… HACC record six-wicket victory over TP Tigers

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada — Former Guyana wicketkeeper Azib Alli Hanif rolled back the years with a flawless unbeaten 61 to lead Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) to a six-wicket victory over TP Tigers when the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) inaugural Elite League continued at the Ashtonbee ground here last Sunday.The honours, however, did not belong to the diminutive batsman alone as Azhad Amidon (40 not out) and left-arm spinner Bhim Bodhoo (four for 16) also played major roles in the decisive win.
Set 173 for victory, after limiting TP Tigers to 172 all out in 31 overs, HACC reached the required target in 29.4 overs, thanks mainly to the efforts of Hanif and Amidon who cane together with HACC shakily placed at 64 for three in the 12th over.
Openers Farouk Hussain (20) and Bodhoo (30) had earlier given the predominantly-based Guyanese team a flying start before both departed within 13 runs of each other.
More disaster followed as Daryl Narine (0) and skipper Hemnarine Chattergoon (0) went in quick succession before Hanif and Amidon came together to share an unbeaten stand of 109 in just over 17 overs.
Mixing aggression with impeccable defence, Hanif thrilled the small crowd with some scintillating shots as he spanked 10 fours and a solitary six while a more subdued Amidon recorded four fours.
TP Tigers best bowlers were Anil Kumar with two for 39 in eight overs and Tarun Chandarni two for 54 in 9.4 overs.
Winning the toss and electing to take first strike, TP Tigers were also off to a fine start before Chattergoon, with three quick scalps, stemmed the flow of runs.
At 75 for six in the 14th over, TP Tigers seemed in dire straits before a fine seventh-wicket partnership of 62 between Ubedur Rahaman (52) and Ivan Asirtvatham (19) revived their sagging hopes. But once the partnership was broken by Bodhoo, the innings quickly folded with the last three wickets falling at 172, all to the persevering left-arm spinner.
Bodhoo ended with the impressive figures of four for 16 from three overs while Chattergoon took three for 35 from his 10 and Imran Khan two for 47, also from 10.
Rahaman, who was in a no-nonsense mood, blasted four sixes and a four in his knock while opener Vikas Sharma (30) was also in six-hitting mode with four.
HACC will be in action again on Sunday, July 10 when they oppose Bawa Cricket Club.