Atlantis Cricket Club pose for a team photo. Photos courtesy of John Aaron.
Atlantis Cricket Club behind two solid near-tons from Kavishwar Bridgepaul (97) and Nicholas Standford (94), overwhelmed Enmore Cricket Club in the 2012 Eastern American Cricket Association’s season opener last Sunday, May 6, at a nippy Bay Park on Long Island. Atlantis’s 348 was a season-opener record for the club, defeating Enmore by 184 runs.
Batting first Atlantis lost openers Henderson Blades and Jason Greaves for single digits each, before Standford launched an all-out attack on Enmore’s bowling, clocking 6x4s and 7x6s before being run-out six runs shy of a season-opener ton. Alex Amsterdam had a lightning 28 (3x4s, 1×6), before giving way to Bridgepaul, whose onslaught yielded 97 (3x4s and 11x6s) displaying an awesome array of power-hitting shots into and with a northeast wind. Wicketkeeper Ryan Sukhdeo contributed a solid 46 not out (3x4s, 3x6s) and Keon Lake’s 18, included 2x6s.
Enmore’s Shivraj Jainarine 8-0-83-3 and Jason Thomas 8-0-72-2 were the pick of the team’s bowlers, as Atlantis ended its 40 overs at 348 for 8. Extras contributed 35.
Safraz Ali during his unbeaten knock of 100.
Despite the convincing win by Atlantis and its two near-centurions, it was the knock of Enmore’s Safraz Ally that attracted some attention, as the stout right-handed batsman stroked his way to an opening century that included 7x4s and a solitary six. The opener’s patient and resilient tally of an even 100 not-out was a significant contribution to Enmore’s tally, as the team’s other eight batting appearances combined for a total of only 43 runs, with Extras chipping in with 21. However, it is noteworthy that Safraz Ally and his team batted out their entire 40 overs, albeit in a losing cause.
The Enmore wickets were spread evenly among five of Atlantis’ bowlers with pacer Greg Robinson capturing 2 for 43 off his 8 overs.
Atlantis hosts East Side Warriors at Heckscher State Park on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, while Enmore faces Richmond Hill in “The Cage” at Baisley Pond Park.
