Cricket Newfoundland and Labrador returned from the Atlantic T20 tournament in PEI with a third place finish, with wins over PEI and New Brunswick, and losses to Quebec (the eventual champions) and Nova Scotia. Injuries and work commitments meant the original squad was depleted, but the late addition of Hari Raghumaran (former Nova Scotia team captain) proved beneficial as he made a major contribution to the team’s success. He and Rahul Vashist led the batting and both also made useful contributions with the ball. Team captain Rakesh Negi also made runs and took wickets.
The team got off to a good start on Friday with a comprehensive win over hosts PEI, putting up a provincial record total of 242/5, Rakesh Negi, Rahul Vashisht and Hari Raghuraman all making half-centuries. PEI were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs, Hummam taking 3 wickets, Saravana Kumar and Rahul Vashisht taking two each.
The team battled hard against a strong Quebec squad in Friday’s second match, just failing to chase down Quebec’s 179/4 total. Vashisht and Raghuraman again contributed half centuries but in difficult conditions and failing light, the team fell twenty runs short.
Saturday saw the team lose by the closest of margins to last year’s champions, Nova Scotia. Hari Raghumaran made 68 as Newfoundland and Labrador made 166/5. They looked to have the match all but won as Nova Scotia lost 5 of their top batsmen for only fifty runs. They were unable to press home their advantage and Nova Scotia hit the winning runs of the fifth ball of the last over.
The tournament concluded on Sunday against New Brunswick where after restricting New Brunswick to 133/6 the team chased down the total with four wickets in hand. Quebec were crowned champions, winning all their games, Nova Scotia placed second and Newfoundland and Labrador a strong third.
Overall the team were pleased with a strong performance, showing they can compete with the best in eastern Canada, running both Quebec and Nova Scotia close in their matches, despite playing in unfamiliar conditions and with a less than full strength squad.
Nova Scotia – NL scorecard

Day 2: Newfoundland and Labrador came within a whisker of recording their first win over Nova Scotia but a great recovery by the Nova Scotians took them to a win off the penultimate ball. NL posted 165/5 from their twenty overs, and then Nova Scotia lost two wickets in their first over. They were 51/5 with 9 overs to go but a fine performance by the lower order took them to victory in the last over

Day 1: Cricket NL got off to a great start at the Atlantic T20 with a big win over PEI. NL won the toss and batted and put up a huge total of 242/5 in 20 overs. Rakesh Negi, Rahul Vashisht and Hari Raghuraman all made half-centuries. PEI were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs, Hummam taking 3 wickets, Saravana Kumar and Rahul Vashisht taking two each.

Hari drives against Quebec