After amassing over 1,000 runs in the New York National Cricket League over the past few weeks, Guyanese opener Chandrapaul Hemraj is looking to transfer that form to the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League when he turns out for the Guyana Amazon Warriors this weekend.
The Warriors will start their campaign against hosts St. Lucia Kings on Saturday from 19:00h, and Hemraj is expected to play a key role with his E4 bats as the franchise hunts a maiden CPL title.
The left-hander struck a combined four centuries and six fifties in the Saturday and Sunday Premier competitions, at an astonishing strike rate of 158. For good measure, he also picked up 21 wickets with his left-arm spin.
Below is a modified article published by Liberty Sports Club
International superstar Chandrapaul Hemraj has stamped his presence in the New York National Cricket League’s (NYNCL), 2023, Saturday and Sunday Premier competitions. The flamboyant opening batsman amassed 1,062 runs across both days at an astonishing 158 strike rate.
This includes four centuries and six half-centuries. To emphasise his overwhelming dominance of the league Hemraj’s closest contender on the combined runs tally leaderboard is 218 runs behind in second place. He also took 21 wickets with his left-arm spin.
Hemraj represented Richmond Hill Liberty Cricket Club (RHLCC) in the Saturday Premier, 30-over competition, and Phoenix Cricket Club in the Sunday Premier competition.
The NYNCL commenced in early May 2023 and finished up the final round-robin games on August 13, 2023. The league features a plethora of international and youth-national players predominantly from the islands of the West Indies, India, Pakistan, the USA and Bangladesh.
Playing for RHLCC Hemraj amassed 562 runs across nine innings at an average of 80 runs per inning. His season included two centuries and four half-centuries. Displaying his powerful ball-striking abilities, the stylish opener blasted 47 sixes and 40 fours.
Hemraj’s best knock came in Week 9 of the competition when RHLCC was asked to chase 273 runs in 30 overs. The experienced campaigner took control of the chase from ball one and was there at the end to see home the victory. He scored a fantastic 126 not out off 62 balls, hitting 11 sixes and 10 fours. He and the RHLCC batsmen finished off the chase with 6.1 overs to spare.
At the end of the 30-over competition, prior to the start of playoff matches, Hemraj sits on top of the runs table. He sports the highest average among the top batsmen on the table along with the most sixes. Hemraj also has the most 50-plus scores in the league and is tied for the most centuries.
On Sundays, Hemraj represents Phoenix Cricket Club in the NYNCL Premier 40-over competition. The aggressive left-hander piled on 500 runs across nine innings at an average of 63. His boundary-hitting abilities were prominently on show throughout the competition, striking 45 sixes and 34 fours.
Hemraj’s Sunday season included two centuries. The first, an unbeaten 106, came in his very first Sunday match of the tournament. His best knock of 135 came six weeks later. That inning included 12 sixes and eight fours at a 126 strike rate.
Hemraj finished the 2023 Sunday season third on the Sunday runs table and leads the maximum column, some 18 sixes ahead of the next closest contender.
With the 2023 Caribean Premier League (CPL) now underway, the 29-year-old Hemraj has ended his stint in New York to join the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise. He will be competing in his fifth CPL where he has been a prolific mainstay at the top of the Warriors batting line-up.
