By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 46th Anniversary): – A controlled inning from Azeemuddin Khan led Whim boys to a convincing 6-wicket victory over Cosmos at the ‘jungle’ at Beach-32 last Sunday. Khan batted through some fatigue in his inning but held his composure under the heat and humid conditions. He was careful not to give Cosmos bowling another whiff of his wicket after he offered a sharp chance at extra-cover in the third over. That would have been a crucial wicket had Ghanam Tariq held on.
Cosmos fought to defend a reasonably good total after Devindra Balgobin won the toss and elected to bat under heavy overcast conditions. It was somewhat unfortunate a passing drizzle in the first over was enough to dampen the matting. That created some challenges for the batsmen as the sun took its own sweet time to reach earth. Yogeshwar Ramgobin (22) attacking mood did not last long as Cosmos batsmen struggled to get the ball through the twelve inches of grass against a tidy opposition bowling attack.
The grass at Beach-32 is about twelve inches high, no exaggeration, quite like that at Randalls Island and Ferry Point Park, whilst the grass on the adjacent soccer fields is low cut. It is incomprehensible and an absolute disgrace that cricket is blatantly being given the finger by the New York City parks Department. It is a sickening site to behold.
For lack of better, Cosmos and Whim Boyz battled under the conditions. A good forty-three runs partnership between Antanio Rooplall and Akash Rahim took Cosmos to 100 for 2 before Rahim (22) was bowled around his legs, and two runs later Rooplall (36) was caught, 102 for 4 in 22.4 overs. Captain Balgobin and fifteen years old Alvin Gobin gave the inning a spark with Gobin taking the attack to the opposition. He took eighteen in one over that included two massive sixes over mid-on as he and Balgobin (27) stitched together a crucial 66-runs in just 6 overs before Gobin (33) holed out on the mid-off boundary. Cosmos inning ended on 175 for 7 in their allotted 30 overs. H. Sattur was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 24.
It was Azeemuddin Khan who stood firmly in the way of Cosmos making inroads into the opposition line-up. He batted with ease and maturity and took full advantage of anything on offer around leg stump with uncomplicated relish over the short mid-wicket boundary. In the process, he constructed three good partnerships of 46 runs with K. Seepersaud (17), 69 runs with R. Latcha (26) and 40 runs with D. Thakoordeen (21). Khan was poised for what would have been a deserved century, but T. Thakoordeen induced a nick behind and Balgobin took a sharp as he went for a match-winning 63-balls 88 runs (7-4’s, 6-6’s) as his team strolled to 179 for 4 in the 26th over. A. Rooplall took 2 for 41, S. Ali took 1 for 33, T. Thakoordeen took 1 for 23.
Cosmos youths give a particularly good account of themselves and are enjoying being given the opportunity to play. In addition to being talented they are disciplined, respectful, and well mannered, and are ably led by the fourteen-year-old captain, Azam Yakub, and Vice-captain Devin Persaud; two disciplined young leaders. This is their first season, and they can only get better. Keep your heads high guys and enjoy playing the game.
