By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada — A weekend that started on a gloomy note, ended in a blaze of glory as Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) recovered from a 192-run thrashing at the hands of Victoria Park to cart off an easy five-wicket victory over Ambassadors Cricket Club when the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) inaugural Elite season continued here.Led by a blazing 81 from debutant Farook Hussain, HACC strode to victory on Sunday at the Terry Fox ground after being set a modest 156 by their opponents who were shot out for 155 in 49.3 overs.
In a brutal display, the former Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) player, who opened the innings with former Guyana and West Indies B player Krishna Arjune, slammed five sixes and seven fours in his 60-ball knock which set tongues wagging at the venue.
The two featured in an opening stand of 82 in 13 overs before Arjune was dismissed for 23. By the time Hussain’s belligerent innings ended when he was adjudged lbw, victory was almost assured and this was achieved in 27.4 overs. Deoraj Amerish claimed three for 17.
Earlier, skipper Ronald Ramnarine led from the front for his team with a fine 54 which included one six and three fours while Richard Dias struck three fours in his 26. Left-arm spinner Imran Khan took three for 22, former Guyana captain Damodar Daesrath two for 24, Arjune two for 25 and Bhim Bodhoo two for 31.
On Saturday, at the same venue, HACC suffered their first loss of the season when they were thumped by Victoria Park in a one-sided affair, albeit fielding a second-string team due to the absence of several key players.
Chasing a daunting 288 for victory, after Victoria Park had soared to 287 for seven in the allotted 50 overs, HACC were shot out for a paltry 95 in 32.5 overs with only Arjune (30) and Bodhoo (22) putting up any resistance. They were undone by the spin of Vishnu Pothugunta (four for 24) and Nirmaul (three for five).
Victoria Park’s innings was bolstered by an opening stand of 127 from Krunal Patel (80) and Daren Benta (54) while former Guyana and Berbice Under-19 all-rounder Eugene LaFleur chipped in with a useful 53. Reynold Tim was HACC best bowler with three for 38 while Iqbal Rahaman took two for 46.
HACC were in winners’ row the previous weekend, earning a 46-run win over rivals Highland Creek at the Ashtonbee Number One ground.
Set a challenging 217 for victory, after HACC had reached 216 for six in 50 overs, Highland Creek were bowled out for 174 in 43.2 overs with Zaheer Allard (three for 18), Imran Khan (two for 25) and Daryl Narine (two for 18) doing the damage.
HACC were led to their winning total through consistent knocks from Arjune (40), Allard (39 not out), Bodhoo (28 not out), Narine (25) and Azhad Amidon (22).
HACC will be back in action again on Sunday when they oppose TP Tigers at Ashtonbee Number One.