By Frederick Halley

CRICKET West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) Over-50s made light work of a Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Select X1 in their feature 30-over game, played on Sunday at the Lamoreaux ground, Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.
Led by a sparkling half-century by former Guyana opening batsman, Sudesh Dhaniram, and supporting knocks from his brother Sunil (47) and Vejai Seonarine (38 retired), both also former Guyana players, the CWIMA Over-50s rushed to a challenging 218 for six in their allotted overs.
The SCA X1 innings never got going as they were hustled out for a paltry 85 in 29.3 overs despite 13 players batting, going down by the huge margin of 133 runs as only skipper Surendra “Sporty” Seeraj (33 retired) showed any semblance of wanting to stay at the crease.

Asked to take first strike on a heavy outfield bathed in brilliant sunshine, the CWI Over-50s innings started in dramatic fashion as they lost opener Krishna Harricharran off the first delivery of the innings, brilliantly taken at point by Clement Peters off the bowling of left-arm medium pacer, Calvin Alexander.
However, there was no let-up after the early loss, as Sudesh Dhaniram and Daniel Sadeo added 83 for the second wicket with the former playing some audacious stroke in a stroke-filled 59 which included four fours and four towering sixes, rolling back the years in the process. The more sedate Sadeo retired on 30 (two fours).
With his brother’s departure, stumped by wicket-keeper Matthew Francis off medium-pacer Terry Mathura, Sunil joined the fun, blasting three fours and two sixes in his 47, before he also went via the same route off Nathan Handan.

More fireworks were in store as Seonarine spanked three fours and an equal number of sixes in a quickfire 38 as Handan ended with two for 46, Alexander one for 12 and Mathura one for 22. Apart from Seeraj,who struck four fours and a six, the only other player to reach double figures was Peters (15) as Sunil Dhaniram had figures of two for 23. Prior to the start of the game, the teams were welcomed by SCA President, Shiv Persaud and CWIMA Over-50s manager, Raj Singh, who praised the SCA for being gracious hosts for the occasion. As a token of appreciation, Singh presented Persaud with a CWIMA cap.
CWIMA Over-50s are preparing for a trilateral series in featuring hosts Canada and the USA. West Indies will square off with Canada today in the first game of the ODI series and against USA on Wednesday. The semi-final, featuring the second and third placed teams, will be held on Thursday, with the first-place team qualifying for the final. The tournament culminates with the final on Friday and this will be followed by a closing ceremony. All the games will be played at the Danville ground, Mississauga.