Empire CC defeat Yakusari to capture 1st NYNCL T30 Division 1 crown

Empire Cricket Club completed a memorable season by defeating Yakusari All Stars by 11 runs to win their first New York National Cricket League (NYNCL) Deo & Sons T30 Division One championship at the Baisley Pond Cricket Ground in Queens, New York.
Empire posted 172 for eight from their allotted 30 overs before restricting Yakusari to 161 for nine. The victory completed a Division One double for Empire, who had already secured the regular-season title after topping the standings in the 14-team competition.
Ramesh Kasinath produced the standout all-round performance for the champions, scoring 60 from 48 balls and taking a spectacular boundary catch. He was later named Man of the Final.
Yakusari Captain David Williams Jr won the toss and elected to field. Empire suffered an early setback when leading run-scorer Arnil Ragdnath was dismissed for five, leaving the score at 26 for one after 4.1 overs.

Kasinath, who hails from Chesney, Berbice, then joined Captain Mahendra Persaud in an important 89-run second-wicket partnership. Persaud anchored the innings with a patient 50 from 66 balls, hitting one four and one six, while Kasinath provided the acceleration.
Kasinath struck one four and six sixes during his entertaining innings. He was particularly destructive in one over, which yielded 20 runs and included three sixes.
His dismissal in the 18th over, with Empire on 115 for two, opened the door for Yakusari to fight back. A quick succession of wickets left Empire on 141 for five at the end of the 25th over.
Surendra Ramcharitar, formerly of Albion, Berbice, contributed 18 from 20 balls during the closing stages to help Empire reach their eventual total.
Chasing 173, Yakusari made a positive start when Alex Chuninlal struck Hayden Babulall for six over long-off. Chuninlal attempted another attacking shot the next delivery, but Kasinath completed a brilliant diving catch near the boundary while keeping the ball in play.
Yakusari continued to challenge, but Empire regularly broke partnerships. Avinash Cassie was dismissed with the score on 94 for three, while Somesh Mangaroo fell at 121 for four during the 20th over.
Williams, the son of former West Indies and Trinidad senior men s player David Williams Sr, kept Yakusari in contention with an impressive 66 from 59 balls under pressure. However, fast bowler Jermine Pollard delivered two vital breakthroughs by removing Cassie and Williams with short-pitched deliveries.
Both catches were completed by Ramcharitar near the boundary. Pollard finished with four wickets for 32 runs from six overs, while Chennai-born off-spinner Khoushik Ram claimed three for 26 from his six overs.
With Yakusari s main batters dismissed and the required scoring rate increasing, Empire maintained the pressure and restricted their opponents to 161 for nine.
Williams was named Best Batter of the Final, Pollard collected the Best Bowler award, and Kasinath was adjudged Man of the Final.
Empire team owners Samuel and Stephanie Mahabir expressed satisfaction with the team s performances throughout the season. The success added to the organisation s earlier Guyana Cup of New York T20 title, which was won under the Long Island Raptors franchise, making 2026 its most successful year.
The club also expressed gratitude to sponsors Ahmed s Law Firm, GMA Plumbing, Cottage Home Care, Golden Auto Tech, AMJ Demo, Real Guyana West Indian Fish Market & Grocery, Ink Nerd, Shanta s Restaurant and Bakery, and SamShot Photography.
The final brought the curtain down on the NYNCL s summer Sunday Division One season.