By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – It was billed as Guyana versus Trinidad and Tobago grudge match when Kaieteur B and Superstars/Islanders clash last Saturday in the second division final to mark the end of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) 2018 season.

When the dust had finally settled it turned out to be a one-sided affair with Kaieteur romping to an emphatic seven-wicket victory in the 40-over affair, played at Thackeray Park, Etobicoke.

Asked to take first strike by 12-year-old Ravin Nauth, who was given the privilege of leading Kaieteur in the final, Superstars/Islanders were shut out for a paltry 103 in 27.3 overs. In reply, Kaieteur raced to victory in 17.4 overs,

Kaieteur’s win was engineered by a superb all-round performance from Canadian Under-19 player Raqib Shamsudeen who slammed an unbeaten 58 and grabbed three for 17 from 8.3 overs with his left-arm spin.

The tall and lanky Shamsudeen entered the fray in the seventh over, following the dismissal of opener Kurt DaSilva (eight) via run-out and in a brilliant display, which saw him smash four sixes and an equal number of fours, he carried his team to victory and the second division crown.

Shamsudeen dominated two partnerships, firstly by sharing 27 for the third wicket with Arjuna Sukhu (seven) and an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand with Devin Nauth whose contribution was a mere six not out. Experienced opener Chinta Anandjit contributed 26 with four fours. There was one wicket each for Bobby Sankar (one for 22), Karon Boodram (one for 22) and Nairon Motilal (one for 34).

Earlier, Superstars/Islanders lost wickets at regular intervals and were saved further embarrassment by a gallant rearguard fightback from Motilall who struck four sixes and three fours before he became Shamsudeen’s third victim for a well-played 45, surprisingly batting at number seven.

Apart from Shamsudeen’s fine spell, left-arm medium pacer Khemraj Vinakshor, who started the early destruction, ended with three for 13 while there was one wicket each for Kishan Anandjit, Devin Nauth and Trevor Jerrick for 12, 13 and 31 runs respectively.

Shamsudeen and Motilall were voted the respective Most Valuable Players.

Kaieteur reached the final after inflicting a 12-run win over Palace Panthers in a low-scoring affair, played the previous weekend at the Ashtonbee ground, Scarborough. After being bowled out for 98 in 34 overs, Kaieteur dismissed their opponents for 86 in 34.1 to win by 12 runs overs in the 50-over encounter.

Jerrick was the leading bowler with four for 33 in his 10 overs while Vinakshor (three for 28) and Shamsudeen (two for five in 7.1 overs) were again among the wickets.

Last Saturday’s win, which was witnessed by the largest crowd for any of the 2018 SCA finals, marked the third consecutive year a Kaieteur team has triumphed in a championship game. In 2016, the B won the second division and gained promotion to first division. Last year, the A team were crowned first division winners.

An elated manager/player Vish Jadunauth lauded the efforts of the players while pointing out that the team, who started out as the underdogs, consisted of eight juniors which augurs well for the future of Kaieteur.

Long-standing president Bisham Singh, who is also vice-president of the SCA and executive member Omesh Dass, also showered praises on the players on their emphatic win.