NEW Line Cavaliers (NLC) rebounded from their five-wicket loss to Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) the previous day, to defeat a Barakat All Stars XI by three wickets in a presentation match at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground last Sunday.

Barakat All Stars won the toss and, opting to take first strike, were bowled out for 133 from 19.4 overs, after being comfortably placed on 86-4 in the 10th to which NLC replied with 134-7 from 19.4 overs.

Mahendra Nandkishore (7) and Balram Shivpersaud who recorded his second ‘duck’ of the day, started things for the All Stars XI against the bowling of Chien Gittens (2-31) and Balram Samaroo (1-24), but both were back in the pavilion, thanks to Gittens in the third over.

Amit Jairam (37) and Vickash Dhaniram (18) added 36 for the third wicket, with Jairam hitting Gittens over midwicket twice and Dhaniram a free hit back over the same bowler’s head for maximums all in one over, which brought the spectators who turned out in their numbers to fill the stands, to their feet.

Dhaniram picked out guest player Shemroy Barrington at point when he attempted to hit Samaroo somewhere out of the venue for his third six at 49-3 in the sixth over, but Jairam was joined by Muneshwar Balgobin (25) and they took the fight back to the NLC bowling attack.

Back-to-back sixes which were struck by Balgobin off Samaroo, followed by a Jairam four struck off Orin Forde, but a Mahendra Nagamootoo straight ball accounted for Balgobin who was bowled at 86-4, and from there the procession began for the All Star team.

The spin combination of Nagamootoo and Gajanand Singh who took 3-21, kept a tight rein on the remaining All Star XI batsmen and even though Goberdhan struck Singh back over his head for a maximum, that was to be the last hurrah for his team as they crumbled and were bowled out with two deliveries remaining in the final over.

NLC’s innings got off to a disastrous start, when they lost the pugnacious Lyght Jr who was adjudged lbw off the first delivery, bowled by Benn, who troubled the batsmen with his pace along with the steady swing he was getting from the Northern End of the ground.

Singh 34 (2×6; 1×4) and Barrington (6×4) staged Operation Recovery with an 80-run second-wicket partnership, with Singh reverse-sweeping Goberdhan over backward square leg for six, followed by a four down to long leg from another sweep shot.

Barrington joined in the boundary-hitting act, when he swept Goberdhan to long leg while Singh hit Nandkishore over backward square leg for his second six, before he holed out to Balgobin at long on off Jairam and Barrington picked out Benn at cover off to leave NLC on 80-3 in the 13th over.

Orin Forde 20 (1×6; 1×4) added 33 with Nagamootoo (7), before the latter was caught by Goberdhan at point off Jairam, while Forde who had earlier struck Jairam for a maximum over wide long on, was caught by Mandholall Doodnarine off Jairaj.

NLC started the penultimate over on 121-5, with Tull on 5 and Gittens 4, needing 13 to win and the latter helped ease some of the tension among his teammates who had gathered at the boundary line, when he got a boundary to third man off Benn.

The final over which was bowled by Shawn Jairaj, commenced with four needed for victory and NLC lost both Tull and Samaroo (0), but Gittens kept his nerves while many seemed to have lost theirs and steered his team to victory with three wickets and two balls to spare.

Singh was later declared the man-of-the-match and received a trophy and $20 000 for his efforts, while NLC opted to take half of their cash prize, donating the other half to their opponents for the sturdy opposition they offered in the game.

Hence, NLC took home the winner’s trophy and $50 000, while the All Stars XI pocketed $100 000 and a trophy. Nagamootoo was adjudged Best Bowler and Barrington was the Best Batsman.