Staples Plunder 158 As Villagers Defeated Lions CC In One Sided Affair

Metropolitan Cricket League Roy Sweeney Challenge Cup
By Dervon Wallace
After a shock defeat in the semi final of the New York Metropolitan Cricket League (NYMCL) premiere competition and in the process been dethrone as champions, Villagers Cricket Club was back in action in the Roy Sweeney Challenge Cup competition on August 12, 2012 against Lions Cricket Club at the Canarsie Park. Scores in the game were Villages CC 265 for 2 from 35 overs and Lions CC 147 for 5 from 35 overs, Villagers winning by 118 runs.

Richard Staples compiled a blistering 158 against Lions. Photo by Shiek Mohamed

Captain of Villagers CC Cliff Roye won the toss and decided to take first strike on a hot and humid afternoon.

Opening the batting for Villagers were the ever reliable Melroy “Joycie” Kingston and former Jamaican international and USA captain the prolific Richard “Master” Staples in a display of stroke play and power hitting prove it was a correct decision as together they put on 141 for the first wicket in 20 overs. Kingston was the first to go for a well played 45 which included 5 fours before he was out caught & bowled by E Ali.

In came the returning Donald Bennett who missed the last few games for Villages due to other contractual obligations, he looked in fine touch in his brief innings of 27, but the man of the moment was the “Master” who made a majestic unbeaten 158 striking a seemingly helpless Lions attack to all part of the large Canarsie boundaries. In an innining that lasted the allotted 35 overs Staples stroke 15 fours and 4 maximum one of which was a flick that would have cleared any boundary.

Bowling for Lions: H. Blake 3 overs 0 for 22, B. Saul 3 overs 0 for 17, D. Waysome 4 overs 0 for 32, R. Busgith 7 overs 1 for 65, E. Thomas 2 overs 0 for 11, C. Wiseman 3 overs 0 for 32, D. Hart 6 overs 0 for 42 and E. Ali 4 overs 1 for 25.

In their reply Lions didn’t threaten the target as they seem more concerned about not getting out rather than try scoring as only captain D. Hart and vice Captain R. Busgith made 56 and 22 respectively. The pair shared in a 3rd wicket partnership of 73 while D. Morrison 13 not out was their next best contribution.

Bowling for Villagers: G Adams 0 for 20 from 4 overs, C. Mendoza 1 for 54 from 7, R. Marshall 0 for 17 from 4, E. Gayle 1 for 18 from 7, Kingston 1 for 19 from 6, R. Mowatt  1 for 10 from 4 and part-time bowler M. Simpson 0 for 7 from 3.