A DOMINANT opening partnership of 172 runs between left-handers, Dwayne Adams and Manjrekar Bhola, propelled Everest Cricket Club to an emphatic victory against the Diplomats Sports Club in the GCA New Building Society (NBS) 40-over second-division competition on Sunday last at the Everest ground.

Adams was extremely aggressive, as he belted 10 fours and eight huge sixes, one of which almost cleared Carifesta Avenue, for a top score of 128.

The hard-hitting by the 31-year-old pushed the home team to 263-2 in 33 overs in a rain-reduced fixture. Diplomats were set a revised target of 168 in 33 overs but fell for 120 with 11 balls to spare.

Adams’s highest score in this format of the game proved an inspiration for his teammates since Bhola finished with 61 after reaching the boundary eight times and crossing it once.

When the pair lost their wickets, Adams via stump out, attempting another big shot, and his partner went caught behind, Kamesh Yadram and Richie Looknauth continued the hitting.  Yadram struck four fours in his 30, while Looknauth hit two sixes in his 25.

Diplomats were bundled out due to the left-arm spin of Javed Rasheed.  The former national U-17 cricketer picked up 3-24 from seven overs, while R. Sookdeo, R. Payne and T. Mohamed supported with two wickets each.  The visitors were led by S. Hughes with 25 (2x6s) and A. Foster 23 (3x4s).