Fifty from McCalmont; Thomas, Joseph claims 5-wkt hauls

By Sean Devers

The latest round of the New Building Society (NBS) 40-over second division cricket tournament continued yesterday for teams in the City with Queen’s College beating Everest by 105 runs and MYO getting past Bel Air by seven wickets.

At the Queen’s College ground, QC were bowled out for 186 in 26.4 with Hakeem McCallister stroking a shot-filled 58 from just 31 balls with nine boundaries which included five sixes while Tuan Hicks made 31 from 58 balls with three fours.

Jonte Thomas hit a four and a six in a 14-ball 18 while opener Owen Andrews stroked three boundaries on the fast outfield in a cameo 17.
Extras contributed 32 as Floyd Joseph 5-33 and got support Kishaun Tracy who took 3-38.

Everest were bowled out for an embarrassing 81 in just 14 overs on scorching hot day as only Stuart Happy top-scored with a run-a-ball 29 as he reached the boundary five times while Rishi Hirilall (12) was the other batter to reach double figures on a decent pitch.

Thomas was the architect of destruction; capturing 6-9 while McCallister, who opened the bowling, followed up his half-century with 3-33 to trigger the slide by removing Hirilall, Denesh Mangal (1) and Tracy (2) to leave the Everest on 30-3.

Stuart Happy and Airel Tilku (9) then saw the 50 posted before Happy was run out at 54-4 to start a dramatic collapse which saw the last six wickets tumbling for 13 runs as Thomas befuddled the middle and lower order batters.

In the other NBS game played yesterday, home team MYO dismissed Bel Air Rubis for 78 in 22. 4 overs as Anthony Khan hit five fours but struggled to score freely on the small ground, taking 60 balls to accumulate his 28 while Arvinda Gainda fought fire with fire in his 26 from 28 balls with four fours and six.

The pair joined forces with his team wobbling on the ropes on 19-7 and carried the score 76-8 before Khan was removed by Yekini Favourite, then Gainda, one of three brothers in the team, departed a run later.

Suresh Dhanai, who ran in hard and tested the batters with some good short balls on one of the faster tracks in the city, ripped out the top order.
He first had Ajay Gainda (0), Irfaan Ali for a duck, and Mahindra Jeenarine (6) to leave Bel Air Rubis on 11-3.
But Arvinda Gainda and Khan ensured their team passed 50 with Gainda ‘throwing the Kitchen Sink’ at the bowlers.

Marlon Boele and Favourite supported the lively Dhanai with two wickets each for MYO who reached the victory target in 14.2 overs.
Sagar Hatiramnani top scored with 26 from 21 balls with five boundaries.

Favourite hit a couple of fours in his unbeaten 16 while Zeynul Ramsammy reached the boundary once in his subdued undefeated 14.

The GCA’s tournaments are being marred by the unavailability of umpires with many opting to render their services in East Bank and West Demerara where fees are reportedly more lucrative.
The first day of yesterday’s two-day first division game at Malteenoes was called off because both of the umpires failed to turn up for duties on a day blessed with glorious sunshine, a hard pitch and a freshly-cut ground.