By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 40th Anniversary – Match #1088):- The clash between two arch rivals at Marine Park last Sunday turned out to be a one-sided match with Spice Island having a taste of their solitary victory so far this season while Cosmos still trying to use their new-stick-of-chalk to make an indentation on the points table. It has come to this scenario years after these two teams would regularly engage each other in the playoffs. It was have been part of the conversation between the two stalwarts of the Metropolitan Cricket League, Ashmul Ali and Glen Phillips of Cosmos and Spice Island respectively, who were very much contended to sit and watch the younger generation taking up the mantle.
Cosmos had a better outing with the bat on this occasion with Daniel Chunilall leading the way as Cosmos went to the break at 29 for 2 off 17 overs, but then the inning suffered the usual collapse. Chunilall was beginning to look comfortable before he went for 39 as the Cosmos middle order took the usual plunge. Thohiduzzaman Rana was the only other batsman to get into double figures playing a good inning while looking for some support in the middle. He remained not out on 27 when the Cosmos inning closed on 115 for 8 in the allotted 35 overs. M. Narine took 2 for 14, M. Jones 3 for 24, and T. Baptiste 2 for 38.
Spice Island in their reply made light work of a small total on a good wicket as Cosmos continue to let chances go begging early in the inning as A. Baptiste and A. Hooper settled in for an aggressive 1st wicket partnership of 74 runs in 13 overs before A. Hooper (25) was caught by Balgobin off Alex Chunilall. Baptiste and Narine then took Spice Island to a comfortable 9-wicket victory. On this it was Spice chance to smile but never was the quest for victory at all costs, while that may be the mo for some. Conversely the contest between these two teams which have spanned almost thirty years were some of the most hard fought battles on the cricket field. At the end of it all that day culminated in utmost appreciation for each other and true friendship garnered over the years. That is perhaps the definition of sportsmanship.
