FunnBoy Game Report

The new Millennium so far has been very good to Riverside cc. The guys are playing hardcore cricket never giving up even if the fat lady sings. In 1999 Riverside lifted the inaugural Saturday League Championship, with the new year they won the Hall of Fame Sixes Tournament and now taking the Saturday League Championship again in 2000. The gods must lvu these bunch of cricketers. The clash, Riverside and New Britain CC was full of big stroke makers and lots of runs. The stage was set for the action at Keany Park Oval in CT. On a hot and humid day both teams did not let the weather become a factor as there was lots of ice tea and Gatorade.

The toss went up and Riverside got it right, electing to bat, this was a wise move as the wicket looked good enough to assist the batsman. This 40 overs contest was officiated by Syd Downer and Arlington, don't mess with these umpires as both team captains Riverside Sheik Mohamad and New Britain Dalton James listen carefully to the officials instruction.The game started at 12 noon sharp. Before I get to the main course, this reporter stumble upon a Riverside secret, apparently players from riverside like to have coco bread and a beef patties before the start of the game especially when its hot and humid as it was on this day. What could be the advantage in this ritual, can't say.

Riverside Batting: Opener Sheik Mohamad and Jc Ballie was eager to get on with the action, both of these guys are excellent strokes makers. Sheik took first strike and his usual technical application was evident, sending the ball through covers for a duce. New Britain Bowlers Waldan and McDonald bowled a tight opening spell making the batsman earn every run. Jc was quick to jump at a full pitch ball driving it straight to the ropes for a splendid four. Both batsman took opportunities and convert it to runs, and more runs. However Sheik was the first to go while attempting to lift one over the 15 yard he was caught, ending his stay, contributing 14 runs. Waldan got the prize scalp of the Riverside Captain. Waldan was fired up a few delivers later he had JC caught at the boundary. In came Mohammad Moka Khan, a very hard hitting and controversial player especially when he has the bat in his possession. Moka started curiously, I would say a bit boring, as he usually show his wicked intentions from ball one, he probable had too much coco bread, Waldan kept on bowling and Moka played scoring a few singles, while attempting to pull back his next shot, the ball found a faint edge and the keeper snatched it up, he was gone for four. At this stage Rcc was not looking that good, The new pair of Shannan Ragnaught and Tony Kallicharan brought back Riverside to the forefront, Tony an aggressor by choice and Shannan a classic bat by design played some magnificent strokes, in rescuing the innings, Tony in his fury belted two sixers way over the stands slamming into the 100 year oak tree. Shannan was not far behind matching strokes with his partner, he sent a short pitch delivery over the fence and another wayward ball across the ropes. But as they say all good things must come to an end and this it did in a flash, Shannan attempting to flog another loose ball was gone caught, off the bowling of Cunningham. At this stage Riverside was looking a bit under-done 84 for 4.

Shazam Hussain enter the playing field, lets say with a name like Shazam he must be a genie. Shazam originally from Albion Guyana was brought up in the rich tradition of some great cricketers, and he exemplifies all the qualities to be a run machine, guess what this kid is only 17, yeah that right but he played with the maturity and experience of a seasoned veteran. Wam Bam Shazam, played his first few for singles and then stepped it up, running quick deuces, This kid can bat playing all the bowling with ease, displacing balls to all parts of the ground. With runs coming in a rush Tony with his, how can we say, Flamboyance went for big shot but unluckily for him he was caught. Tony was gone after entertaining the crowd with 26 on the board. The new man and veteran of Rcc Ashok Rangandan, form the alliance with Shazam and took the game away from new Britain. With the kid and the veteran on deck, there was no stopping the lethal formation. Shazam was in the mood to show off his rich array of shots, playing some from the book and creating some that is not even in the book. It was pure agony for Bowlers, Lester King a stalwart of New Britain, came running in to bowl, the ball was a fraction bit short and with one leg up in the air and perfectly balanced Shazam hooked for a glorious boundary. Upon this stroke their were sudden silence in the stands, the fans was amazed at this kid. Ashok being the veteran watch and appreciated the Kid from the other end, of course the senior man was not about to be upstaged by a seventeen year old, just to remind the fans that he also can play shot, Ashok heaved a delivery form James, with the ball landing 15 yards over the ropes, a beautifully timed sixer. Shazam went into overdrive and bust lose, as overs were running out, he stepped it up and trashed a few more to the ropes reaching his half century in quick time. Going for the runs he was caught off the bowing of Donavan. He ended his innings on 54 including five scintillating 4's the fans couldn't ask for any thing more from a 17 year, upon reaching the stands he was given a standing ovation.

Raj was the next man in, He is a Carl Hooper Clone only he is aggression extraordinary. With Ashok playing the supporting role, runs was constantly flowing, but while going for his famous sweep shot, he was bowled, by Donavan. Ashok contribution was a valuable 23 runs, helping to stabilize the inning. Krishna Kallicharan replaced Ashok but he was gone faster than you can say Spicy Buffalo Wings. Krishna became the unlucky guy to be judged LBW, but he did score 4 runs. Sanjay Patel and Raj was now starting to form a quick partnership. With Raj looking to beat bowling he became a different man and started on a rampage, slapping the ball left and right up and down you name it he did it. Donavan bowling Raj wacked it back over the bowler head for a beautiful sixer way over the 20 x 15 side screen. Raj wasn't done yet next ball, gone to the ropes, two runs later the fielder was heading back to the parking lot to pick up the bruised ball, another big six. Raj took 23 off one over from Donavan. Sanjay was no slow poke either, getting in the act clobbering a four, what a shot this was. Raj was not out on 31 and Sanjay when he did get to face the ball made use of the opportunity scoring in double figures.. he made a remarkable 11. Once again Taj FunnBoy Khadar did not get to bat especially seeing that he bought a new BDM Bat this year, poor Taj this reporter believes that the only time Taj used his new bat, was when he was breaking it in. Riverside innings came to a close, with a Godzilla score of 223 .. that's big, will New Britain reach the target. Keep reading.

New Britain Batting if you think Lara and Tendulkar are masters of the 15 over 15 yard rule, then think again, with New Britain openers Lester King and William Harris, these bad boyz came out and battered everything that came their way. Harris was especially server on the Riverside Bowlers, clobbering the ball to all parts, smashing some serious sixes, this man should be ticketed for illegal batting, he was on a destructive path, Riverside didn't help their cause either dropping Harris once. King the more orthodox player of the two was scoring with ease, until the captain tossed the ball to Khadar, their was definitely some bad blood here between these to playaz. King and Khadar apparently went to the same high school, with both liking the same chick. It is still unknown who got to home plate first. King played the venom of Khadar deliveries very watchfully, but after some sledging form Khadar, King lost his concentration going after a ball out side off stump, this was his error, only having the ball glide the edge of the bat offering a simple catch to keeper Sheik Mohamad. King was no longer in the picture scoring 17. Harris was joined by Haynes and the runs kept on coming, Haynes going for a quick run was sent packing falling short of the crease, being a run out victim. New Britain was still on target after six overs the score was 42 for 2. The next man in was the Captain Dalton James, this guys loves to beat the leather, he is probable the hardest hitter of the ball in Connecticut. His first scoring shot was a boundary, the next ball he faced went for a six, Riverside looked a bit nervous after seeing James use his big willow. James and Harris was playing with ease, at one point the batsman started to talk a bit of trash, what can I say welcome to America. New Britain raced to 100 in fourteen overs, this was spectacular. Harris was on the move reaching his half century in quick time, but as he played a wild shot he was completed bowled by Jc Ballie finishing off an aggressive innings, scoring a brutal 54.

James was joined by another guy named Mohammad, wow lots of mohammad, James continued his onslaught on the riverside bowlers, but his luck was over with the introduction of the spin of Raj Rai, playing at a china man, James was caught by Krishna running at least 20 yards before catching up with the ball, securing it with the hands of glue. James contributed 39 for his team. Mohammad kept the runs ticking, playing sensibly, he became victim of the LBW scoring 23, The next man in was in a hurry to catch a train, Watson, he was run out, scoring only 1 run. Better Luck next time Watson, maybe Holmes will investigate into the run out. The boys from New Britain was in a bit of a jam at this stage with only bowlers coming to bat now, it didn't look good, but valiant efforts from Edwards 7, Cunningham 2, Waldan 10, and McDonald not out 14 saw them reach the 200 mark, but that was all as New Britain fell 23 runs short of the target with 5 overs to spear. Over all this was an exciting game, extremely competitive and provided great entertainment for the thousands in attendance at the Keany Park Oval.

Riverside again Saturday League Champs, earning victory the hard way.

Man of the Match Shazam Hussain scoring 54

Until next time FunnBoy Says: Bush get Ears