Ajay Prithiviraj and ‘Rags’ Prabhune leave the field after their 53 partnership secured a win for the American NY Tri-State side

The Lodge 125 (38.3 overs)
NY Tri-State 128-6 (23.5 overs)

NY Tri-State won by 4 wickets

A sensational seventh wicket stand of 53 between Texans Ajay Prithiviraj (46) and Raghav ‘Rags’ Prabhune (33) altered the course of this tight encounter and eventually secured a comfortable four wicket win for the NY Tri-State side against their Barbadian opponents.

The setting was the immaculate Windward Cricket Ground in Barbados and despite an early shower, the game started on time with the Americans fielding first for the fourth straight time.

The Lodge batted stably but found their progress throttled by Saatvik Kailash‘s accurate spin. He conceded just eight runs in his eight overs and dismissed captain Shem Sargeant (19) and Malique AIey (14) to reduce the Lodge to 46-4 off 16.3 overs.

Prabhune had earlier taken the first wicket, reducing the Lodge to just 5-1 but his direction was later wayward with several wides. There was no sign at that point, that the opening bowler from Dallas would emerge as an unlikely hero with the bat.

“Prabhune set about Aimey and Shawnico Sargeant hitting one massive six that landed on the roof of the pavilion, one other six and four 4’s, in all plundering 33 off just 16 balls to the utter astonishment of the fielding side and even more so the increasingly noisy contingent of team mates and even noisier contingent of parents.

As Shiloh Adams especially urged his colleagues on, it began to feel like a home game for the Americans.”

The Windward Cricket Club provided a beautful setting for the day’s play

It’s probably fair to say that Kailash apart, the real heroes of the Lodge innings were the Tri-State fieldsmen.

Several smart catches were held and vivacious wicketkeeper Shiloh Adams stumped Aimey superbly.

With the help of excellent throwing from Kailash and Dhanesh Persaud, he also ran out Brandon Knight (6) and Liam Sealy (3) before they could get started.

It wasn’t Tri-State’s best bowling performance so far, but the fielding’s crispness and Ekansh Rastogi’s field placings were more than good enough to supplement the bowlers’ efforts.

At points, Adams’ verbal encourgement held the fielding together on the few occasions it looked about to slip from its standard. He also opened the batting and led the cheering section from the benches as the two Texans steered the side home.

His watching uncle, former Guyanese cicketer, Vincent Adams had plenty to be proud of as his charge looked a total cricketer even this early.

Wickets fell fairly regularly in the Lodge innings although coach Linden Fraser was quick to point out that the 19 runs put on for the 9th wicket by Trevon Bryan (44) and Tyrayo Hinkson (23) had made the target more difficult. The 10th wicket partnership of 26 ceded in their previous match arguably cost the Tri-State that game.

The Lodge were formidable opponents and the outcome looked unpredictable until the last hour.

Therefore having failed to chase 119 the day before, the eventual target set by the Lodge of 125 was causing some apprehension among coaches Fraser and Basil Butcher Jr, on his birthday.

Their hearts beat a little easier after Adams smashed Bryan for a massive six in the first over before Persaud scored a four in the second to take Tri-State into double figures very quickly.

But from 18-0, wickets began to tumble and that was to be the equal best partnership until the closing theatrics.

Aarav Chopra and Jayden Dowlin were both run out seeking wholly unnecessary runs in the context of the vast amount of overs left. Yes, the throws from Shadontae Gittens and Hinkson were superb but the risks in each case were not justified by the reward of the extra singles on offer.

The running between the wickets was far from perfect and the coaching staff can work on that over the weekend.

Coach Linden Fraser, while not getting carried away with the performance overall, was full of praise for the two boys.

“It’s one of the best batting performances I’ve seen in this tournament so far, and this will take us a very long way.

“We had a soul searching when we got back to the hotel yesterday after that (EWCoE) loss. We decided to look into our own selves and find out why we did not win yesterday.

“They all were determined and they all said we’re going to come out today and we will to do our best. If our best is good enough, we will win it.”

Noting how he had watched the side maturing throughout the course of the day’s play, he added:

“We have moved from a collection of individuals and come together as a unit, and we showed a maturity that I did not expect them to.

“At the end of the day, they have proved me wrong. They are playing like a much more mature team.”

The Lodge’s Jaelen Yearwood held two smart catches but at the other end, Prithiviraj performed exactly the mature role his team needed, defending the good ball and keeping the score gradually ticking over to ensure running out of overs was never going to be a problem.

He occupied the crease for an hour and 14 minutes and there was always a chance of grinding their way to a slow victory while he played so cautiously and maturely. He did hit four 4s in his 46 balls and did not refuse the many 1s and 2s, but even at 40 off 46 balls, he was the calm before the Texas Tornado that was Rags Prabhune.

Prabhune arrived at the crease having watched the last four wickets fall for 37.

At 75-6, even with 22 overs left, the Lodge were narrow favourites to claim an important victory and eliminate the American side.

Prabhune set about Aimey and Shawnico Sargeant hitting one massive six that landed on the roof of the pavilion, one other six and four 4’s, plundering 33 off just 16 balls to the utter astonishment of the fielding side and even more so the increasingly noisy contingent of team mates and even noisier contingent of parents.

As Adams especially urged his colleagues on, it began to feel like a home game for the Americans.

The squad had been a fairly quiet reserved group of boys, in some cases, still getting acquainted with each other but that all change dramatically in an hour as the group came together emotionally to cheer the batsmen on.

That doesn’t tell the whole story though.

The two Dallas batsmen Ajay and Rags hve been playing together for a long time and know each other’s game well, Rags regularly visiting his friend to practice at the family house.

After the match, the two stars spoke to Prost International about the magnitude of the day and especially the level of vocal support.

“That helps so much. When I came into bat, we were in a really situation. Our heads were down in the locker room and everybody was mad they got out. It seemed like the game was over but the game is never over.”

When asked how good it was to be an American cricketer tonight, Ajay smiled broadly saying:

“It’s amazing.

“The USA is not considered at this point a proper cricket playing nation. Coming in here, winning for our team at the home of some of the greatest cricket players ever, is good. It feels good.”

Results elsewhere give Tri-State a massive boost

There was more good news for the Americans when word came through that the Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence had lost to the Guyanese Top Level Academy.

Tri-State had previously lost to EWCoE and beaten the Academy and the surprise result propeled the Americans to the top of Group B.

Group B after four games

Combermere are Tri-State’s final Group B opponents and they have a make up game today against Grantley Adams after a graduation ceremony clashed with the fixture.

With a big win, they could increase their Net Run Rate (NRR) to leapfrog Tri-State to the top of the table.

That would not change the dynamic that the winners of that final fixture will still need to keep a careful eye on EWCoE who play the Lodge on Monday.

The three group topping sides qualify for the semis plus the runner-up with the best record.

It once seemed unlikely but even 16 points might not secure a semi final place for that best runner up.

In Group A, Queens College have 16 points having won all four games.

Hills Academy currently have 12 and a win over PowerGen Penal could see them rise to 16 points too. Their NRR is currently 1.077 so a win would see them overtake Tri-State’s NRR should they lose to Combermere.

In Group C, the ChCh Foundation could also reach 16 if they win their final two games, a total NSC U17 have already reached.

So the task for Tri–State is clear.

They have to win and that erases any concerns about the runner-up slot. But it would not secure top spot.

EWCoE’s NRR (0.668) took a hammering in their surprise loss so, they would have to win by a really big margin to top Tri-State as Group B winners if they are victorious on Monday.