TORONTO, Canada – A brilliant bowling and fielding display saved the day for Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) after an indifferent batting performance against Highland Creek in Sunday’s Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Premiere League semi-finals, played at the Ashtonbee ground here.
Seeking their sixth consecutive title, HACC huffed and puffed their way to what seemed an inadequate 128 all out in 38.1 overs but rebounded to bundle out their opponents for a paltry 90 in 45.5 overs, winning by 38 runs before their vociferous and loyal supporters.
Led by a brilliant bowling performance from former West Indies One-day player Royston Crandon, who captured four for 10 from his 10 overs, four of which were maidens, Highland Creek found the going extremely tough, as HACC bowlers kept a tight rein on proceedings, amidst an extremely tense atmosphere.

The victory ensured HACC a spot in Saturday’s final against Scarborough Cricket Club (SCC) who got past Victoria Cricket Club at the same venue.
Crandon, who also plays for Brampton Masters in the Toronto and District Elite League, received valuable support from Bim Bodhoo (two for 26), skipper Hemnarine Chattergoon (one for 14), Krishna Arjune (one for 17) and Zaheer Allard (one for 23).
Middle-order batsman Desai Kartic offered token resistance for Highland Creek with a defiant 23 before he was trapped lbw by Allard.
Earlier, HACC innings never got going, losing the experienced duo of Arjune (seven), a former Guyana and West Indies B team opener and Crandon (14) also Chattergoon (13). However, a face-saving unbeaten 23 from number nine batsman and wicketkeeper Mathew Francis, ensured they got past 100. Francis clobbered two sixes and a four after HACC were tottering at 92 for eight.
Jahanzeb Niazi was Highland Creek’s best bowler with four for 41 from his 10 overs.
In Saturday’s quarter-final, played at L’amoreaux ground, also in Scarborough, HACC defeated Toronto Smashers by four wickets with their batters faring better after being set 178 for victory.
Opener Reyaz Prahalad, who was unfortunately sidelined by a hamstring injury for Sunday’s semis, led the way with a top score of 43, which included six fours with Bodhoo hitting a quick-fire 40 with seven boundaries and Crandon unbeaten on 31 when victory was achieved at 180 for six in 40 overs.
Toronto Smashers were indebted to Muhammad Salman’s 42 (six fours) and Muhammad Usmani who was left high and dry on 37 when the innings ended.
Arjune, showing his all-round ability, ended with four for 37 in 8.1 overs while there was one wicket each for Allard, Chattergoon, Bodhoo and Crandon.
Saturday’s final will bring the curtain down on the SCA 2015 season with Sunday being an alternative day should the inclement weather intervene.
Despite Sunday’s scare, HACC president Narchand ‘Archie’ Mohan is extremely confident his charges will rise to the occasion and will once again come out top in Saturday’s final.

By Frederick Halley