By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 45th Anniversary – Match #1264 / 20240630):- Under bright sunshine on a hot and very humid day Cosmos arrived at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens to host Yakusari. It has been almost a decade since we last played at Roy Wilkins when we were in the Metropolitan Cricket League. It is a ground where we have had many battles and have racked up a few big scores over the years including a 284 for 4 v Jamaica x-police in 2008.
On this day in a different century and a totally new look young Cosmos outfit in the New York National Cricket League we continue to ply our recreational trade on the cricket field. Yakusari won the toss and inserted Cosmos to bat. A decision that probably weighted heavily on the predicted forecast of late afternoon boomers.
Cosmos found themselves in some early trouble loosing two wickets in the first three overs when in the 2nd over Alex Chunilall played across to a full-toss, got a leading edge, and ballooned a simple catch to point. In next, Y. Ramgobin played an ambitious heave. At 27 for 2, Antonio Rooplall and Akash Rahim began to gradually repair the inning, courtesy of two drop catches from Yakusari off both batsmen.
The score ticked over to 76 in the 13th over with a steady 49 runs partnership before Rooplall (25) pushed a full-toss back to the bowler. Daniel Chunilall one of Cosmos’s most dependable batsman had two uncharacteristic outings in the last two matches where he walked briskly in, perhaps just to mark his crease, and out but a little faster on his way out. Actually, in the last two matches he swiped at a total of four deliveries and missed three touched one with the same results, duck. Somebody will feel the willow very soon.
Cosmos top order batsmen lacked purpose and application, and choosing to go the airy-fairy route showed that they placed little value on their wicket especially on an outfield that offered rewards for keeping the ball on the ground; hence the scorecard read 76 for 4 in the 13th over. Devindra Balgobin wasn’t fishing for anything on this day, and he was the only batsman who looked in comfortable against the opposition’s bowling attack. He stood firm as wickets kept falling around him.
Putting together a solid 36 runs before the Cosmos inning closed on 147 all out in the 29th over. K. Jagdeo took 3 for 31, V. Chatram 3 for 27, H. Kissoon 2 for 21, and S. Mangroo 2 for 18.
Yakusari, in their reply were 28 for 1 in the 5th over, thunder and lightning brought a premature end to the match.
Cosmos will play Eagles next Sunday at Marine Park.
