By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 28th Anniversary). A brilliant century from Dennis Evans steered Cosmos to a convincing 122-runs victory over Mid Island last Sunday at Floyd Bennett field in the first round of the Metropolitan Cricket League Challenge Cup color clothe competition. Cosmos appeared to have bounced back from their distress in the round robin semi final as they looked to take the challenge to their opponents in this competition.

Dennis Evans registered his second ton of the season. Photo by Shiek Mohamed

It was a good toss to win on another scorching day and Captain Dixeth Palmer had no hesitation in choosing to bat. After Clem Thompson sent Morris Powell packing cheaply, Evans and Palmer chose to consolidate the inning with aggression as they raced to a 70-runs second wicket partnership with Palmer taking the attack to the mid island bowlers. He stroked a breezy 47 runs off just twelve balls which laid a solid platform for cosmos batsmen for cosmos batsmen to launch an aggressive attack on the opposition with plenty of overs left.

Dennis Evans led the cosmos charge as he partnered Burton and Brown in two worthy partnerships. Evans continued his fine form this season and yet again in this inning he remained resolute throughout to record his second century this season, a brilliant 137 not out which included 9 fours and 3 sixes. He and George Adams (47) took full advantage of the last power play overs with an unbroken century partnership when cosmos inning closed on an imposing 297 for 5 off the allotted 35 overs.

In reply, Mid Island batsmen struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking against pacemen Robert Brown who produced an economical opening spell while his partner, the nineteen year old, Damian Reid responded with a very lively spell of pace and swing which brought a relief look from cosmos ace pace Kevin Darlington who chose to save his energy on the day before his trip to Italy with the US National Team. Cosmos spin trio Powell, Seeram and Burton then backed the opposition into submission and the runs dried up. Only the veteran Clem Thompson got 36, A. Nathanial 46 and E. Biggs 35, before the Mid Island inning closed on 173 for 5 in their allotted overs as cosmos took full points in this match.

Cosmos will play Suburbia on Sunday at Floyd Bennett Field.