Long Island United Comes Up Short Vs. Atlantis

Steven Jacobs Slams Ton In 119 Run Victory
By John L. Aaron
As the Eastern American Cricket Association’s 2012 Power40 Division 1 Tournament crosses the half-way mark, divisional teams are jockeying for the top four slots. Last Sunday was no exception as Atlantis Cricket Club, after a break for a Guyana tour and a loss to Everest/ACS, looked to bounce back against Long Island United Cricket Club (LIUCC); and bounce back they did.

Steven Jacobs hit an unbeaten 107 as Atlantis beat Long Island United. Photos: John Aaron

Winning the toss and electing to take first strike, Atlantis skippered by Nicholas Standford, amassed 322 for 6 in 36 overs, and behind a spanking 107 not out from Steven Jacobs, but not before Alex Amsterdam crunched a near-miss ton of 92 (6x6s, 7x4s), sharing an opening stand of 162 off the first 23 overs with Henderson Blades, 40 (4x4s). Amsterdam was caught attempting to go over the top off the bowling of A. Khan. Jacobs’ 107 n.o. included 14x4s and 3x6s, as he quite sensibly played most of his shots along the turf. Keon Lake chipped in with 27 (1×6, 3x4s) in a sixth-wicket stand alongside Jacobs.

The Atlantis wickets fell at 162 (H. Blades, 40), 163 (A. Amsterdam, 92), 178 (N. Standford, 00), 207 (R. Andrew, 07), 255 (K. Lake, 27) and 299 (R. Sukhdeo, 06).  C. Hamilton was not out on 1, while J. Horatio, H. Craig and C. Davis did not bat. Extras contributed 30. Bowling for LIUCC – A. Khan with 6-0-48-3 was the most successful, while S. Khan had 2 for 80 off 7 overs and I. Khan with an equally costly 8-1-82-1.

As LIUCC took to the field facing the daunting task of scoring almost nine runs per over, Atlantis’ opening attack of Casper Davis, Jr. and Jermaine Horatio were looking to make a possible long story much shorter. Davis would capture the first two LIUCC wickets, those of A. Khan caught for 20 (4x4s) and clean bowling B. Zia for 24 (1×6, 4x4s). LIUCC would lose their first four wickets for the loss of 70 runs.

However, Qasim Dastgir with a defiant 77 (4x6s, 8x4s) looked to stay for the long haul, but was clean bowled by Steven Jacobs at the 26th over mark. S. Khan, 20, and A. Kamal, 10, would offer some fight, but the LIUCC innings came to a final close at 203 all out in 32.4 overs, with 34 extras.

Alex Amsterdam with 92 was among the runs.

The LIUCC wickets fell at 48 (A. Khan, 20), 62 (B. Zia, 24), 62 (R. Mohan, 00), 70 (W. Ashiq, 02,) 114 (I. Khan, 10), 176 (Q. Dastgir, 77), 185 (S. Khan, 20), 194 (M. Prasad, 06), 203 (A. Kamal, 10). S. Mohan suffered a hamstring injury earlier while fielding and did not bat.  Bowling for Atlantis – C. Davis, Jr. 8-0-57-3, H. Craig 6.4-0-38-3, and J. Horatio, K. Lake and S. Jacobs each with one scalp apiece, rounded out the Atlantis bowling department’s production for the day. The 119 run victory pushes Atlantis to 8-2 and drops LIUCC to 4-7.

Atlantis faces off against Liberty at Heckscher, while LIUCC takes on Everest/ACS at Brentwood. All matches are scheduled for 1:00pm starts.