By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 44th Anniversary – (Match #1221):- The pitch was one that would make batsmen cringe and one which bowlers would probably love to have as was the case last Sunday. The toss was crucial on a wicket of this nature after heavy overnight rain left the wicket very damp.
An early morning match with the matting on a damp pitch meant that any chances of it drying out was slim, and the wicket would definitely deteriorate even more as the match progresses and that would make batting a nightmare.
Yakusari called the toss and elected to bat. They were off to a good start as their openers posted 59 runs in nine overs courtesy of a Cosmos bowling attack that lacked the experience to exploit the conditions. They served up a few ranked short deliveries and half-vollies that were given the full treatment as they raced passed the boundary.
Avinash Cassie played a patient hand for 58 runs, digging out a few devils and waited for the loose deliveries. In the process, he constructed three important partnerships before he departed. Farazz Mohamed played a highly experienced knock as he stroked a crucial 47 runs not out of 39 balls with three fours and two sixes. He held the middle order together, and in the process stitched together a vital 6th wicket partnership of 60 runs to give Yakusari a commanding 202 for 6 in their allotted 30 overs.
Bowling for Cosmos, Dass, Thakoordeen and Cox picked up two wickets each for 39, 32, and 54 runs respectively.
It would require a lot of patience, experience and a few good innings from Cosmos batsmen to challenge the opposition total. Alex Chunilall and Shane Singh started off well as they posted 23 runs in the first two overs, but then Chunilall swiped at a slow inswinger from the former Guyana Youth player, Danny Ramsaroop, and lost his off stump.
That was a hair-brained shot which gave the opposition the opening they needed and thereafter, it was a procession. Ramsaroop was more adept at exploiting the conditions of this pitch than Cosmos bowlers as he bagged a fifer, 5 for 18 in 6 overs.
With seven batsmen out bowled and one lbw told some of the stories with the ball hitting the stumps on five occasions at just about ankle height as Cosmos was bundled out for a paltry 51 all out in 15.1 overs.
Sometimes you need a broom instead of a bat with a hole to survive on a wicket of this nature, and a bit of head as well, neither of which Cosmos had in their possession last Sunday, and in the finality, they got a good old trashing as Yakusari sealed an emphatic 151 runs victory.
