Riverside CC vs. St.Lucia CC 
  1-day Match Played At Keaney Park, 10-September-00  
  Grade: Connecticut Cricket League Semi-Final Match 2000 
  Umpire: Syd Downer and Jerry Goulbourne
  Match Result: Riverside Win   
  Toss won by Riverside 
  Man of Match: Shannon Ragnauth

   Score Card                       

St. Lucia Batting: Openers Evans and Arthur came out ready to knock the ball around, facing down the wild boy of Riverside the legendary Khadar, Captain Sheik da Guru Mohammad toss the ball to Khadar to fire down the first over with Evans facing, looking extremely calm. Over 1 was done with  four runs, the next over the other Rcc Bowler with big shoes got the leather, the dangerous Dhaval Chokshi who bowled the line the captain was looking for, but the next over with Khadar steaming down sending a missile to Arthur, who was shocked at the speed of this delivery gently flashed at the ball, giving the keeper Sheik Mohammad a simple catch. St. Lucia was in trouble losing wicket number 1 for 7 runs in the third over. This was no the start the Lucian's was looking for. Arthur gone for four was replaced by Donatien, Riverside was going all out, restricting the new man to singles, as Ashok the machine Rangandan kept the pressure up swinging the ball left and right, Donatien survive a chance off Khadar but was not as lucky playing a wicked delivery from Ashok sending a catch to the wonder boy Shazam Hussain, who took it with a big smile. Donatien contributed 15 for his team with nine being singles. The next man in was Jeanbaptise, this is the guy that beat up on Rcc in the regular league fixture recently, facing his first delivery he played it with his usual flare, and kept the fans and players on alert as he showed glimpses of repeating his last performance slamming consecutive four's to the boundary, but facing the veteran and worlds most hardcore cricketer Ashok, Jeanbaptise was no match for the brilliance of Ashok, playing an out swinger he  gave a gentle catch to the wicketkeeper. Jeanbaptise was all done and heading for the BBQ grill after his 15 runs to the team, lashing 3 four's.

Evans was still there asserting his shots and playing intelligent cricket as he was joined by Wilson who unfortunately was gone after facing two deliver from JC Ballie, was judged LBW, Wilson didn't take that decision too good walking off slowing, I know how it feels to score 0, At this stage St. Lucia score was 57 runs in 15 overs with the lost of 4 wickets. Serieux came in to keep Evans company but this combination had a the voodoo touch, as Seriux attempting a quick single was run out with a direct hit for no other that Ashok, he was gone after scoring 6 runs for his team who needed all the runs they can get. Soon to follow was the most impressive batsman so far in the line up, Evans day was coming to an end, playing at an indescrible delivery again from Ashok, he went for the shot and send the ball to Shannan Ragnauth taking another ez catch, showing off his dentist work. Evans time with the bat was good enough for 16 runs for his beloved St. Lucia, belting two 4's to the ropes.

The Captain John Gilbet came in and try to save his team from sinking further with another new man at the crease Edwards, both batsman played cautiously, moving the ball around taking low risk singles, moving the score slowly, but with the Riverside Captain and Keeper talking up ah storm at stumps side, came up to the wicket and shout out to Ashok to give him the knock out delivery, Ashok was more than happy to obey his captain, bowling to Edward who gave Ashok the most EZ return catch. Ashok claimed his fourth wicket and Edwards scored 3. Captain Gilbert was still there, wasn't that the Hurricane a few years ago in the Caribbean, I gotto give this up I herd Gilbert went pass jamican and blow everybody over, ha ha he he. Back to the game, Captain Gilbert and new man in Delaire moved the score along scoring more singles, at this stage the Rcc bowling was on target, making life very difficult the batsman, with Chokshi keeping the pressure up, Gilbert going for a big shot off a moving delivery  sent the ball high up only for Mohamad judge moka Khan to take a running catch Australian style, securing the ball like money under your mattress. Captain Gilbert score 10 heading for the stands. Soon after Delaire was gone, playing across the line, he was given the alphabet soup, LBW scoring 11. Riverside bowlers Rai and Bodenarain kept the pressure up, but the last pair was doing there best to give there team a good score and after Noel surviving a chance with Antoine moved the runs up, batting very smart as overs was plenty but the last pair going for all the runs got caught up in a run out created by Tony Kallicharan. St. Lucia inning was done in the 37th over with Noel runout scoring 20 and Antoine stranded on 8. St. Lucia managed to put up a respectable score of 132. The umpires was very strict on the wides as this became the top runs in this innings. Wides 21. Will this total be a problem for Riverside.. go ahead make my day! read on...

Riverside Batting: Sheik Mohammad and JC Ballie went out in the middle to score the runs, Sheik played positively, stating his intentions early on with powerful drives through the covers and hooking a few, JC was in the supportive mode, watching his captain from the other end, but he was gone early on, judge LBW off the bowling of Donatien, scoring only 1. Rcc one for 14 in the third over, next man in was Mohamad moka Khan, after a few runs from the captain, Khan played all over a full pitch ball from Antoine and was royally bowled, Khan score was a big 0, disappointing his many fans and his groupies the Dance hall Queens. Riverside  2 for 17 after five overs. This innigs was very much like the start of St. Lucia only more dramatic. Next man in was the Dangerous Tony Kallicharan after blasting a century last week he was rearing  to go out and smash the ball to all part, his second delivery form Antoine was seen heading for the ropes, the fans loved it, but in the same over Tony attempting to clear the fence was caught brilliant at the boundary by Evans, the best fielder and safest hands from St. Lucia. Tony was gone for 4 and Riverside now 3 for 25, in the 8th over, is the drama or what, any more of this and I may pee. The crowd in attendance was now talking of an upset, but Riverside has a deep very deep batting line up.

Enter in the middle Shannan Ragnauth Rcc most consistent scorer, Shannan joined his Captain and started to rebuild the inning, playing patiently and calm. But as the new partnership was starting to look healthy, Sheik Mohammad went for a cut shot and was caught. Donatien got the Rcc captain after scoring 17. Riverside now 4 for 32 in the 10th over.. Remember that phrase "keep hope live" well into the field arrive one of the league's veteran player, no other than Ashok who while passing his captain said "its ok CapO we gat dis one" Ashok and Shannan set out to rebuild the inning playing there natural game. As the veteran player, Ashok gave Shannan the green light to do what he dose best, Shanna know for his elegant strokes played to all parts of the ground, both batsman ran plenty of singles converting on several occasions for duce. Shannan was more the aggressor out of the two, but Ashok kept the action up on the other end. As the fans starting to realize something special is about to happen the stands at the ground was full to capacity, with spectator on the grass and in the parking lot. it was as seen alright. Shannan and Ashok brought up the score to the great satisfaction to the Riverside Crew. As Ashok was speeding down for a fast single, he was run out after scoring a magnificent 25 for his team, Shannan and Ashok partnership was good enough for 91. This was high class intelligent batting from these two willow wielding pros. Riverside needed a few more runs to bring it home and the captain send in the wonder kid Shazam Hussain to partner with Shannan, Shazam displaying confidence wasted no time to score quickly, Shannan brought the game to an end as he scored the winning run, after a superb inning scoring a professional half century not out (50).  This was a great game as Riverside played with  the attitude of its not over even if the fat lady sings. The winning runs of 134 came in the 34th over. With this victory Rcc will be heading to the finals  to face Banks. It will be the mother of all finals. come on down.  Oh one more thing, 24 Wides . is this ball that big?