By John L. Aaron
Mount Everest is the highest mountain on earth above sea level, with a peak that reaches up into the heavens at more than 29,000 feet, almost the flying height of some aircraft. Well, Atlantis Cricket Club-NY found Everest ACS Cricket Club nearly as high a climb last Sunday in its attempt to move to 6-1 for the 2024 New York National Cricket League’s Premier 40 Overs competition at Lido Beach on Long Island, NY.
Coming off a massive 467-run pounding of Port Mourant Cricket Club the previous week, Atlantis’ confidence was undoubtedly high as it traveled the Southern State Parkway to the Lido Beach Exit and the ballpark hidden in plain sight, known as the desert.
Winning the toss and electing to take the first strike, Atlantis struggled to 39 for one in the ninth over, as Moien Khan pinned down the Atlantis openers Dino Choowenaam and his skipper Randall Wilson. Choowenaam was the first to go for 19, c. Wktpr Dodson b. Moien Khan. His skipper Wilson followed five runs later, also at the hands of Khan, bowled for 20.
At 44 for two in the tenth over, it was beginning to look like a very steep climb for the Wilson-led Atlantis. It didn’t look any better when Marvan Prashad returned to the tent’s shade only ten runs later, clean bowled for 11 by the dominant Moien Khan. Vice skipper Kellon Carmichael retired hurt in the 17th over with the score at 77. His final contribution of 11 was a welcomed addition to the Atlantis tally.
Ronaldo Alimohamed, a Guyana national player recently acquired by the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League’s 2024 draft, saw the Atlantis total climb to 143 for 6 in the 29th over before departing and having made an electric 65 off 42 balls and including 5x6s and 4x4s. Trinson Carmichael caught him off the bowling of Deveshwari Prashad. Telston Johnson, batting at number nine, added a well-made 35 (2x6s, 4x4s). Kellon Carmichael gallantly limped back to the middle but could not accelerate Atlantis vertically as the Atlantis inning closed out at 186 all out in the 37th over. Extras contributed 6.
The Atlantis wickets fell at 39, 44, 54, 71, 98, 143, 148, 151, 186, and 186. Moien Khan enjoyed figures of 8-1-22-3. Deveshwari Prashad and Keon Lake each took three wickets for 48 runs each. Yuvraj Dayal, Trinson Carmichael, and Karan Ganesh each snared one wicket apiece.
With Everest ACS taking to the middle and an asking rate of just under five runs per over, it would be tough for Atlantis to accomplish a “W” against such an accomplished squad as Everest ACS. However, a fight was undoubtedly in the making as Atlantis struck early, capturing the wicket of Alvin Gangadin, 0, on the last ball of Dillon Bourne’s first over. Everest ACS 0 for 1. It would be 19 runs before Atlantis would capture the second wicket, that of the dangerous Aldaine Thomas, 4, stmpd Kellon Carmichael b. Kheshram Seyhodan. However, Everest ACS’s skipper Amarnauth Persaud, 64 (run out), Akeem Dewar, 53 (not out), and Trinson Carmichael, 30 (not out) were enough to see Everest ACS across the line at 191 for 5 in the 38th over. Extras chipped in with 17.
The Everest ACS wickets fell at 0, 19, 68, 71 and 132. Kheshram Seyhodan was the pick of the Atlantis bowlers with figures of 8-0-19-2, while Dino Choowenaam and Dillon Bourne each enjoyed one wicket apiece. The depth of the Everest ACS batting line-up undoubtedly made the difference in where the “W” now resides.
Atlantis Cricket Club-NY enjoys a bye this coming Sunday while Everest/ACS takes on Elite Cricket Club.