All matches last Sunday were impacted by the weather forecast of an 80 percent chance of rain. The Lucas Sports Club vs. Atlantis Cricket Club – NY match-up was no exception. Idlewild Cricket Ground was affected by overnight rain; however, with some diligent groundwork, perseverance of the two assigned umpires, and the curating of the 22 yards of sacred real estate in the middle, a 32 overs contest evolved.
Atlantis emerged with a purpose and was very energetic, following a disappointing loss to Sheffield Cricket Club the previous week and recording its first loss of the young season. Thus, it was game on! On what may have been a dull, sleepy rainy day in Rosedale, New York. However, no sooner was the match started than it was realized it would become a yawing, boring Sunday afternoon if the Lucas bats did not wake up soon. Having won the toss and invited Lucas to have a bat with a somewhat wet outfield, rags came out, and so did the Atlantis opening pair of bowlers, skipper Gregory Robinson and left-arm medium-pacer Seth Maughn.
Lucas’s opening pair at the middle was Orval Crawford and Ibrahim Zahoor. Crawford would be the first victim of Seth Maughn, caught by Ronaldo Ali Muhammad without scoring. Rodarri Small soon fell victim to Gregory Robinson, caught behind by wicketkeeper Shawayne Kellman after posting five runs off 17 balls.
Kiron Thomas would be Robinson’s second victim, caught by Randall Wilson, with just two runs added to the score of 35. Maughn recorded his next scalp, that of Ibrahim Zahoor, 18 (1×6, 2x4s) caught by Prashanth Nair. Dorrel Evelyn was going well at the striker’s end and looking to go big with every delivery. He would make 21 before falling victim to, guess who? Seth Maughn.
It was the Seth Maughn show after that, with no one exhibiting a single yawn as the leftie Maughn started piling up the victims, including a successive trio of batters for his first hat-trick in Atlantis green. The hat-trick tres amigos included Keon Joseph, Rodwell Busgith, and Nalburn Whittiker. Along the way, Maughn was also responsible for the run-out of Keebie Thomas. It was that kind of day for a hapless Lucas XI.
Maughn would finish with figures of 5.4-1-24-7, including the hat-trick and run-out, bowling just one wide in his spell. It was enough to earn him Player-of-the-Match. At the other bowling end, his skipper Gregory Robinson enjoyed a day in the park with figures of 6-1-26-2. The Lucas total of 50 all-out came in 11.4 overs and 48 minutes. The Lucas wickets fell at 4, 25, 35, 35, 37, 43, 50, 50, 50, and 50.
Set a target of 51 runs off 192 balls, Atlantis went about the task intending no doubt to not lose a single wicket in the process. Opener Akeel Hoyte, after punching a boundary off of Keon Joseph he edged a rising delivery off the top outside of his blade to Ibrahim Zahoor in second-slip, departing on a contribution of just four runs. Atlantis five for one in the first over, chasing 51.
Atlantis’ vice-captain Randall Wilson, 23 off 15 balls (3x4s, 1×6), and overseas registrant Kellon Carmichael, 23 off 20 deliveries (5x4s) would ensure that Hoyte was the only wicket lost as the duo went about the task in as simple a manner as necessary.
With one run required for victory and 144 balls and 9 wickets remaining, Wilson drove a Rodwell Busgith delivery for four to end the inning and record the club’s third “W” for the season. The Atlantis inning lasted precisely 34 minutes and 6.2 overs.
Atlantis takes on top-contender Villagers Sports Club on Father’s Day this Sunday, June 19 at Roy Sweeney Cricket Oval at Gateway Plaza Mall in Brooklyn. The game time is 12:00 noon.
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