PARAMARIBO–Suriname emerged the victor of the Americas Division 2 Championship earlier this week. Its win against Panama in the finals at Dr. Snellenpark in Paramaribo, earned the country the promotion to the ICC Americas Division 1 Championships, later this year in Florida.

The conditions for the final game were sunny; Suriname won the toss and was elected to bat. Opener Mohindra Boodram got Suriname’s innings off to a fantastic start with a century score of 117 runs, while the other opener Deoraj Sewanan contributed 20. Boodram was eventually joined by forth batsman Arun Gokoel who made 96 runs, not out, and the two boasted a 149 run partnership.

Captain Vishaul Singh did not stay long with 12, while the MVP of the tournament Troy Dudnauth also ended with 12. Shazam Ramjohn ended the innings with 34 runs, not out. The Suriname squad ended with the daunting total of 356 runs in 50 overs for the loss of 4 only wickets.

Panama tried to reply, but some early wickets had upset the team. Opening batsman Nilesh Chakta made 27 runs, but the middle batsmen were not so fortunate. Rajesh Ahir made a good contribution with 32 runs, but could not avoid that his team left the field with a defeat. Suriname won the match and the ICC Americas Division 2 Championship.

Tournament Awards went to:

Most valuable Player: Troy Dudnath Suriname

Most Runs: Garvin Bruno Turks & Caicos

Most Wickets: Mykelt Anthony Belize

Best Wicket Keeper: Guilherme Lefevre Brazil

Championship and promotion to ICC Americas Division

1st place: Suriname

2nd Place: Panama

3rd Place: Belize

UPSURGE

Suriname cricket has seen an upsurge in recent years; a few months ago the Suriname Cricket Association received the Best Spirit Award of Cricket Initiative for organizing a charity cricket tournament last year, of which all proceeds went towards local orphanages. And last month an inspection team from the International Cricket Council visited, to determine whether the country should be granted its request to become an ICC Associate Member. Associate membership entitles the country to more funding from the organization, which should help develop the game further.

NIEUW NICKERIE–The sport of cricket may not have massive following in Suriname, but among those who play and follow it, there definitely lives enthusiasm. “Even in die-hard cricket countries people would leave if it started to rain,” Scotsman Keith Oliver commented in Henar, a village in District Nickerie on Saturday. Oliver is part of an International Cricket Council (ICC) inspection team visiting Suriname, to determine whether the country should be granted its request to become an ICC Associate Member.

Villagers came out en masse to give the ICC delegation a warm welcome. The local marching band played and majorettes gave a little show.  Dubai based ICC Executive Director Tim Anderson couldn’t resist bowling with a few kids and handed out tips on how to  bowl and throw a googly. Later on the ICC team members participated in a live TV talk-show with local TV presenter Quaraisy Nagessersingh, shot on location at Regency Hotel in district capital New Nickerie. Several hundred cricket enthusiasts came out to witness.

He explained that when Suriname gets awarded associate membership, the country will be entitled to more funding from the organization, which should help develop the game further. Suriname made a good impression on the worldwide organization last year, when it hosted a charity cricket tournament last year, of which all proceeds went towards local orphanages; the initiative won the country the Spirit of Cricket Award last March.

Anderson said the country definitely stands a good chance of gaining Associate Membership. “The fact that ICC sends an inspection team shows that we don’t take the request lightly. This is not a frivolous activity of the organization and we, as team members have a duty to report back what we encounter here,” he said. The decision will fall in June, at ICC’s next general meeting.

Meanwhile the inspection team members found the enthusiasm they were being met with as they toured the district infectious. “Suriname a non-cricket state? I would revisit that notion …,” Oliver said.

New Delhi–The Suriname Cricket Association has won the award for Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative for organizing a charity cricket tournament last year, of which all proceeds went towards local orphanages. The award was presented on Tuesday March 1st by the Internatuional Cricket Council, as part of its efforts recognize the activities in non-cricketing nations in the promotion of the sport.

Reiterating the need to recognize the effort of people leading the development of cricket around the world, International Cricket Council Acting Director Global Development Tim Anderson said, “It’s great to again see such outstanding initiatives and people leading the development of our Great Sport around the world. They deserve this recognition. Congratulations to all the award winners, and to those who were not successful this time around, your continued dedication to cricket’s growth is really making a positive difference.”

ICC President Sharad Pawar, alongside former heads of the Council David Morgan, Ehsan Mani and Malcolm Gray besides Keith Bradshaw, the Secretary and Chief Executive of Marylebone Cricket Club, formed the judging panel for this year’s awards.

ICC awarded Cricket Scotland for the Best Overall Cricket Development Programme. Mazhar Khan of the Emirates Cricket Board received the Lifetime Service award while Japan Cricket Association was awarded the Best Women’s Cricket Initiative for its outstanding work

Neil Saint, of France Cricket, was honoured with the Volunteer of the Year Award for his dedication and contribution to cricket in France in 2010. Bermuda won the Photo of the Year for the second time in a row for a picture, entitled ‘Stay Focused’ clicked by Fiona Holmes. Other winners this year include, Cricket Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Cricket Ireland – jointly awarded the honour of Best Promotion and Marketing Programme. Cricket PNG also took home the Best Junior Participation Initiative for its efforts in growing the game across the country and in schools.