FCB Clarke Road unbeaten on Canada tour

First Citizens Bank Clarke Road United Cricket Club completed a competitive tour of Canada last week winning their six matches.

The Carib Sunday League champions started off with a victory against Overseas by seven wickets on their arrival. Overseas, batting first made 164 all out in 45 overs. Captain of the team, Canadian opener Ishwar Maraj, who ironically played with Clarke Road as a youngster, scored 51. The best of the Clarke Road bowlers were Mahadeo Moonesar (three for 24) and Mukesh Persad (two for 24). Clarke Road made light work of the target, getting there in just 28 overs. Leading the way was Trinidad and Tobago middle order batsman Gregory Mahabir with 37. Kenton Thompson scored an unbeaten 32 and was named “Man of the Match.”

In their second encounter, against Malton Cricket Club, Clarke Road registered a another seven-wicket win. Malton took first strike and made 154 all out in 37 overs. Persad was the top bowler with four for 12. Clarke Road then led by Mahabir’s unbeaten 67 and 41 from Ryerson Bhagoo got home at 156 for three wickets in 25 overs. The “Greenbacks” did even better in their third fixture, winning by eight wickets with Mahabir again getting the top-score of 52 before  retiring. Bhagoo again contributed a useful 48, as Clarke Road made 172 for two wickets  in reply to Toronto Cricket Club’s 170 all out. Match number four against Ajax was again dominated by the Trinidadians, as they won by seven wickets. Ajax batting first got 191 for eight in 40 overs with Thompson taking four for 43. Alan Mahabir, with an unbeaten 64, and Thompson (41) then took their team home at 192 for three in 34 overs.

In their penultimate match against Cavaliers, Clarke Road had to fight for their win eventually winning by 56 runs. Cavaliers made 205 for nine in 45 overs with Guyanese Damodar Dasrath getting 61. Gregory Mahabir was again among the runs with 39. Cavaliers spurred by Fazil Sattaur (55) reached 153 all out. Alan Mahabir, bowling off-spin, took three for 11. Their final match against Vampire Ontario was dominated by Thompson who scored 59 to lead Clarke Road to a four-wicket win. Thompson finished the tour with 174 runs and 11 wickets, while Gregory Mahabir scored the most runs — 199. Mukesh Persad finished with 11 wickets. President of the club Baldath Mahabir said he was very pleased with the results. “We are very happy with the performance of the team in Canada. The boys did very well and I think it was great for their development. Being away from home the boys would have bonded more and this would help with their team spirit in their future matches. “The opposition was not completely competitive. On average there were about five good players in each team.”