Scorecard
Atlantis Cricket Club – NY went up 2-0 for the still early Metropolitan Cricket League’s 2017 season last Sunday at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, and against Cosmos Sports Club.
Atlantis won the toss after an almost two hour rain delay, and the match being reduced to 35 overs. It was subsequently reduced to 25 overs, as the clouds darkened and rain once more threatened to end matters. The dark clouds overhead was an ominous sign in the cosmic galaxy, and a bad omen for what was in store for Cosmos, at the hands of Atlantis.
COSMOS’ INNING
Cosmos invited to take first strike was immediately in trouble, losing the wickets of Royo Sankar and Imrul Habib, both without scoring, as Dillon Bourne wreaked havoc with the fast ball, finishing with figures of 3 for 21 off 7 overs. Ajay Gaj was his third victim bowled for 12. The interruption of rain at the end of the 17th over may have affected Cosmos’ composure, however it did not show as the team’s remaining batsmen resumed in blazing style for the final eight overs of the agreed upon 25-overs affair.
Before the Cosmos inning was interrupted at the 17th over mark, the visitors were struggling at 60 for 3 and a rate of just 3.53 per over. Soon after the resumption things improved significantly for Cosmos, as they added another 61 runs, upping the overall asking rate to 4.84 while batting at a rate of 7.63 in the final 8 overs. Thanks to some excellent hitting by the veterans Debo Sankar, 28 caught wktpr. Francis Mendonca, bowl Keon Lake and Sohan Dass, 21, who was beautifully caught one yard from the boundary rope by Dwayne “Chaquan” Smith, off the bowling of Prashanth Nair, as Cosmos added some credibility to its inning. Dave Mohammed contributed a lightning 12, before he was caught and bowled by Atlantis’ acting skipper Treon Forde. The Cosmos inning closed at 121 for 7 off the allotted 25 overs.
Cosmos’ wickets fell at: 4, 35, 37, 78, 86, 112, and 121. Bowling for Atlantis: Dillon Bourne 7-0-21-3, Prashanth Nair 5-0-37-2, Keon Lake 7-0-29-1, Treon Forde 2-0-15-1 and Greg Robinson 4-0-13-0.
ATLANTIS’ INNING
Atlantis opened its inning with Henderson Blades and Francis Mendonca at the wicket, and the pair despite a few nervous moments and an initial slow return of runs on the investment placed in them; they were off to the races, seeing Atlantis home at 122 without the loss of a wicket, and two overs to spare. Mendonca, pushed and prodded for singles and doubles, encouraging Blades to make the extra turn on several occasions, but Henderson Blades was not having much of that; depending solely on his ability to hit the long ball, and hit the ball long he did, striking 2x6s and 8x4s in his unbeaten 74. Mendonca at the other end came up short of a half-century by a single digit, for the second week in a row, stroking an unbeaten 41, including 4x4s. There were seven extras as Cosmos used seven bowlers in the losing cause.
Atlantis recorded its second “W” in as many weeks in the club’s return to the Metropolitan league, after a 28 year hiatus.
Staten Island Cricket Club plays host to Atlantis this Sunday, May 21st at Walker Park on Staten Island. Game time 12:30pm. Directions: Belt Parkway West to Verrazano Narrows Bridge. After toll take Staten Island Parkway to Exit 13 Clove Road. Stay on local road and make a right at Clove Road, then a right at Bard Avenue. Continue to Walker Park next to Bard Avenue.