Former national youth player Lookeshwar Mahabeer grabbed six wickets for ten runs to spur Eccles Sports Club to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Eccles ‘B’ in the East Bank Cricket Association (EBCA)/Good Wood Racing Services 40-over cricket competition.
Playing at the Splashmins’ ground on the Soesdyke Highway on Sunday, Mahabeer delivered 7.1 accurate overs to help skittle out Eccles ‘B’ for a paltry 79 off 23.1 overs, while Eccles Sports Club in reply safely reached 80-2 in the 18th over.
And in the other game played at the Providence ground, also on the East Bank, Nandy Park got the better of Sandpipers by four wickets.
Cleon Sam and Rudi Jairam supported the leg-spinner Mahabeer with two scalps each.
When Eccles Sports Club batted, Kenny Dindyal led the way with an aggressive 29, which included three sixes and a four.
Former national opening batsman Rohan Sarjoo cracked an entertaining, unbeaten 54 to inspire Nandy Park to their victory.
The right-handed Sarjoo clobbered four sixes and a similar number of fours as his team reached 152-7 in the 26th over after they had earlier bowled out Sandpipers for 150 off the reduced 32 overs due to early morning rain.
Sarjoo arrived at the crease when his team was tottering at 95-6 and began his assault with his usual ferocity. Opener Stephon Black batted patiently to score 27, lacing it with three fours, while Ravendra Madholall chipped in with 14. Black and Madholall shared a steady 60-run fourth-wicket stand.
Earlier, Nandy Park won the toss and invited the visitors to take first strike in overcast conditions. Skipper Olufemi Sandy top scored with 35, while Teekram George and Samuel Ragubir supported with 24 and 22 respectively.
Pacer Flexton Slowe captured 2-15 off five overs, while off-spinner Madholall claimed 2-23 from his allotted seven overs.
Eccles Sport Club and Nandy Park have joined Diamond and Uprising as the other semi-finalists. The two semi-finals will be played early next month.
