotal role in the Raptors’ historic championship success.