Busta Champion of Champions cricket...Foo, Permaul spur Albion to first title in day/night final under lights

Busta Champion of Champions cricket…Foo, Permaul spur Albion to first title in day/night final under lights

Apr 27, 2015 Sports

By Sean Devers
Jonathon Foo fashioned an unbeaten 88, while Veerasammy Permaul captured 4-17 to lead Albion to their first ever Busta Champion of Champions 40-over first division cricket title when they beat Rose hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTYSC) Gizmos & Gadgets by 93 runs under lights at the Albion Sport Complex in Corentyne Berbice on Saturday night.
Before Saturday, RHYSC had won nine of the previous 10 titles in a tournament which was inaugurated in 2004. Port Mourant (2005) was the only other winner.

At last! Busta Champion of Champions winners Albion with members of the Sponsors on Saturday night.

But after Albion, led by a fourth wicket stand of 152 between Foo and David Latchaya (67) rattled up an imposing 239-4 on a flat track and heavy outfield, RHTYSC, who lost Vidal Crandon for a duck to the ‘catch of the tournament’, were always going to be hard pressed to win their ninth consecutive title and were bowled out for 146 in 37.4 overs although left-hander Delbert Hicks made a fighting 45 and Skipper Shawn Perreira was gifted 40 as left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie supported Permaul with 3-24.
Albion collected $100,000 and the Busta Trophy, while RHTYSC received $50,000 and the runner-up trophy. Foo took home $10,000 for his Man-of-the-Match role, while GNNL Sports Journalist Calvin Roberts, got donations of $25,000 from the Albion team and 25% of the entrance fee which was $300 per person.
Watched by a crowd of close to 1000 fans, Albion, without West Indies player Narsingh Deonarine, who is overseas and spinner Devendra Bishoo, who was making his return to Test cricket in Grenada, won the toss and elected to bat in bright sunshine.
The home team were off to wonderful start as the openers rotated the strike and paced the innings nicely before Test player Assad Fudadin, belatedly introduced into the attack, removed both openers in the space of three runs in the 15th over to leave Albion on 76-2.
Kandasammy Surujnarine, the more aggressive of the pair played some delightful shots and hooked pacer Keon St Clair brutally when he ‘bounced’ on the easy paced track, while Balchand Baldeo played the supporting role before Surujnarine (35) edged a catch to the Keeper and Baldeo (27) was taken in the deep.
When Guyana wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble was trapped LBW by Perreira for a first-ball duck the hosts had slipped to 77-3 and hopes of restricting Alboin to a ‘gettable’ score was revived.
However, that was not to be as Foo and Latchaya joined forces in an enterprising partnership that took the game away from the visitors. Foo played an array of robust shots and left his crease to walk all the way to mid-off to have a few ‘words’ with Perreira.
Foo then clobbered the leg-spinner back over his head and out of the large ground while Latchaya was elegantly destructive; effortlessly dumping Perreira for six and then giving himself room to cut him sweetly for four as the partnership flourished.
Latchaya was in full flow when he took on the arm of Fudadin at long-off, attempting a double in the last over and was run out for 67 at 229-4 after reaching the boundary four times and clearing it three times in his 62-ball knock.
Foo eventually finished on 88 from 89 balls with six fours and three sixes as Fudadin ended with 2-45 for RHTYSC, who began their innings under a clear night sky under high quality flood lights.
The atmosphere was festive as the crowd, which increased in size and was being entertained by the sound system which provided pulsating music in between overs and when Baldeo struck in the first over as Crandon fell to an absolutely stupendous catch by Motie, diving full length to his left, the partisan crowd celebrated noisily.
Fudadin (6) played a masterful square drive off of Joshia Dhanai but had his stumps scattered next ball to leave RHTYSC on 19-2 before the busy Akshay Homraj and Hicks revived the position with an intelligent 58-run third wicket stand before Baldeo got rid of Homraj (22) to start a batting collapse.
Renwick Batson was run out for a duck before Troy Mathieson, who came off the mark with a six off Motie, was LBW to Permaul as RHTYSC slumped 92-5.
Three runs later Hicks’ defiance ended when he was taken by Motie at mid-on to give Permaul his second wicket and send Hicks on his way after he had faced 71 balls and hit three fours in his responsible innings.
The last three batsmen did offer much resistance as Albion, playing in their fourth final, marched to their first title although, with victory assured Perreira, who was last out for 40 with four fours and a six, was given some free runs with even Bramble taking off his pads to bowl an over of ‘optimistic leg-spin’ much to the delight of the Albion fans who left the venue with a big smile on their faces and lots of rum in their stomachs. The game was broadcast live on NCN Radio.