Yutesh ‘Avi’ Dhanpaul, currently playing in the Commonwealth Cricket League in New York with fellow Zeeburg Cricket Club member Balbiner Shivpersaud, has blasted a 14-ball 50 to help his team, WCWCC, to its ninth consecutive win in that league.
The match was originally a 30-over affair to be played against the in-form Horizon Cricket Club at the 73rd Park in New York, but overs were reduced to 25 each because of the vagaries of the weather.
Yutesh Avi Dhanpaul blasted 50 from 14 deliveries
Horizon CC took first strike with an intention of setting a target in the 250-run mark to give their opponents a challenge. They, however, were unable to tap into their full potential, as Warriors drew first blood, capitalised on the ‘powerplay’ overs, and picked up a few wickets.
Forced on the defensive, Horizon found the going too tough for their liking; as, whenever a partnership was budding, the Warriors would dent Horizon’s hopes of achieving a challenging total.
Horizon could muster only 111-9 in their allotted 25 overs, Anwar Khan being top-scorer with 23. Bowling for the Warriors, Anil Sookdeo took 3 for 7, and Chanderpaul Persaud chipped in with 2 for 25.
Needing a simple total of 112 for victory off 25 overs, at a net run rate of 4.48 runs per over, the WCWCC opening pair of Yutesh Dhanpaul and Balbiner Shivpersaud took to the crease; but Shivpersaud fell for 28, as he missed the 50-run mark for the first time in five matches.
With the duty of leading the team to victory now left up to club mate/countryman Dhanpaul, he produced a scintillating innings of 50 that included four maximums and 5 boundaries, while Jetendra Kishore was left unbeaten on 25.
The Warriors have now won nine consecutive matches in this league.
