By Saif Yasin
In one of the most highly anticipated matches of the year in the Eastern American Cricket Association, Big Apple Cricket Club squared off against Everest/ACS. In a battle of youth vs. experience the two teams were ready to do battle at beautiful Bay Park. ACS skipper Karan Ganesh won the toss and elected to take first strike sending in Steve Nowrangilall and Aun Merchant to lay a solid opening partnership for the inning.
Mark Gomes had three wickets for 2 runs in Big Apple's win over Everest/ACS. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
For Big Apple Telston Johnson and Charlton Senior took the new ball. Merchant was the first to go as he fended a short ball into the air and was caught for 6 runs off the bowling of Senior. Tamesh Balwant was the new man in and along with Nowrangilall stroked the Big Apple pacers around the ground. At the start of the 10th over Narindra Balram replaced Johnson and Kumar Nandalall replaced Senior. The two wreaked havoc on the ACS middle order as they snagged 6 wickets for a mere 42 runs. Nandalall bagging 4 wickets and Balram 2.
Zamin Amin showed resilience towards the end of the innings as he tried to put together the remainder of the ACS innings, but it was to of no avail, as wickets kept on falling and constant intervals. Mark “Chucky” Gomes cleaned up the bottom order taking an astonishing 3 wickets for 2 runs. Everest/ ACS scored a combined 86 runs off the bat, but the 30 extras by the Big Apple bowlers brought them to 114.
Inning’s Summary
Everest/ ACS: 114 all out (Steve Nowrangilall 21 1×4 & 1×6, Zamin Amin 18 2x4s, Tamesh Balwant 12 1×4)
BACC: Kumar Nandalall 6-1-14-4, Mark “Chucky” Gomes 3.5-2-2-3, Narindra Balram 8-0-28-2
Big Apple had done an acceptable job in the field restricting their formidable opponents to a less than par score. But in typical Everest/ACS fashion, they would not go down without a fight. Veteran Saheed Amin had opener Mark Gomes removed for 1 and shortly after skipper Ganesh had Ramotar caught behind for 11.
Shawn Thompson and Clain Williams came in with the side under pressure as ACS was looking to make a contest of this game. The two batted patiently as they brought the Big Apple score along but the partnership ended as Williams was bowled off a full length delivery by Zamin Amin for 11. A mix up between new batsmen Narindra Balram and Thompson lead to Balram being run out for 3. This brought Big Apple Skipper Zaheer Saffie to the crease.
Removing Saffie would be key wicket for ACS, as they immediately went about trying to do so. Saffie was dropped two times off the bowling of Aun Merchant in the slips. The first was by Terry Hastloo at 1st slip followed by keeper Tamesh Balwant. Ganesh would strike once more removing Thompson for 19 while Merchant removed the next batsmen, Alvin Kalimootoo, for 17. Saffie would see Big Apple home with Kumar Nandalall in the 36th over.
It was a proud moment for Big Apple as they finally defeated Everest/ACS for the first time in the 40 overs competition since the club came into existence, and it is also the first lost for Everest/ACS this year.
Inning’s Summary
BACC: 114 for 6 (38 not out Zaheer Saffie 1×4 & 2x6s, Shawn Thompson 19 1×4, Alvin Kalimootoo 17 2×4)
Everest/ACS: Karan Ganesh 8-0-19-2, Zamin Amin 8-0-19-2, Saheed Amin 8-2-17-1