Everest Masters complete successful tour of Costa Rica

Everest Masters cricket team was a guest of Costa Rica Cricket Federation where they engaged in matches against Veterans Cricket USA and Los Rocco’s – Costa Rica for the coveted Richard Illingworth Trophy.

The three-match series was played over the Mashramani weekend with the Guyanese side enjoying their celebrations after hard work.
In the opening encounter against Veterans Cricket (VC) USA, Everest Masters won the toss and took first strike on the matting wicket. The Guyanese struggled to 110 all out from 24.4 of their allotted 25 overs with former Demerara Cricket Club player, Troy Dudnauth hitting the top score of 43.
Dudnauth was supported by Anil Beharry and Raja Pooran with 15 runs each and former West Indies youth player, Hemraj Garbarran and Vick Mahabeer with 13 runs each. Bowling for VC USA, Shamshul Huda took 4 for 13 off 4.4 overs, Jwalant Vakil 2 for 9 and Sunny Singh, 2 for 25. In reply, VC USA found the bowling tough and were bundled out for paltry 53 in 21 overs with Amit Patio and Jwalant Vakil scoring 15 and 13 respectively. Pooran took 4 for 3, Mahabeer 2 for 7 and seamer Ucil Armstrong 2 for 9. Skipper Rajesh Singh and Rohan Sarjoo supported with a wicket apiece with their off-spin bowling . Everest Masters won by 57 runs while Pooran was voted as Player of the Match.
In their second match of the tour, Everest Masters took on the home side Los Rocos Costa Rica. Everest masters again opted to bat. They feared much better posting a challenging 146 for 6 off their allotment of 20 overs. The consistent Garbarran top scored with 43 with support from Pooran and Dudnauth with 40 not out and 24, respectively.
Bowling for LR CR, Pillai Sudesh, Sham Murari, Fahad Mirza and Deepak Rai took one wicket each. The host took on the run chase but ended on 139 for 9 off 20 overs, losing by just 7 runs. Rai scored 28 and Mirza 16 while Mahabeer, Imitaz Sadik and Armstrong took two wickets apiece. Beharry and Singh supported with one apiece. For the second consecutive match Pooran won the Player of the Match award.
In their final match, it was a repeat clash against Los Rocos Costa Rica.
This time the home team won the toss and took first strike. They scored 149 for 9 off 20 overs with Rai and Fahad Badri scoring 53 each. With the ball, Armstrong took 3 for 24, Mahabeer 2 for 29 and Sadik, 1 for 31 for Everest Masters who made a valiant attempt in the chase but fell short by 4 runs. Dudnauth made 58 not out and Garbarran 27, retired. Bowling for LR CR, Sudesh and Rai took one wicket apiece. Rai was deservingly named Player of the Match.
Everest Masters won the tournament by virtue of winning more matches than the other two teams. The presentation of the winning trophy was done by Mrs Illingworth. Everest Masters presented plaques to the teams and Sam Arthur, the head of the local Federation in recognizing their kind hospitality. The plaques were specially done by Trophy Stall.
Costa Rica, the Central American nation, became an affiliate member of ICC in 2002. They have hosted several teams such as Panama, Cayman Islands and New Zealand and have toured Nicaragua and Panama.