By Saif Yasin
On a beautiful Fathers’ Day afternoon at Jacob Riis Park, two of EACA’s elite teams squared off in what would be a nail biting match. In the absence of usual skipper Andy Mohammed, who missed the game because he was representing New York Region at the inaugural USACA regional T20, MMZ was led by Zaaid Majeed.
Clain Williams of Big Apple Cricket Club was among the runs hitting 54. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
Majeed in return would win the toss and elect to bat first with a freshly cut ground at his disposal. Winning the toss and electing to bat first would prove to be the right decision as openers Ken Nandkumar and Ajaz Asgarally played some classy strokes all over the ground. Big Apple got their first break through when Asgarally was out for 13 trying to play one big shot too many.
Next in would be former USA U-15 player Amarnath Persaud who at first seemed a little uncomfortable at the extra bounce that the pitch was providing. He would eventually work his way in, but just as he seemed comfortable he was run out for 10 while trying to complete what would have been a tight single.
As the Big Apple pacers ended their first spells, the spinners came on and wreak some havoc of their own. Left arm spinner Kumar Nandalall caused the most damage as he ripped through the middle order claiming 4 wickets for 23 runs in his 5 overs bowled. As the wickets tumbled at the other end Nandkumar held his own but eventually would fall for a well played 32 off the bowling of Sean Thompson. MMZ would reach 166 at the end of their 35 overs. The extras bowled played a major role as it contributed for 31 of MMZ’s runs.
Inning Summary:
MMZ 166 for 9: (Ken Nandkumar 32/ Robin Das 19/ Deonauth Baksh 18)
BACC: (Kumar Nandalall 5-0-23-4/ Shawn Thompson 7-0-28-2/ Shiv Raghubar 7-0-31-1)
In reply to what seemed like a decent total to chase down Big Apple sent Mark Gomes and Rhett Ramathur. The two batsmen started out positively but as was the case with MMZ opening’s pair what could have been a decent opening stand ended abruptly. A mix up at the non-strikers end led to Ramathur being run out for 7. Gomes would fall the next over to Rayhanul Islam.
The pressure was on new batsmen Clain Williams and Mark A. Gomes to rebuild after the two quick wickets. Williams played the ball all over the ground while Gomes tried to rotate the strike. Gomes would fall or 11 and this would bring Zaheer Saffie to the crease. Saffie and Williams put on a decent 4th wicket partnership that would bring Big Apple ever so close to their total.
After Williams would depart for a well played 54, the productivity in the wicket slowed down. Big Apple run rate severely dropped and they saw themselves trailing behind the required run rate. Thing got intense after Shiv Raghubar fell for 29 leaving Saffie and new batmen Telston Johnson at the crease. Fast-forwarding to the last ball of the 35th over Big Apple needed 3 runs but could only manage two as Johnson was run out while trying to sneak home a third. MMZ who for most of the match seemed to letting the Big Apple run away with the match fought back in the end to tie it.
Inning Summary
BACC: 166 FOR 8 ( Clain Williams 54/ Zaheer Saffie 30/ Shiv Raghubar 29)
MMZ: Zaiid Majeed 7-1-33-1/ Amarnath Persaud4-0-24-2/ Rayhanul Islam 4-0-24-1
Saif Yasin is a 16 year-old student at Scholars Academy and a member of Big Apple Cricket Club.