Cosmos ‘Krumble’ Against Westbury
By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 32nd Anniversary):- Whenever two front-runner teams clash, there is usually a high anticipation for a keen contest on the minds of many and something got to give. Cosmos, in this four match T20 competition, was carded to play the three top teams in the league and welcomed the challenge. Cosmos has already displaced one such opposition in this group, and came up against Westbury, a more formidable opponent, at Westbury High school last Sunday.
Ballister McLeish of Westbury picked up 6 wickets for 10 runs in their clash with Cosmos. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
The high expectations were short-lived though and it once again confirms the uncertainty of the game and moreso when complacency becomes a factor in the equation. It was Westbury who continued their resurgence in 2015 and inflicted a heavy defeat on Cosmos. The veteran Ballister McLeish was the destroyer in chief and the man who orchestrated that uncertainty with a stingy spell, and ultimately put an end to the Cosmos charge. Cosmos got off to a good start at 24 for 1 off 4 overs after they won the toss and elected to bat, however, at the change, it was McLeish who proceed to put a dent into the Cosmos batting lineup. They (Cosmos) could not believe that the next eight overs would have spelled such disaster.
Not much went well for Cosmos on the field and an even poorer display of officiating in the first over in each inning simply dampened the atmosphere and added to the disaster. Perhaps it was the wicket or just the magic of the experience McLeish with his off spin that turned the match on its head. McLiesh is a seasoned cricketer and he read the conditions to perfection. He bowled with impeccable control and variety and kept a nagging line on a slow pitch.
Cosmos Batsmen had few, very few answers and within the next eight overs nine of Cosmos batsmen folded under the pressure. They could not get the ball though the 30-yard circle even if they had a free pass, and as a result they went airy-fairy with a series of poor shot selection and the scoreboard looked a dice card as none got into double figures. With ball in hand McLiesh delivered a clinical spell as he bagged 6 for 10 off 4 overs. It was an impressive performance form Westbury on the field before the Cosmos inning closed on a paltry 45 runs all out.
The match was even shorter than this article; actually, the match was over before a blond on parade could turn grey or hitch a ride to town. Cosmos then spilled five chances in their defense of a small total and began to look weary as Westbury openers blazed towards the target and knocked off the required runs in only 6.4 overs to give their team a victory in convincingly style.
Cosmos will play Progressive next Sunday at Idlewild at 3pm.
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