RICHMOND Hill Liberty Cricket Club dominated their season opener in the 30-over cricket League with a commanding 226-run victory over Game Changer’z at Baisley Pond in Queens NY, on Saturday. Richmond Hill, a predominantly overseas-based Guyanese team, won the toss and opted to bat first. Although they lost one of last season’s top performers, Dion Chooweenam (1) cheaply, former Berbice inter-county cricketer, Derick Narine, who had delivered a man-of-the-match performance to lead Phoenix XI to the Saturday’s T20 league victory in 2020, was able to play his game. Narine and former national U-19 cricketer, Azeemuddin Khan, added 59 for the second wicket, before Narine fell in the ninth over for 43. His innings was punctuated by eight fours and a six in 21 balls. Troy Mars joined Khan and the two Guyanese continued the assault. For the third wicket, the duo produced a batting display by adding 151 in 15.3 overs.

Khan, who struck eight fours and two sixes, made 68 from 57 balls, while Mars, who lost his wicket soon after, scored an aggressive 92 from 62 balls. He slammed six sixes and eight fours in his innings. Later in the innings, Terrence Madramootoo also played a few shots. His 38 runs from 17 balls included four sixes and a four.
By the end of their 30 overs, the Guyanese-dominated side were able to push their score to a respectable 283-8.
Sikh team Game Changer’z could not get on top of the bowling in their turn in the middle.
In fact, only two players, Skipper Lavi Singh (13) and Jatinder Singh (11) reached double figures as the side succumbed for 57 in 14 overs.
Medium-fast bowler Jason Rooney nabbed 4-25 from six overs, while fellow medium-pacer, Narine, grabbed 2-12 from four overs. Off-spinners Madramootoo and Chooweenam finished with 2-13 from three overs and 2-3 from one over respectively.