Brilliant Bishoo guides Albion to nail biting victory over Port Mourant

Dec 03, 2013 Sports

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Balram Shane Memorial cricket match…

By Samuel Whyte
A magnificent all round performance by West Indies player Devendra Bishoo was the catalysis for defending champions Albion Community Centre Cricket Club coming from the brink of defeated to snatch victory over arch rivals Port Mourant Cricket Club with one delivery to spare in a thrilling encounter of the Annual Balram Shane Memorial 50 overs cricket match, which was played on Sunday last at the Albion Community Centre ground in front of an

appreciative audience.
The win by Albion was their 11th in the 14th year of the competition. Port Mourant has won twice with one final being rained out.
In typical Albion fashion, they refused to give up and fought back brilliantly, led by Bishoo’s outstanding century to win a cliffhanger, scoring 234-9 in 49.5 overs in response to Port Mourant challenging 232- 9 in their allotment of overs.
Port Mourant won the toss and took first strike on the flat track and composed their challenging total through consistent batting with Davendra Takurdeen 58 (8×4), Ameer Khan 47(3×4), Troy Gonsalves 37(2×6, 2×4), Andrew Lyte jr 18(3×4), Arif Chan 16 and Renrick Batson 15,  Parsram Tilkuram 12 and Joshua Ramsammy 11 being the principal scorers.
Bowling for Albion, Balchand Baldeo picked up 3-40, while there was one apiece for Bishoo, Avenash Wajib, Sharaz Ramcharran, Satesh Dwarka and Jonathan Foo.
Albion were off to a reasonable start with West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon 30 (1×6, 3×4) and Kandasammy Surujnarine18 putting together 47 for the first wicket. The home team then found themselves in dire straight at 77-5 and 136-7 before the Bishoo show. Entering the fray at 55-4 He blasted 128 with 15 fours. He first scored 53 with David Latchaya 17 (2×4) for the 6th wicket before hammering 92 for the 8th wicket with Ramcharran18.  Bishoo, who was earlier dropped with 31 needed, went in the 48.5 over caught in the covers at the same position he was dropped at by the same fielder off the same bowler with five to get.
The final over, bowled by Tilkuram, began with four needed. Ramcharran lost his bat going for a mighty swing and was run out going for the single at the non-striker’s end by wicketkeeper Winston Rose to add to the drama. A wide reduced the deficit and with two to get off two deliveries and the last pair at the wicket, the delivery was edged to the third man boundary for four, bringing wild celebration from the Albion camp as the dejected Port Mourant team and supporters pondered how they managed to lose a match they had actually wrapped up.
Bowling for Port Mourant, leg spinners Khan and Gonsalves caused early trouble as they rounded out fine all round performances with figures of 3-46 and 3-55 respectively. Thakurdeen picked up one.
Bishoo received the man of the match award along with the accolade for being the best batsman on show, while teammate Baldeo received the prize for being the best bowler on show.
Albion received the beautiful Balram Shane trophy, a hamper compliment of Geddes Grant and cash incentives, while Port Mourant were presented with cash by donor Deonarine Balram.
The Balram Shane Memorial match is played annually between the two teams in memory of Mr. Balram’s father, Balram Shane, a former cricketer and ardent cricket fan who hailed from the area.  The rivalry started in 1998 and is in its 14th year and is used as a fund raising venture for both clubs and some other second division teams and other sporting organisations.
At the closing ceremony, which was chaired by Human Resources manager Vemen Walter, organizer Mr. Deonarine Balram of the Balram Shane General store at Rose Hall Corentyne, congratulated both clubs for putting on an excellent showing, which he noted was the most exciting in the 14-year history of the competition. According to Mr. Balram the competition is being played in memory of his father. He stated that apart from Cricket it is their way of giving back to the community from which they garner their support in a tangible way. He plans to make it bigger and better next year.
Proceeds from the game will be dived equally and distributed to the two teams to assist then with the cricket development programmes. Mr. Balram further stated that a number of second division clubs and other organisations will also benefit from the proceeds of the game. These entities were given tickets to sell and are to keep the proceeds from the ticket sales.
Prominent villager Dr. Rishi Takhur also spoke ceremony.
Over $500,000 will be split among the two clubs and other organisations.

 

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