Metropolitan Cricket League
By Dervon Wallace
Villagers CC continued their fine run in the New York Metropolitan Cricket League 2013 Clement “Busta” Lawrence Round Robin tournament feasting on a not so spicy, Spice Island CC in boiling sun on July 14 at Marine Park Cricket Field in Mill Creek, Brooklyn New York defeating them by 160 runs.
Steve Massiah struck an elegant 84 agains Spice Island. Photos by Shiek Mohamed
On a hot sunny afternoon as the debate rage on about the not-guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman Trayvon Martin case and news swung across the park of a doping scandal that have griped athletics, Villagers CC captain Cliff Roye won the toss and decided to take fist use of the pitch. Regular openers Richard Staple and Melroy Kingston were padded up and rearing to go and shared in an opening stand of 41 in 9 overs before Kingston played a lofted drive to mid-off and was caught by L. Williams off the bowling of Sean Banton for 22 (25 balls 1×4 1×6). Staple was joined by Steve Massiah and arguable Villagers two most accomplished batsmen were looking to build a partnership but their plan didn’t last long as Staple 21 (30 balls 2×4) went run out in unfortunate circumstances when Masssiah drove to short extra-cover and Staple unsighted by the bowler in his follow through thought the ball had gone through and was backing up only to see David Williams picked up and relay onto the stump to find him out his ground to make it 49 for 2 in 11 overs. Still smarting from his unbeaten century in his last outing Rashard Marshall joined his national captain and the experience pair went on a rebuilding mission with both looking in fine touch before with the score on 116 in the twenty first over Marshall 25 (26 balls 3×4) was adjudged run out.
In came captain Roye and him and a now set Massiah added 68 for the fourth wicket with the latter in the process having survived 2 seemingly close appeal for stumping bringing up his half-century from 51 balls and went on to make a 84 laced with 9×4 and 1×6 from 71 balls in 105 minutes before he was brilliantly caught at extra-cover by a diving Glen Philips. Roye 15 (28 balls)was out 5 runs later to make it 189 for 5 from 32 overs, looking for quick runs Talisman Gordon and new ball bowling mate George Adams were promoted to number 6 and 7 respectively and the decision was justified as the pair added 49 from 32 balls for the sixth wicket before Adams went for 20 (20 balls 3×4) in the thirty eighth over, Raldo Mowatt also known for his power hitting joined Gordon and they added 36 from 13 balls with Mowatt unbeaten on 19 (7balls 2×4 1×6) and Gordon also unbeaten on 46 (34 balls 2×4 2×6) proving he’s more than just a seam bowler with his third score of 40 or more in his 4 innings this season. Kester Mathews finish with 2 for 42 from 8 overs and there was a wicket apiece for Jimmy Clarke (1 for 26 from 2 overs) and Sean Banton (1for 34 from 7 overs).
George Adams had match figures of 4 for 22 from 7.2 overs.
When the chase started Spice Island were in trouble from as early as the fourth ball of the first over losing L. Williams for a first ball duck caught by the ever present wicket keeper Charles “Give Thanks” Walker off speedster Adams to make it 7 for 1. Veteran D Williams joined a young and inexperienced looking R. Jeffries who looked clueless to what Adams and Gordon was serving up. Williams 6 (20balls 1×4) was next to go LBW to Adams at 20 for 2 inside the seventh over and when Gregory Anthony 13(15 balls 1×4) was caught by Marshall off Kingston at 51 for 3 from 13 overs, the natural heat complied with the heat provided by the Villagers new ball bowlers was too hot for Jeffries who opted to retire-hurt. Reggie Murray 23(27 balls 2×4) and Philip 9(25 balls) shared in a 31 fourth wicket stand before Adams took a well judge catch at long-off to dismiss Murray off the bowling of Kingston and Philip was caught by Gordon off Rommoy Rickets. Kenneth Hopkins came in and hit 2 lofty blows off Ricketts before he was bowled by Massiah for 15 (11 balls 2×6). Jeffries return to continue his inning before he was run out for a top score of 25 (53 balls 3×4) A fired up Adams returned to wrap up the inning clean bowling Banton and J. Clarke for 6 and 0 respectively to take Villagers to their ninth win in a row.
Bowling for Villagers: Adams 4 for 22 from 7.2 overs, Gordon 0 for 22 from 6, Kingston 2 for 28 from 8, Marshall 0 for 9 from 3, Ricketts 1 for 24 from 4 and Massiah 1 for 3 from 2.
Final scores: Villagers 274 for 6 from 40 overs and Spice Island 115 all out in 31.2 overs.
Note: On Sunday July 21, 2013Gateway Cricket Field by Spring Creek in Brooklyn, home of former champion Villagers Cricket Club should be buzzing with excitement in the top of the table clash when unbeaten defending champion Westbury Cricket Club will be travelling to the lion’s den to face their unbeaten counterpart as top place in the standing will be up for grab in the last game of the preliminaries. Cricket lovers can look forward to a good game as a host of talented players will be on show and there’s never a dull moment when these two power house meets.