FORMER National U-15 player Andrew Samaroo delivered a clinical batting performance to lead the Bel Air RUBiS cricket team to an eight-wicket win over Everest in the third clash of the GCA Friends of Cricket Hundred Overs U-17 Tournament.

Everest did almost everything correct after winning the toss yesterday morning at the Camp Street ground. They batted out 55 overs (which restricted their opponents to just 45 overs) got several starts, but were also guilty of not putting together solid partnerships, which restricted them to 167-9 when the first innings ended.

Anthony Khan 17 runs (3×4) and Matthew Nandu 19 runs (4×4) had given the home team a quick 29-run start before the opening wicket fell, but except for 31 from Ushardeva Balgobin (1×4, 3×6) none of the other batsmen took the initiative.

Pacer Omari Lalbachan led the RUBiS attack with 3-35, while off-spinners Rudranauth Kissoon and Samaroo supported with two wickets each.

THE CHASE
Samaroo showed class when RUBiS batted. The right-hander, who went to the crease at 13-1, teamed up with Alex Persaud for some mature stroke-plays.

In the 24th over, when Persaud fell, attempting to belt left-arm spinner Raynaldo Mohamed over the long off boundary, the pair had already put together 130 runs and were in sight of victory.

Persaud, who had pockets of flurry, had played somewhat of a supporting role to Samaroo.  The opener finished with six fours in his score of 47, while Samaroo, who saw his team home in 27 overs, finished with 90 unbeaten runs (11×4, 3×6).