By Dyon Ravello
In the Brooklyn Invitational, Shaheeh skipper Waqas Akram lead his team with and unbeaten 101, as they recovered from 76 for 6 to post 222 in 30 overs against Jinnah at Bay Park, East Rockaway, Saturday 10th June 2012. Bowling for Jinnah Raheel Khan nabbed four early wickets in his first spell to wreck the Shaheen top order. Raheel completed his five-fer in his last over returning at the depth but it was not effort to stem Akram’s onslaught.

Shaheeh skipper Waqas Akram hit an unbeaten 101.

Jinnah in response started slowly but kept wickets in hand. Ansar Rizvi and Junaid Alam posted … for the 3rd wicket to give their team a slim chance of pulling the win off. However the run rate hovered roundabout 12 per over for much of the last 13 overs and the fall of Rizvi 59 and Alam 40was the beginning of the end. Raheel could not follow up his late order heroics from a week ago as he was run out with 48 runs needed of 24 balls. Discipline bowling and workman like field kept Shaheen on course to prevail by 20 runs, Shoaib Sheikh had two wicket as Akram and Jawad had one each.

Brooklyn Cricket League
Sheffield completed back to back wins over the weekend edging Diplomats by 37 run in a low scoring affair and Wanderers by 40 runs. The two wins yielded 20 points to push the new lads on the block 10 point behind leaders Middlesexx and even with Panthers.

On Saturday 6/9, Middlesex vs Wanderers, Wanderers won the toss and asked Middlesex to take first strike. Middlesex 253 all out from 31 overs, Freddie Roopchand fell one short of his maiden century with a brilliant 99, (3 x 6s) and (11 x 4s), good support came from the hard hitting Jacob Emmanuel with 47, (3 x 6s) and (3 x 4s), and Mark Audain with a classy 24, (4 x 4s). Bowling for Wanderers, Ranadaj McPherson 5/0/47/3, Rawl Jackman 8/0/62/3, Lawrance Mason 5/0/29/2 and Leon Hyde 6/0/62/1. Wanderers was skittled out for a poultry 71, from 19.4 overs, bowling for Middlesex, former West Indies fast bowler Adam Sanford 5.4/0/21/3, Mark Audain 4/1/10/2, Dominic Audain 5/0/13/2 and Kavir Singh 5/023/2.
Middlesex winning by 182 runs, taking their season record to 5/1.

Freddie Roopchand of Middlesex during his knock of 99.

Travel Treat was unable to keep pace as they have mixed results, winning against Queensbury by 83 runs in Saturday, while falling to unbeaten Panthers a day later. Queensbury recorded there first win on Sunday 9th June when they got past follow stragglers Diplomats. Diplomats, Wanderers,  and Queensbury remained rooted at the depths of the standings with one win each. The battle for Brooklyn continues this Sunday 17th June with Panther tackling Wanderers, Middlesex face Travel Treat and bottom feeders, Cavaliers meet Diplomats.

Sat. 9th June:
Sheffield 98 all out beat Diplomats 61 by 37 runs
Middlessex 253 thumped Wanderers 71 by 165 runs
Travel Treat 233 won v. Queensbury 150 by 83 runs
Imperial and Cavaliers no result available

Sun. 10th June:
Sheffield 176 Wanderers 136
Queensbry defeated Diplomats
Panther beat Travel Treat

Brooklyn Standings: 6/11/2012 (unofficial)
Team         Matches Wins Loses Tie      Points
Middlesex       6         5         1          0          50
Panthers          4         4          0          0          40
Sheffield         6         4          2          0          40
Travel Treat     6         4         2          0          40
Imperial           3          2          1          0          20
Diplomats        5         1          4        0          10
Wanderers       5          1          4        0          10
Queensbury     6         1         5        0          10
Cavaliers         3          0         3         0          0

Middlesex Cricket club.