• Earns him and his mother a trip to Barbados for CPL final

FOUR months ago, 15-year-old Malteenoes leg-spinning all-rounder Wasim Ali was mourning the loss of his dad, who died of a lung infection at the age of 92.

But it’s funny how life changes with one spark of brilliance.

On Wednesday, at the Guyana National Stadium at the Providence Stadium, Wasim was designated as one of the ‘Boundary Riders’ tasked with retrieving balls that got hit for sixes.

Big hitter Quentin Sampson smashed a six in his match-winning innings for the Warriors and the Demerara U-13 and U-15 Inter-County player nonchalantly moved to his right to hold a stupendous one-handed catch while demonstrating excellent balance before calmly taking his seat beyond the boundary ropes.

The catch, which could compete with several of those taken on the field, flooded social media seconds after it was replayed.

“I knew that with Sampson batting I was in a hot spot…so I was hoping he would hit a six my direction. I just timed my jump, stretched out my hand and took the catch.

It was exciting to catch the ball…I felt really great to see it on the replay screen. I did not know it (catch) had spread on Facebook so fast,” disclosed Wasim, who played at the second division and U-17 level for Malteenoes.

“When I was told that my mom and I would be going to the CPL final in Barbados because of that catch, it was unbelievable. Earlier this year I was in Barbados, but my mother has never been there, and I am so excited she is coming with me,” said Wasim who has scored a couple of fifties in the Georgetown U-15 trials.

Guyanese Chutney and Soca Singer Mahendra Ramkellawan who lives in New York, explained that the match was shown at the Regent Street Lounge in Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill, Queens, New York and he and his friends saw Wasim’s brilliant one-handed catch and he decided to reward him with a trip to Barbados.

“The Guys watching the cricket here were more excited about the catch than Sampson hitting the six. Young talent like this deserves recognition and support. That’s why I have decided to reward him with a trip to CPL final.” Explained Ramkellawan, whose song ‘Dem ah Watch Meh’  is among his many hits.

Wasim, who was born on August 4, 2011, to Wasad and Sumintra Ali and resides in Coverden East Bank Demerara, said that he was told by his coach at Malteenoes Quinson Nedd, that Republic Bank will present him with a gift at tonight’s CPL game at Providence.

“I attend the Yarowkabra Secondary and joined Malteenoes three years ago, at 11. I started bowling leg-spin because of Warriors captain Imran Tahir, who is my favourite cricketer,” concluded Wasim, whose next mission is to meet Tahir in person.

Television commentator Ian Bishop, who called the catch live, is also a former Malteenoes pacer, and Wasim would also love to meet him.

The link to getting Regent Street Lounge to sponsor the Barbados trip for Wasim and his mom was made by Vannie Coonjah-Robins, who was the scorer at Malteenoes during the 1990s.