Looking back at 2003 season...

Sunrise 2003 season should be dedicated to team spirit and hard work. Sunrise won the league championship again after finishing runner up last year. Sunrise has been in 4 league finals in the last 5 years and winning two of those. It is not bad for a team which has a short history.

Sunrise started the season with the additions of two members Amarsinghe and Malik under the captaincy of Parveen Sharma. Batting has always been the sore point for Sunrise and this year wasn't any different. Brilliant century from Dharmesh Krishnammagaru enabled Sunrise to defeat Cavaliers Sr on the road. The turning point of the season came when the team lost to depleted Windsor in the first round of the knock out game. It was a pathetic effort. It was followed by a loss to Cambridge1 at Cambridge. Something was missing. We all know that batting was not clicking but there was hunger to win missing. Then came a brilliant overall performance by the team to beat Kaiteur. Just as we thought, the team has turned the corner, team had a devastating loss to Cavaliers Jr at home.

The loss meant that changes has to happen. Parveen didn't wait long and offered his resignation and which was accepted. Harpal was made the captain to have new thinking. In his first match as a captain against, Kaituer controversy erupted due to miscommunication between the teams and umpires and match got abandoned. Sunrise won the games which they are supposed to win. Just before the season ended, Sunrise lost the abandoned game against Kaiteur according to the executives of SOCA. That decision virtually eliminated the chance of Sunrise to finish at the top. Sunrise qualified for the playoffs by finishing third (10-3-1).

To win the championship, we have to win on the road. Also the team felt that there was a conspiracy to deny home advantage for Sunrise. This brought new resolve among the players and there was a sense of urgency. The team unity was clearly visible. Team Spirit and players confidence grew leaps and bounds. What happened next, we all know.

For the playoffs, Amarsinghe was back after Ankle injury. Sadaqat was back after his vacation in UK. Just before the semifinal game, the only in-form batsman Dharmesh fell sick and which provided more incentive for the players to perform. Jaspal who has having a uncharacteristic batting drought came out of the slump with a crucial knock and useful contributions from Amarsinghe and Kuldeep helped Sunrise to post a decent total. Backed by brilliant fielding and immaculate bowling of Bahadur, Parveen and Sarabjit, Sunrise overcame the Dharmesh absence and trounced Cambridge.

For the final, Dharmesh was back after illness. He didn't miss a beat and was the top scorer. Useful contributions from Bahadur and Amarsinghe helped Sunrise post a defendable total in spite of late order collapse. Not trying to be repeatitous, Backed by brilliant fielding and immaculate bowling of Sadaqat, Bahadur, Parveen, Jaspal, Sarabjit and Dharmesh made sure Detroit didn't had a chance. Sunrise was again the league champions against all odds.

Bahadur and Parveen ended up as top wicket takers. Dharmesh led the batting honours and followed by Jaspal. Kuldeep and Bahadur were brilliant on the field. Fielding in general was outstanding. Championship may not be as sweet as the first one, but it was a triumph of team spirit and hard work. I will take that all the time.

« Articles Page

Copyright © Waterloo Sunrise Cricket Club. All Rights Reserved.