A glorious inning by USA youth player, Amarnauth Persaud led the New York Region youth team to a 75 runs victory over a New York Region U/25 team in a practice game held last Saturday at Gateway Park in Brooklyn. Before the commencement of the game, there was a moment of silence for the recently departed umpire Jerry Kishun who officiated at all the youth games this year and did so as recently as the Saturday before last.
USA Under-19 player stroke his way to an elegant 93. (Photo by Shiek Mohamed)
The youths won the toss and opened with Clifford Hamilton and Trevor Singh, USA youth player, to the bowling of former New York Region U19 fast bowler Hugo D’Olivera and national player, Andy Mohamed bowling left arm seamers from the Parkway end. The two batted with caution but were constrained by the slow outfield. Singh was the first to go, when he hung his bat outside the off stump to one from Mohamed and was out, caught behind for 9. Former USA under 15 captain, Trevis Ross walked confidently to the middle but was soon out after playing a rash stroke to one from D’Olivera which nicked the bat and crashed into the stumps. The Youths were now 20 for 2.
Next, USA youth captain, Gregory Sewdial, he immediately got off the mark and in the next over drove Mohamed over extra cover for 6. However, Mohamed produced an unplayable ball that moved away from the right hander and then broke back. It beat Sewdial, all ends up and knocked back his middle and off stumps. Sewdial went for 7.
In walked Amarnauth Persaud, the tall and elegant USA youth batsman. He carefully began to lay the foundation for a big inning. In the meantime, Hamilton’s long vigil came to an end as he was caught off D’Olivera for 11. Zaheeb Tariq, fresh from a successful season with the PSAL was the next batsman, but he didn’t stay long as he was stumped by Akeem Dodson off Majeed for 1. The batsman had stretched forward to play a defensive stroke against the off spinner, he was beaten playing forward and in a flash the US wicketkeeper had the bails off. Zafaar Yusuf came and left for no score, lbw to one that kept low from Mohamed.
The youths were in a spot of trouble, struggling at 80 for 6 but Jazeeb Tariq joined Persaud and together they took apart the spin bowling of the Under 25. Persaud played a dazzling array of strokes all around the ground and was particularly severe on spinners, Majeed, Saud Hussain and Javein Thomas. Meanwhile, Tariq appeared unruffled and kept his concentration. He launched 4 sixes in his inning of 33 before he was called in with 2 overs to go. He and Persaud had put on 90 runs for the seventh wicket and rescued their team when it was in danger. Persaud went on to make a well played 93 which included 8 fours and 4 sixes. The not out batsmen were Anwar Khan and Yogindra Dass who took the score to 185 for 8 at the end of 40 overs. D’Olivera took 2 for 26 in 8 overs, Mohamed 3 for 34 in 8 overs and Saud Hussain 1 for 6 in 3 overs.
The youth team went for lunch feeling very confident about their total. A sumptuous meal of curried chicken, fried rice, noodles and vegetables was provided by MPi Restaurant of Brooklyn.
Andy Mohamed and Saud Hussain opened the inning for the Under-25 and the former was in punishing form, controlling the strike and scoring at will against opening bowlers, Yogindra Dass and Anwar Khan. Hussain was soon out for 0 to the bowling of Khan. Javein Thomas came next and seemed very comfortable, until the spinners were introduced.
Zaheeb Tariq was bowling a tight off break while Syed Hussain was varying his leg spinners and used the quicker one to his advantage. Thomas went for a drive against Hussain and was caught in the covers. He had hit one four and a six in his 19. Mohamed showed why he should be a sure pick on any USA team by plundering the bowling before he was caught off Hussein for a well played 50 which included 4 fours and five sixes. Under 25 captain Akeem Dodson made 22 before he was also out to Hussein for 22. None of the other batsmen were able to do any damage as the team was all out for 110. Bowling for the youths, Hussain took 4 for 38, Dass 1 for 24 and Anwar Khan 1 for 25. The two teams will meet again this Saturday at Gateway.
