The race for Championship
honours in the Scarborough
Cricket Association (SCA)
Elite League is heating up
with the two top places
being surprisingly occupied
by teams who are newcomers in the
category.
Naseeb Cricket Club, who were
promoted to the Elite League
following their performance in the
2021 Premiere League, lead the
standings following the latest round of
matches. They are on 60 points from
nine games, which includes six wins.
Caribbean Stars, who took a year off
in 2021 after playing in the First Division
the previous year, are in the second
spot on 50 points, the same as Ajax
Cricket Club A but with a better net
run rate.
While Victoria Park A are in the fourth
spot with 40 points, it should be noted
that the long-standing club and
previous winners have only played
six games, winning four and losing
two as compared to front runners
Naseeb Cricket Club and Caribbean
Stars who have played nine and eight
respectively.
Defending champions Ambassadors
A, who won back-to-back titles in
2020 and 2021, are languishing in the
number six spot, having played seven
games, winning three and losing four.
The 2022 season will see each team
playing a total of 14 games.
Kaieteur International A are way
out front in Group A of the Premier
League with 70 points with seven wins
from eight games. They are followed
by Palace Panthers/Scarborough
Legends with 55 points, comprising
of five wins from eight matches and
Champions who are third with 35
points with three wins from eight.
In Group B, Highland Creek lead the table
with 80 points with eight wins from nine
matches, Toronto Rhinos follow with 50
(five wins from nine) and Bangla Warriors
40 with four wins from eight.
Meanwhile, several outstanding
performances were registered during the
month of July. Among them was the first
double century of the season recorded by
Umair Ghani.
Representing Knightly in the First Division,
Ghani, who came in at number five, took
a liking to Team Tigers A bowling, slamming
36 fours and six sixes in his undefeated
225 off 153 balls as Knightly reached 381
for four in 47 overs. Team Tigers A were
bowled out for 265 in 36 .4 overs, losing by
116 runs.
Former Canadian National player Usman
Limbada rolled back the years at the
Ashtonbee Number One ground with a
magnificent 118, decorated with nine
fours and 10 towering sixes versus Kaieteur
International A in a Premier League fixture.
Limbada’s effort was however in vain as
his team Palace Panthers/Scarborough
Legends went down to their opponents
by 94 runs in the 50-over affair. Batting
first, Kaieteur International A reached a
formidable 298 for eight in their allotted
overs while Palace Panthers/Scarborough/
Scarborough Legends were dismissed for
204 in 38.5 overs.
Centuries by Muhammad Usman (157 off
71 balls) which included 14 fours and 11
sixes, Georgerugixshan (121 off 66 balls)
with nine fours and 10 sixes and Jelans
Enothas (120 off 68 balls) saw Maple
Cricket Club mauling Durham United to
the tune of 561 for three in their.First Division
fixture, played at the at the Ashtonbee
Number 1 ground.
Durham United, who opted to bowl in ideal
batting conditions were sent packing
for a paltry 121 in 26.5 overs, losing by a
massive 440 runs.