By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 45th Anniversary – Match #1251):- In their opening match of the 2024 cricket season in the New York National Cricket League, Cosmos opening batsmen were off to a blazing start against Dave West Indian at Randalls Island last Sunday.
Alex Chunilall and Yogeshwar made a meal of the opposition’s opening bowling attack as Chunilall raced to his half-century in only 18 balls while Ramgobin got to his half-century in 44 balls that included 6-fours and 2-sixes
It was an encouraging start to the season for this opening pair as they posted an opening partnership of 135 runs in just 12 overs before both batsmen went in the 13th over. Chunilall missed a full delivery and was lbw for 68 runs off 32 deliveries that included 10 fours and 3 sixes, and Ramgobin was bowled when he played across to another full delivery.
Antanio Rooplall and Daniel Chunilall kept the run-rate at ten an over as they took the score to 172 for 2 in the 17th over. Cosmos was poised for a huge total with Akash Rahim and Devindra Balgobin yet to come, but on so many occasions, this game delivered its reminders that nothing is guaranteed, and within the next six overs the Cosmos inning went into a dramatic free-fall.
A series of headless stroke-play was on display when Rooplall (21) found the man on the deep mid-off boundary. Rahim (13) then suffered the same faith. Chunilall found the man at deep cover. Sohan Dass pushed out and got an edge that carried low down to a fly-slip region. Cosmos last hope of resurrection was not to be as Balgobin heaved over a full delivery and lost his furniture. Within a few over, the Cosmos inning was in total disarray as they lost their last eight wickets for just twenty runs with seven overs still remaining when the inning closed on 192 all out in 23.3 overs.
It was a shocking display from a very capable Cosmos middle-order, but in this the first match of the season, there were probably some rust in a few corners and they were unable to utilize the fast outfield. The opposition ceased on the opportunity and ended the inning on a high after they had won the toss and inserted Cosmos to bat. In their reply Dave West Indian opening batsman N. Iyana survived a huge first ball shout for lbw off S. Ali and two overs later he lobbed to extra-cover and was put down, he then survived another chance at the wicket off Rooplall. He rode his luck and proceeded to tear into the Cosmos attack with a belligerent 71 runs off 33 ball that included 8 fours and 6 massive sixes before he was stumped off Towgeshwar Thakoordeen.
Thakoordeen and Alex Chunilall combined for good spell of left and right arm spin bowling as Cosmos fought themselves back into the match as they picked up another six wickets. With the opposition on 167 for 7, R. Mohamed (10) and F. Azees (21) ensured that there will be no further penetration into the line-up after Dass grassed a stinging return catch off Azees as Dave West Indian sealed a comfortable 3-wicket victory. T. Thakoordeen took 3 for 38, and A. Chunilall took 2 for 28.
