Meten-Meer-Zorg All Rounder Amarnauth Persaud Performance Sinks Hillside

EACA 2012 Division A Power40
In glorious sunshine with heavy winds transcending from the ocean across the picturesque Bay Park, Meten-Meer-Zorg Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat against Hillside. Meten-Meer-Zorg playing without the aggressive Trevis Ross who was in Canada representing an Under -17 team as their captain.

Amarnauth Persaud hit a constructive 72 and returned to take 3 for 10 against Hillside. Photo by Shiek Mohamed

Skipper Azurdeen Mohammed and Ken Nadkumar open the batting for the MMZ as Syed Allie and Altaf Habibulla took the attack for Hillside. Mohammed was cautious at first sighting very good bowling from Allie who was taking full advantage of the strong winds to get his out swinger going.  The USA prominent player Mohammed was batting well alongside his faithful partner Nandkumar as the pair put on a solid 75 before Nandkumar was caught on the long off boundary by Awaz Hasildar for a well played 35 which includes six fours and one six, his dismissal brought “Mr. Dependable” Deonauth Baksh to the crease to take up strike with his skipper.

Mohammed looks set for a big inning, hitting the bad ball to the boundary and picking up the singles and doubles saw MMZ hundred came up in the 14 overs. Mohammed got a delivery from Colin Sandy that pitched wide outside the leg stump, swept at it and was adjudged LBW for a well played 41 which included four fours and one huge six.  In came the USA Under -19 Player Amarnath Persaud who made an impressive 96 against the Atlantic Region in an Under-18 game the day before to join Baksh. Persaud and Baksh was batting very well when Baksh got a wide ball down the leg side flicked at it and was brilliantly caught by  wicket keeper  Ogle diving to his left.  Persaud was joined by Saud Hussain and the pair batted well to bring up the 150 in the 23rd over, Persaud displayed some glorious shots that spark the MMZ spectators off their feet in jubilation, Persaud brought up his outstanding half century with a spanking cover drive for four which was deemed “the shot of the day”.  It was the 19 year old Wazim Shaw who was introduced to the attack in the 30th over to put a check on the MMZ scoring, picking up 4 for 24 in 5 overs. Amarnath was caught on the boundary for a well played 72, Hussain was bowled by Shaw for 10. It was a display of good batting by all rounders Rocky Kowchai and Himendra Ramdihall at the bottom that saw MMZ to a decent score of 246 at the end of their 40 overs.

Hillside started off their innings with the aggressive pair of Aleem Khan and Harry Heeralall coupled with MMZ‘s Rocky Kowchai and Rayhanul Islam as usual with the two new leather.   Islam was bowling against the wind snatched the wicket of Heeralall caught by wicketkeeper Ajaz Asgarally for 6.   Kowchai bowling with aggression with the gusty wind behind him got a delivery to lift off a good length and unfortunately struck Khan on the nose sadly causing the batsman to retire hurt with the score on 45. R. Ogle was batting well hitting some lofted blows with the score marching on to 66, in his urgency to hit Amarnauth Persaud for another six, he was brilliantly caught by Saud Hussain on the long on boundary that set him walking away from his crease in dismay.

In the flowing momentum of the game Persaud struck  yet again in the same over and had Syed Allie caught by Majeed at deep backward square for 14.  The next ball had Shameer Rahim caught at short mid wicket for a duck.  Hillside trying to secure a spot in the semi final of the Division 1 needed a vital win of this game to give their team a good chance to remain in contention for the semi finals.

At the Fall of Rahim wicket they decided to send Aleem Khan to the crease in order to give them some hope in securing some valuable points. Khan in his aggressive manner batted well even though facing some discomfort, playing some fantastic shots all over the park.  With the scorecard reading 175, Khan flicked Persaud to short mid wicket into the eager hands of Kieth Mungalsingh who grass the chance.  At that juncture it was the continuation of another sad moment for both teams being faced with an untimely crisis. The next ball Khan drove a well pitched up delivery from Persaud and the ball bounced off a nail from the matting and struck Persaud in the head causing him to leave the field and be rushed to Nassau Community Hospital in agony.

The entire Hillside team showed remarkable compassion rushed out to the middle to lend their support for Amarnauth Persaud who was in severe pain.  After the undue delay play resumed with skipper Mohammed and Ramdihall bowled well, the pair tighten the screws on the Hillside batsmen to see them finishing on 210 for 9 wkts off their 40 overs and placed MMZ in triumph.

Bowling for MMZ, R. Islam 8-0-32-1, R. Kowchai 7-1-28-1, A. Persaud 3-0-10-3, Z. Majeed 4-0-30-1, H. Ramdihall 8-0-44-3, and A. Mohammed 8-0-25-0.

Final score in the match: MMZ 246 all out off 40 overs. Hillside 210 for 9 off 40 overs.

Meten-Meer-Zorg now on 50 points having won 10 and lost 2 games. They take on the strong Richmond Hill Cricket Club at Baisley Park ‘Cage’ this Sunday. Richmond Hill having strengthened up their team with former West Indies fast bowler Brandon Bess and a few other Guyana national players is hoping to make it in the final four with the competition well alive, as five teams vying for the top four spots. This game will no doubt be an interesting contest. Richmond Hill is on 43 points with two games remaining.

The MMZ team would like to thank Mr. Juman and the entire Hillside cricket team and the President of the EACA Mr. Rudy Persaud for their support and best wishes for Amarnauth Persaud matching out against all odds.

Update on Amarnath Persaud is all test came back negative thankfully, and is in fit condition to play this weekend against Richmond Hill.