Calm Telston Johnson Guides Big Apple To Victory Over Atlantis

Alex Amsterdam of Atlantis during his fine knock of 104 last Sunday against Big Apple. Photos by Shiek Mohamed

Eastern American Cricket Association Power-40 Division 1 Competition
By Saif Yasin
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In what would be a thriller of a match, Eastern American Cricket Association powerhouses Atlantis Cricket Club faced off against Big Apple Cricket Club at Heckscher State Park. It was a clash filled with oxymora, the historic Atlantis Cricket Club with their youthful team elected to bat first against the three year old Big Apple Cricket Club which was loaded with experience. With rain in their forecast for most of the city, out east the two teams were hoping that rain would not play a factor in their encounter.

Telston Johnson produced a "presidential knock" of 67 not out as he steer Big Apple to win against Atlantis.

Shawn Mason and Henderson Blades opened the inning for Atlantis while Tino Best look alike Telston Johnson and Andre Kirton opened the bowling for Big Apple. The two provided a good start for Big Apple as Kirton removed the dangerous Blades for 7 while Johnson disturbed Mason’s stumps for 12. Ryan Sukdheo entered and did little to the score as he was removed for 3 by skipper Zaheer Saffie. With the score at 23 for 3, Big Apple seemed to have a firm command on the game that was until Alex Amsterdam made his way to the crease. Amsterdam took on the Big Apple bowling by the horns as he dispatched their short bowling to fence. He single handedly swung to game back into Atlantis’ favor as the wickets kept on tumbling around him.

At 89 for 5 he found a reliable partner in the form of Ron Andrews as the pair kept the score ticking for Atlantis. The pair dismantled Big Apple’s bowling, playing it with ease as they took 21 boundaries off of it. Amsterdam and Andrews would bring up their fifties before Andrews was out for 54 off the bowling of Andre Kirton. Amsterdam would continue his responsible innings bringing up a well-deserved century. He would eventually be dismissed for 104 by Kirton, but by this point Atlantis was already at a competitive total. Hugh Craig and Dwayne Hurley would see Atlantis bat out their 40 overs posting a strong total 259, Atlantis was greatly helped by 46 Big Apple extras.

Inning’s Summary:
Atlantis 259 for 8 (Alex Amsterdam 104 11x4s & 2x6s and Ron Andrews 54 3x4s & 5×6).
BACC: Andre Kirton 8-0-37-3, Zaheer Saffie 8-0-27-2 and Ryan Balram 8-1-28-1.

Disappointed at letting Atlantis get the total they did, Big Apple needed to start off the second half of the innings on a positive note. Francis Mendonca and Richard Ramdeen set out to take Big Apple to their first win against Atlantis while Dwayne Hurley and Greg Robinson looked to keep Atlantis’ record perfect against Big Apple.  Both batsmen started out aggressively but Hurley got the better of Medonca early as he removed him for 12. Zaheer Saffie came in and stroked three 4s before being caught off the bowling of Robinson for 12.  Robinson would go on to remove Clain Williams soon after for 8 leaving Big Apple in quite a predicament.

Alex Amsterdam celebrates his 104.

The worst was yet to come as Keon Lake came in to the attack and scalped three quick wickets, all the while with Ramdeen at the other end trying to keep the innings together. Although wickets were falling Ramdeen was playing his natural aggressive game as he scored 42 of his eventual 53 runs in boundaries, his prized wicket eventually went to Greg Robinson. With the fall of Ramdeen, Atlantis seemed to have victory in the bag as 90 runs were needed by Big Apple with only two wickets remaining.

In walked Big Apple president and player Telston Johnson with a huge task ahead of him, but the pacer responded well by lighting up Heckscher State Park like the Hudson River on the fourth of July. Johnson was on a roll as he took it to the Atlantis bowlers dismissing them to the boundary. With the help of Hermendra Ramdihall they brought Big Apple within reaches of victory, before Ramdihall was out for 16 off the bowling of Alex Amsterdam to thicken the plot some more. The wicket didn’t prevent Johnson from carrying on to get his fifty and with last man in Ryan Balram to see Big Apple home to a nail-biting victory.

Inning’s Summary:
BACC: 260 in 31.2 overs (Telston Johnson 67 8x4s & 2x6s, Richard Ramdeen 53 3x4s & 5x6s and Hermendra Ramdihall 16 4x4s).
Atlantis: Greg Robinson 8-0-54-3, Keon Lake 8-0-64-3 and Dwayne Hurley 8-1-76-2.