Atlantis Pounces on Panthers

By John L. Aaron
Coming off of an inactive 2020 season, Atlantis Cricket Club – NY is now 3-0 in the Metropolitan Cricket League’s 2021 season. Atlantis was all set to kick off its 2021 season at one of its old hunting grounds – Heckscher State Park against the US Cricket Club. However, it was not to be, given a workforce shortage on the part of the USC, thus earning Atlantis five walk-over points to start the 2021 season after an unhinged 2020 lull in cricket activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was somewhat of a wet squib to start the season with a walk-over ‘W’ in the win column. The same scenario occurred last weekend at the 80th Street, Canarsie Park ground, against Island Wide Cricket Club. The latter failed to field a less than full squad, earning Atlantis yet another five-point walk-over. However, sandwiched between the two no-show fixtures was the Panthers Cricket Club versus Atlantis clash in a reduced (35-overs) match-up ‘in the hole’ at the 88th Street, Canarsie Park ground.

With Atlantis ready to showcase some new faces on its roster, blended with some returning stars, club veterans, and new home and away kits, the club sought to quickly pounce on the Panthers after winning the toss and electing to bat first. However, the Panthers drew first blood by sending Winston Forrester back to the shaded area via the run-out route with just five runs on the board. Four of those five runs came off a beautiful cover drive from one of the three deliveries Forrester faced. Atlantis would lose its second wicket with 109 runs posted and its third wicket nine runs later, before steadying its ship with a 98-run addition to the total, moving it to 216 for 4, only to lose its fifth wicket at 226 and its sixth wicket at 234. Atlantis would go on to post 246 for six at the end of its 35-over inning.

Atlantis’ top scorers were the returning Francis Mendonca with 72 off 79 deliveries, including four boundaries and two maximums. However, Atlantis’ newcomer Ronaldo Ali Mohamed had a quick-fire 81 off 42 balls that stole the day. His stay at the middle included nine boundaries and four maximums from an array of shots, including a reverse-sweep off Panthers’ pacer Muhammad Bajwa. Skipper Randall Wilson contributed 39, and Andre Lindsay, in his Atlantis debut, chipped in with a well-made 21. Extras added 16.

Young Anguillian-American Demetrius Adams batting at number nine made his Atlantis debut but did not have a chance to showcase his batting skills. However, he registered an impressive cover-drive off one of the two deliveries he faced before exiting not out.

Set 247 for victory, the Panthers had their work cut out against a formidable bowling attack that included newcomers Sumantro Das and veterans Dillon Bourne and Hugo D’Oliviera, backed up by other newcomers Romeo Jagdeo and Demetrius Adams mentioned above.

Atlantis would strike early and often before an eighth-wicket stand that saw Mohammad Bajwa contributing a well-made 47 off 45 deliveries. It was a painstaking knock as the Panthers sought to fight back bravely. Other significant contributors to the Panthers tally were Hamza Rana, 32, and Usman Asraf, 23. Extras contributed 20, with the Panthers posting a final total of 149 all out and losing the match by 97 runs. Atlantis secured the five-run victory with the bonus bowling and batting points.

Bowling for Atlantis was left-arm veteran Dillon Bourne with impressive figures of 6-0-25-5, earning him the Man-of-the-Match accolade. Pacer Sumantro Das captured 2 for 19 off his four turns with the ball, while another Atlantis debutante Mahendra Gopilall had a productive debut, capturing 2 for 15 off two overs. Winston Forrester scalped one Panther off his 1.5 overs spell at the cost of 13 runs. Atlantis’ keeper Francis Mendonca was lighting fast behind the sticks, capturing three scalps – two via stumpings and securing one catch.

This Sunday, June 13, Atlantis comes up against Suburbia Sports Club at Roy Wilkins Park in Jamaica, NY. The match time is Noon. Atlantis is expected to include another of the Adams’ siblings, Dimitri Adams, in its playing XI.

The current Metropolitan Cricket League leader board shows Villagers Social & Athletic Club and Strikers Cricket Club both leading with 21 points each from three outings, followed by Atlantis with 17 points and Westbury Cricket Club with 14 points.