NY Tri State U-15s tour concludes in watery climax Rai, Bolisetty, Srivastava outstanding performers for tourists

Apr 11, 2021 Sports

By Sean Devers

The New York Tri state team.

Kaieteur News – The young players of the Linden Fraser Coached New York Tri State U-15 team arrived in Guyana on March 28, during the Covid-19 pandemic, with high expectations of a competitive and fruitful tour which entailed 11 matches over two weeks.
The young lads and their parents were hosted by the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) and were warned to adhere to Covid-19 regulations and got very high marks for the responsibility they demonstrated.

Ansh Rai (left) was the leading wicket taker, while Anirudh Bolisetty scored the most runs for NY Tri State team on their Guyana tour.

However, the adverse weather conditions ruined the tour; washing out four of their scheduled matches and badly affecting the two others which ended in no-results.
After rain in the City washed out their first two games, Coach Fraser, a former Berbice and Guyana pacer, called Berbice cricket Board President Hilbert Foster and a hastily arranged match was organised at Albion in East Berbice.
The Berbice President’s X1 won but the talent of left-arm spinner Ansh Rai who bowled with immaculate control to finish with 3-24 and was supported by 13-year-old fast bowling all-rounder Anivadh Bolisety who took 2-18.
The visitors’ batting was led by an accomplished 20 from Skipper Nayan Elammurugah who was run out. Nayan was invited to the USA National U-19 Trials and had to leave to return home on April 2 for the trials.
The next game was at MYO where the USA team opposed GCC and an explosive 102 from GCC’s Rivaldo Phillips was the highlight of the game which ended in a no-result after the tourists reached 35-2 chasing 189 when rain ended the game.
At Everest, Bolisetty’s unbeaten 52 spearheaded NY Tri State U-15s to 91-run win against a GCA U-17 team.

Srivasatava had a six wicket haul chipped with valuable runs.

At Bourda, Transport Sports Club (TSC) made 155 all out in 42.3 overs as Myhiem Khan top-scored with 33.
Pacer Arya Gorg had 2-12, left arm seamer Ali Virk 2-22 and Utkarsh Srivastava 2-25 were the leading bowlers for the NY Tri State team who were dismantled for 79 despite 24 from Skipper Nayan and Tanish Dongre who made 20 offering any fight.
An incisive spell of fast bowling by Arya Gorg (3-31) and a 51-run stand between Shwethan Saharsh and Utkarsh Srivastava powered the New York Tri State U-15s to a comprehensive seven-wicket win over host DCC under lights in their fifth match on their Guyana tour.
At MYO, Man-of-the-match Ansh Rai, who captured 7-22 with his left-arm spin, befuddled the MYO U-15 side and skittled them out for a paltry 46 in just 13 overs.
Bolisetty supported with 2-10 after making 40 with the bat for the Americans who had earlier made 141-6.
At MYO, in their final game, a first two-day match played with a red ball and white clothes, Srivastava (6-23) and Bolisetty (4-34) fired out Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Executives X1 for 102 before the NY Tri State U-15s reached 78-3 at the end of the first day after they lost Nikhil Mudaliar (6), Srivastava (23) and Bolisetty who hammered three fours and two sixes in 28, while Tanish Dongre was unbeaten on 13. The entire final day was washed on Friday.
Apart from Rai, Bolisetty and Srivastava, Dongre, Gorg and Virk also looked promising.
Speaking from the Princess Hotel in Providence where the team is staying, Coach Fraser, who played for First-Class matches including one for Guyana in 1984 Shell Shield tournament, commented briefly on the tour after final day was washed.
“It was great to be playing, the kids enjoyed every game and the games we played have given us a lot to improve our game. We are extremely disappointed that some of our matches were not played because of the weather,” said Fraser.
Rai took 13 wickets and Bolisetty made 132 runs. Bolisetty was also the best all rounder. When asked what the youngsters learnt from this tour, Fraser noted, “First and foremost, they are all treated like professional cricketers in all areas, we let them see what it would be like playing at the highest levels. Playing on different surfaces was a learning experience.”