Andy Mohamed Hit Unbeaten Ton As Cosmos Defeated Sheffield

By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 32nd Anniversary):- Andy Mohamed stroked his way to a brilliant century last Sunday at Floyd Bennett Field as Cosmos inflicted a crushing 61 runs victory over Sheffield at Floyd Bennett Field last Sunday.

He came to the fore with intent and demonstrated that he is a batsman with more than a touch of talent. In his previous innings he had shown some sparks brilliance, and his century defined that. It was as good a century as any scored at Floyd Bennett over the years; it was mixed with patience, desire and a timely burst of aggression. Initially, he was watchful and selected his strokes rather guardedly as he and the veteran Ganesh Ramsingh weathered the heat and a testy opening spell to give Cosmos a solid start after Sham Ali won the toss and elected to bat. Ramsingh’s experience played a crucial role in the partnership as he shepherd the youthful Mohamed throughout the partnership.

At the break, 78 without loss, Cosmos was poised for a big total. Ramsingh was solid and took control as the partnership began to swell. He drove with assurance through the point region and dispatched any delivery that was short and loose to the square leg boundary. When he finally went for a composed 63 runs that included 6 boundaries off 78 balls the opening partnership was worth 141 runs. It was the 13th highest opening partnership and 148th century partnership for Cosmos.

Rasheem James walked to the crease and played an important little cameo before he played over a full length delivery. Mohamed though remained focused and took control of the match. The journey to this point has been indecisive, patchy, and testy, but he matured, grew in conviction, and subsequently placed all the goes around comes around in a bin. But his waiting and resolve made this a moment to savor enormously enroute to his century.   He pulled and tucked the spinners with consummate ease through the mid wicket region. However, in the second session after the break he demonstrated his authority with a full range of strokes around the wicket. It was his driving, though, that set him apart as he took full advantage of the over-pitched deliveries and was clinical through the arc in the cover region.

Andy Mohamed would have faced far more menacing attacks in his stint with the United States national team, but his application, technique, and temperament on this pitch, on this day placed him equally if not better prepared than some his peers. Sheffield was excellent in the field and prevented the run rate from ticking too rapidly, however, they could not impose themselves on Mohamed as he was equal to the challenge anchored the inning and took command of the attack. He moved swiftly about in his crease with intractable confidence and ticked into the eighties.

With an eye on a milestone and the need to score quickly for his team he chose the latter with a marked unselfish that had previously alluded him. He moved into the nineties with a blistering square cut that inadvertently illustrated the authority with which he progressed in the second half of his inning. He then danced down the wicket and unleashed a thumping six off paceman Ahmad Dodson over wide mid-off that punctuated his inning and took him to 98. David Mohamed acknowledged nervously at the non-strikers end and walked briskly down the wicket for a brief chat. Prior to that chat another maximum was perhaps on Andy’s mind, however, he may have heeded to the wise, and a perfect push off an outstretched front leg to mid off initiated a calmly celebrated century off 83 balls that included 9 fours and 2 sixes. He became the 34th player to score a century for Cosmos and 91st hundred in the club history as the score moved passed the 200-run mark in the 34th over. At the end of the allotted 35 overs, Mohamed carried his bat for a well played 101 not out as Cosmos inning closed on an imposing 211 for 3. A. Dodson, N. Ramrattan, and S. Bari took 1 wicket a piece.

Sham Ali put an early dent into Sheffield top order with three quick wickets of D. Moffet, D. Chooweenam and S. Bari, while Sohan Dass scalped Ahmad Dodson as Sheffield top order wobbled to 33 for 4. It was an uphill battle for the opposition against a balanced Cosmos bowling attack. Captain Akeem Dodson survived a first ball nick behind off Ali that went in and out of Choy’s glove. Cosmos attack kept the opposition batsmen searching through the inning and at 87 for 6, Cosmos had done the hard work.

Dodson buckled down and added some respectability to the inning with a hard fought 59 runs before R. Levy went through the gates but not before he featured in a gritty 62 runs partnership with K. Grant. It was the highlight of the Sheffield inning but it fell short of creating any concern. Lenroy Whyte held on to three excellent catches in the deep and then cleaned up the tail as Sheffield inning closed on 150 all out as Cosmos made it seven wins in a row and remained unbeaten in this 40-overs competition. Ali 3 for 30, Dass 1 for 30, and L. Whyte 2 for 1.