Waqas Ashiq during his marathon knock 152 not out.
A hot and humid day could not contain the cheerful excitement in the air, as it was the beginning of the official cricket season of the Eastern American Cricket Association, and a match involving Long Island United and Camelot cricket clubs. The 40-Overs match was reduced to 35 overs each, due to Camelot Cricket Club players being stuck in traffic. The match started an hour later at 2:00 pm.
Long Island United Cricket Club took first strike with Asim Mehmood and Ali Alvi opening the batting. Ali and Asim looked very comfortable until a deceptive in dipper by Johnyal clean bowled Asim. At this point the team’s young Vice-Captain and wicket keeper Waqas Ashiq walked in. Coming off good form and a recent century in a practice game against Galaxy Cricket Club, Waqas and Ali dug in for a very long partnership.
Ali Alvi still seems happy despite being run out on 90.
The hallmark of the partnership was quick running between the wickets, combined with disciplined hitting, as they were both approaching their centuries, and people were taking bets on who would get there first,
Alvi was unlucky to be given out on 90, attempting another single. Most of the crowd had the opinion that DRS would have saved him. Ali was a good sport about it, and walked right off, respecting the umpire’s decision. Rameez Tirmizi joined Waqas, who continued without missing a beat and eventually emerged 152 not out. Rameez was the other notable contribution with a quick 22, and Long Island United’s final score was 334 for 4 in 35 overs.
Long Island United Cricket Club’s fielding unit made short work of a man short Camelot Cricket Club, dismissing them all out for 115. Anwer Kamal as usual was quick and difficult to play, and finished with three wickets, all of them bowled. Rameez Tirmizi wiped up the tail with three wickets in his only over bowled, where the hat-trick ball catch was also dropped by first slip.
United’s next match is against Arsenal Cricket Club at Brentwood, Long Island.
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