By Avenash Ramzan
National Under-19 batsman Bhaskar Yadram continued his fine form in 2016 by slamming a hundred for Enterprise A at the weekend, but he could not inspire victory as First-Class all-rounder Amir Khan powered Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) to victory in the semi-final of the East Coast Cricket Committee/Fairfield SC sponsored T20 competition.
Playing at the Enterprise Busta Sports Club at the weekend, Enterprise A rattled up 170-8 from the allotted overs after deciding to bat first on a decent batting surface.
The right-handed Yadram, who was part of the successful national Under-19 Guyana team in the regional tournament this year, and also struck two centuries in one match in the Guyana Jaguars Four-day League a month ago, blasted a magnificent 119 to lead Enterprise A batting effort.
He smashed 13 fours and six sixes, as leg-spinner Khan claimed 3-12 and fellow spinner Yuvraj Dyal bagged 2-34.
In reply, ECCCC got off to a good start, with Bheemraj Ramkelawan (28) and Imran Hassan (44) scoring 61 in five overs for the first wicket. The dismissal of the two openers in the first 10 overs resulted in the required run rate reaching 12 per over.
Khan, a former West Indies Under-19 player, then took control with 56 from 30 balls before he fell to Pradesh Balkissoon with ECCCC still needing 18 from two overs.
Nandram Gobin then struck 15 from six deliveries, which included a boundary and a maximum off the final over bowled by Vivian Albert, resulting in ECCCC winning with three deliveries to spare. Balkissoon and Chatterpaul Singh took 3-26 and 3-24 respectively for Enterprise A.
In the other semi-final, Strathavon, led by the in-form Chandrapaul Hemraj, outplayed Lusignan by seven wickets. Chasing 144 for a spot in the final, Strathavon raced to 147-3 off 14.3 overs with Hemraj counting seven sixes and five fours in an unbeaten 83.
Sewchand Budhu chipped in with 48 (2x4s), as spinner Rajendra Naikbarran claimed all three wickets, conceding 34 runs. Earlier, Lusignan’s 143-2 was built around 68 not out from Steve Ramdass and 41 from Leon Morgan.
The final between ECCCC and Strathavon will be played on December 4 at the Fairfield ground.
