In preparation for the 2018/2019 NBS 2nd Division 40-Over tournament, the Transport Sports Club (TSC) were invited to play an invitational game against Fairfield on Sunday on home turf.
Akeem Redman starred with the bat and ball in a losing effort
On a sunny but humid day, Fairfield won the toss and elected to bat first. Because of the late start, the overs were reduced, leaving each team to play an allotted 35 overs. With the pitch looking like a batsman’s paradise, Fairfield posted 251-7 off their allotted 35 overs.
Ramnarine Chaturia got the Fairfield innings started with a responsible 32 (3×4, 1×6) but did not receive support from his team mates, four of whose wickets had by then fallen for 33 runs.
Shortly after Ramnarine fell, thanks to the bowling of Shaun Massiah, to leave Fairfield wobbling.
However, the partnership of S. Ramotar, 39 (3×4, 3×6), Richard Chaturia, 45 (5×6, 4×4), and M Shaw who blasted 71 not out, which included five sixes and four fours, led the Fairfield innings to 251-7.
Bowling for TSC, Shaun Massiah bagged 3-53, Alvin Mohabir 2-21, and Akeem Redman 1-19, which included two magnificent catches out in the deep.
With a total of 252 to chase down for victory, TSC were able to make only 210-4 in their 35 overs. Sent in to bat, A. Hinds and R. Davies looked composed, but Ramnarine Chaturia’s deceptive bowling saw Hinds departing for 8.
Davis was still at the crease, and he composed a resistant 30, which included a four and a six. As he tried to stabilise the innings, he was bowled by Leon. Shortly after, A. Mohabir fell for a duck off the bowling of Chaturia, leaving the innings up to Akeem Redman, 62 (5×4, 3×6) and Shamar Yearwood, 40 (3×4).
Their efforts weren’t enough to save TSC, as Redman was clean bowled, leaving Yearwood and Massiah, 31 (2×4) under pressure to try taking the team over the line. They couldn’t, and Fairfield won the match by 41 runs.
Bowling for Fairfield, R. Chaturia claimed 3-36 and Leon 2-28.
With TSC losing their warm-up match, they will be looking to employ new strategies as they aim to lift the title from Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in this year’s edition of the NBS 2nd Division 40- Over tournament. (Timothy Jaikarran)
