By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 45th Anniversary – Match #1258 / 20240609):- In conditions that really tested ones patience and resolve, Cosmos boys were up to the task and showed some character and maturity after captain Ryan Ganesh won the toss and elected to bat.
Yogeshwar Ramgobin failed to fire yet again when he attempted a pull at one that got ‘big on him and stick him up’ and offered mid-on an easy catch. Thereafter, Cosmos middle-order buckled down and stitched together three crucial partnerships under some difficult batting conditions. Akash Rahim and Shane Singh posted a 43-runs partnership before Singh pushed to short cover and took off for an ill-advised run and was run out for 25 after he was sent back with the score to 57 for 2 in the 14th over. In that mayhem Rahim remained unperturbed as he and Alex Chunilall composed another 43-runs partnership before Chunilall (11), who looked technically tangled on this wicket, swiped at a ball that kept low and went via the lbw decision, 99 for 3 in 21.3 overs.
Rahim showed character throughout the inning, and his ability to access and adapt to the conditions, picking up the ones and twos, and at times allowed himself to unfurled a few blistering square cuts when the opportunity was offered. Devindra Balgobin is the inform batsman has given the Cosmos middle-order batting some much-needed spine, and again in this match, he gave the inning a boost with a 23-ball 26 runs, before he went in the 28th over. Rahim though was the backbone in this inning as he reached a hard-earned half century before he went in the final ball for a 72-ball 51 runs when the Cosmos inning closed on 146 for 5 in their allotted 30 overs.
Falcons Fury in their reply, needed to unleashed all their fury against a tidy Cosmos bowling attack and tough batting conditions, if they were to get over the line on an unpredictable track and an outfield that would have been a feast for animal grazing, but an absolute nightmare for batting and finding.
Cricket seemed to be getting ‘the raw end of the shaft’ with the grass above ones ankle while the adjacent soccer fields are well manicured. That picture is a blatant disregard for this cricket culture that is being treated as a second class citizen, and a telling display of the priorities of the NYC Parks Department. It is not only the Ferry Point Park cricket field; it is the same for a majority of the cricket fields. But for the mere love of the game, cricketers suck-it-up and carry on like they did in this match.
Ryan Ganesh struck early blood with a searing inswinger that cartwheelded U. Khalid (2) middle stump. Yours truly, Sham Ali, got into the act when he got one that climbed and had T. Ahmad (14) attempted pull balloon to square leg, he subsequently followed up with another when he clipped the edge of J. Shah to give wicketkeeper Daniel (oops wrong name) wicketkeeper Balgobin his maiden catch. A. Hamza then got an out-swinger from Ganesh that moved away late, and in a shocking surprise in just a few overs Balgobin looked very qualified in his new role as wicketkeeper with a second catch that may make Daniel Chunilall a little nervy and jealous.
Cosmos opening spell had Falcons trapped at 37 for 4 off 12 overs. Jieunit Mingo and the veteran Sohan Dass kept Cosmos on control. Dass in particular maintained a tidy line and in the process picked up 3 for 26 in his spell. With 56 runs needed in 7 overs, Towgeshwar Thakoordeen kept Falcons from flying to far ahead, despite S. Hossain (35) counterattack with two massive maximum, as three chances went begging. He was undone when he swung too hard at Thakoordeen and cleaned up his stumps. With the last pair at the wicket and 11 runs needed in the last over, Mingo disrupted the woodwork with his first ball to give Cosmos a hard fought victory.
Cosmos Masters will play Connecticut Masters at Bridgeport, CT on Saturday.
Cosmos ‘A’ will play Bellhills on Sunday at Ferry Point Park, Whitestone.
