By Sham Ali
Celebrating 47th Anniversary –20260816. Match #1387): - Throughout the season, he has been bombarded with the tease especially from his manager Dooneshwar as to when will he show up with the bat. Well, Captain Devindra Balgobin could not have chosen a more crucial match to put a lid on the noise and saw his team turned in an excellent all-round performance last Sunday at Baisley Cage against Eagles in the quarter finals and booked a spot in the semis. 

Eagles had the better of Cosmos in their last encounter in the preliminary rounds, but Cosmos was up to the task in this ‘do or die’ quarter finals match-up. Balgobin won the toss and elected to bat under overcast conditions. They found themselves in some serious trouble after their top order wobbled, and the ball didn’t even touch the grass as yet, and both openers, Antanio Rooplall and Yogeshwar Ramgobin, were back in the pavilion by the third over courtesy of a swipe and a heave that leaves a lot to be desired in such a crucial match. It did not get any better as Eagles bowling attack held a tight line. Ghanam Tariq and Vian Gooniah tried to repair the inning, but that was short-lived when Gooniah played back to a short ball that skidded through and cleaned him up, Tariq followed in similar fashion soon after. Akash Rahim didn’t used up any ink when chased a wide delivery, not sure what else he was chasing, and found the man at backward point. 
Captain Devindra Balgobin led the batting charge with a superb 45. Photo by Sham Ali

At that stage, Eagles had their claws firmly fixed on Cosmos with the score on 42 for 5 in the 13th over, but Captain Devindra Balgobin walked in under pressure, walked in with Eagles swarming, but found a way to stand firm and dug his team out of a hole and put them into a commanding position. Actually, Balgobin found himself padded up by the fifth over instead of his usual twenty fifth over during the season where swinging for the hills was the route. However, this was new territory, and he adapted perfectly to his role. Additionally, that role was equally shared by Inzy Khan. Khan who announced his intentions with a thumping six over extra-cover and followed up with a few telling blows was a clear indication that this pair was prepared for the battle. 

However, batting on this pitch with an unpredictable bounce and a heavy outfield would require grit and application to score runs. Unfortunately, a combination of poor pitches has tested the mental fragility of many. Khan though, appeared to gather strength in the challenges of these conditions as stroked the ball with authority. He drove high and hard and cleared the mid-off boundary with an air of arrogance while Balgobin played within his limitations and worked the field. He waited for the opportunity and timely launched onto paceman Sachin Lakhan for two dismissive maximums over mid-on and mid-wicket as he and Khan dragged their team out of a hole and took control of the inning. They proceeded to construct a crucial 6th wicket partnership of 60 runs after the initial implosion and brought a sense of calm to the proceedings. That partnership shifted the momentum ever so slightly to Cosmos side. With the score on 102 for 6 in the 23rd over, Khan on 27 tried to ‘up the tempo’ but succeeded in picking out the man on the deep mid-on boundary.

Cosmos batting has depth, and two defining cameos for Govin Persaud and Ahmad Dodson in the closing overs yielded 63 runs in the last 7 overs pushed Cosmos to a competitive total.  Persaud played the shot of the day when he unleashed a crisply timed drive to the extra-cover boundary to open his account, and followed up with a maximum over mid-on. He eventually holed out on the mid-wicket boundary for a 13-ball 23 runs. Dodson has been in this situation from the very first match of the season and has delivered on very occasion. When Balgobin on 45 flicked to the man on the mid-wicket boundary with the score on 148 for 7, he had delivered a captain’s inning of substance, and placed his team in a good position. Dodson then took control of the closing overs to push Cosmos to a competitive total of 166 for 9 in their allotted 30 overs. V. Persaud took 2 for 20, S. Lakhan 47 and M. Mangaroo 2 for 37.
Izzy Khan delivered an ideal all-round performance, chipping in with a valuable 27 and picked up 2 for 26. Photo by Sham Ali

In their reply, Eagles got off to an aggressive start as they dealt in boundaries, but Cosmos kept calm amidst the flurry of boundaries. Ryan Ganesh has been bowling well throughout the season, and again in this match. He initiated the breakthrough when he pierced the defense of S. Mohammed (9) with a japper and uprooted his middle stump. Dodson then handed S. Khan (12) a peach of an out-swinger that clipped the off bails. Ganesh then followed up with another good delivery that jagged back to remove W. Ward (6). But Eagles kept fighting with M. Verasammy taking full advantage of the power-play overs and finding the boundaries with regularity. He launched into Inzy Khan's first over with three consecutive boundaries that included two maximums off the first three balls to move to 29 runs, and then in the fourth ball, he offered a dolly to Ramgobin at extra-cover that went in and out.

Despite, Eagles losing wickets at regular intervals, they kept scoring at a healthy nine runs per over with Verasammy firing on all cylinders. However, Balgobin knew his plan and stuck to it. Verasammy did not relent on his aggressive intent and decided to live by the sword against Thakoordeen. Thakoordeen has been crafty in his spell and should have picked up Verasammy in his previous over had Vian held on when he ran in and cover good ground from point and dove forward but it spilled out, however, in his next over he induced an aggressive stroke from Verasammy who he swung hard to the mid-wicket region, but got a leading edge that flew high into the air and headed towards Thakoordeen. He settled under it, hands by his side, his legs doing the jiggy dance, and eyes to the skies. Was he looking at the ball or offering a silence prayer, lord help me please, this is not happening, perhaps having flashbacks from the last match when he spilled a similar catch and the batsman went on to score a century. Lo and behold, his prayers were answered. Thank you, Lord! Entered the savior, Govin, who was in hot pursuit and shouted leeeeave, and gloved the catch quite comfortably, 84 for 4 in 10.4 overs 

That was a vital wicket and the crucial breakthrough for Cosmos. Balgobin pounced on the opportunity to tighten the screws on the opposition with Govin leading the chorus non-stop, and suddenly Cosmos boys were in on every ball, and the pressure was mounting. That resulted in two brilliant run outs. M. Kallicharran slashed to backward point was intercepted by Ghanam Tariq who then executed and brilliant play when he sent the perfect throw to Govin to run out a scrambling R. Doordarshan (0), 85 for 5 in 12.5 overs, and Cosmos smelled blood and and targeted the jugular. Thakoordeen then had J. Ramkaran (4) take quite comfortably by Rooplall at deep mid-on, 100 for 6 off 16.5 overs.

Balgobin seems to pull all the right moves in this match from the beginning to the end as he marshalled his team. On his return, Inzy Khan, immediately got into the wickets column when he struck twice in one over. He uprooted Kallicharran (23) middle stump and had D. Hibbert taken by who else, Thakoordeen, on his second try, he must be taking his que from yours truly, 116 for 8 in 21.4 overs. S. Lakhan (1) then pushed to point region and took off, the ball got stuck in the grass with Govin in pursuit, he picked up and ‘shy-down-the-stump’ leaving Lakhan scrambling hopelessly ‘miles’ away, and fittingly, Ganesh returned and drove the final nail to give Cosmos a comprehensive 38 runs victory and a spot in the semi finals. R. Ganesh took 3 for 24, I. Khan 2 for 26, T. Thakoordeen got 2 for 30.