SEYCHELLES' cricketing debutantes, USAIM (University of Seychelles American Institute of Medicine), snatched victory in a five-run win over 2003 team of the year Supercats in a tense conclusion to their first ever match.

Captained by Athar Mujtaba, USAIM won the toss and elected to bat first, making the most of the bright Sunday morning sunshine on the Freedom Square wicket.

Batting was opened by Girish Shah and Faique, but, when Shah was bowled on 2 by Hitesh, a top order collapse set in, with Natwar Singh and Abhishek both falling to Deepak for ducks and Sahil out for 3 to Sanjeev.

The USAIM innings was saved by Mukesh, in at number 6, who teamed up with opener Faique, to steady the innings. After putting on a useful 16, Mukesh was returned to the pavilion, caught and bowled by Sanjeev, but not before he and Faique had started to put runs on the scoreboard.

Nirag chipped in with 11 and Willis added 5 at the end of the innings.

Last wicket to fall was that of Athar, to Das for a duck, with Faique at the other end, having played out the entire innings, not out on 27.

USAIM closed after 21 overs, Faique taking a pivotal role in securing his side's 85 all out.

Pick of the bowlers was Deepak, taking 4 for 23, to top a good performance by all five bowlers, Das with 2 for 2, Sanjeev 2 for 24, Hitesh 1 for 7 and Deva 1 for 19.

Chasing only 3.4 an over, the 'Cats opened with a confident pairing of Sanjeev and skipper Arup Das.

But when his captain was trapped lbw off the very first delivery by Girish, the tone was set for the rest of the innings, which became a race between the USAIM bowlers to whittle down the batsmen and Sanjeev, to rack up the runs before his partners ran out.

Runs were scored by Deepak, Suresh and Hitesh, but none managed to reach double figures, and when Sanjeev was dismissed, caught and bowled by Natwar for 29, hope for Supercats began to fade.

The final wicket fell, Illango, for a duck to Natwar, with the 'Cats stopped just 6 runs short of a winning total on 80.

The USAIM win sees them tied on four (4) points with Vijay and Supercats, Supercats the only side to have played twice.

The next match will be between the two teams yet to win, Luckstars and Mahe Kings, on Sunday Febryary 29, at Freedom Square.

M. H.