By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 46th Anniversary): – Cosmos stuck to their guns a delivered an inspired performance last Sunday against Yakusari at Baisley Cage. It was a full one hundred and eighty degrees turn around from their last match and Cosmos aces, Akash Rahim and Towgeshwar Thakoordeen were keen to play and would not miss the opportunity to get a crack in this encounter.
Devindra Balgobin did that which eluded him all season, he won the toss and elected to bat. Vitindra Koomar played a crucial role as he anchored the inning on a tricky pitch with a solid 29 runs. Alvin Gobin struck an aggressive 22 runs while Balgobin got 17 and Rahim 11 when the Cosmos inning closed on 129 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
In defense of a below par total on this field, it appears that the opposition had won the match before the second inning started. Cosmos viewed the pre-match shenanigans with an ‘oh well’ and stuck to their methods that have kept them going. Ryan Ganesh produced an inspired opening spell as Cosmos.
Captain Balgobin accessed the conditions well and turned to his left and right arm spin combination, and that proved to be the lethal duo which left the opposition in disarray, and once Balgobin showed that he is a more than capable leader as he marshalled his team.
While it was expected the Thakoordeen would create some havoc on this wicket, it was Antanio Rooplall on this occasion that mesmerized the opposition. Rooplall exploited the conditions of this pitch to perfection and went for the jugular with an inspired spell in the middle overs that left the opposition asphyxiated as he returned with figures of 4 for 21 in his spell. With that spell from Rooplall, Cosmos tightened their grip with the opposition reeling on 67 for 7 in the 11th over. Letroy Clark offered some resistance but that was short-lived when Ganesh and Ahman Dodson returned and drove the final nail into the woodwork to zip-up this match and gave Cosmos an emphatic 19-run victory.
ALL ARE INVITED:
Nov. 8 – Cosmos 46th Annual Presentation, Dinner & Dance at Liberty Palace Banquet Hall.
