By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 46th Anniversary): – A solid opening partnership between Antanio Rooplall and Alvin Gobin gave Cosmos the start the needed after Devindra Balgobin won the toss and elected to bat at Ferry Point Park, Whitestone, last Sunday. Promoted to take on the opening batsman role in the absence of Yogeshwar Ramgobin, the fifteen-year-old Alvin Gobin grab the opportunity and gave an impressive account of himself as he and senior partner Rooplall took command of the opposition’s bowling attack.
They continued their good form from Saturday where both batsmen were among the runs with Rooplall coming off a century and Gobin struck a ninety. Gobin was the aggressor of the two on this occasion. He cleared the mid-wicket boundary twice, while Rooplall was more contented on converting on the singles and making full use of the loose deliveries and in the process they stitched together an excellent opening partnership of 71 runs in just 9 overs. Gobin (35) was the first to go when he pulled a loose delivery to the man on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Rooplall (25) then fell in the next over to a dubious lbw decision.
Another good partnership of 55 runs for the 3rd wicket between Ghanam Tariq and Akash Rahim took the score to 126 in the 21st over. At that stage, Cosmos was poised for a big total, but then the middle and lower order orchestrated their collapse with a series of ill-advised shots, and Cosmos lost the next seven wickets for just thirteen runs and were bowled out for 139 in 28.4 overs. G. Ramlall took 4 for 17.
Cosmos effort to defend a below par total was hampered by injuries to Akash Rahim and the key bowler in Sohan Dass in the first inning, and that was a serious blow to the bowling attack. Those injuries were further exhausted with a few blunders at crucial stages in the match that gave the opposition a free pass. Ryan Ganesh knocked over K. Sookram in his first over and had A. Etwaroo dropped behind in his next ball but then picked him up in his next over, 18 for 2. A steady 3rd wicket partnership of 48 runs between D. McCarthy (33) and S. Mangaroo added some stability to the inning, before T. Thakoordeen had S. Mangaroo taken at mid-wicket 66 for 3. Cosmos got the opening they needed, and a chance to make further inroads went begging when in Thakoordeen’s next ball Ganesh spilled L. Clarke at deep extra-cover.
That was a very costly error, and it ultimately decided the results of the match as Clark struck a quick 34 runs before, he went with the score of 123 for 5. In addition to a few blunders in the field Cosmos bowling attack in this match was quite pedestrian and the opposition made full use of the opportunities to seal a comfortable 5-wicket victory. R. Ganesh took 2 for 23 and A. Rooplall 2 for 29.
Upcoming Games
Aug 9 – Cosmos Masters will play All Pros at Vancourtland Park.
Aug. 10 – at 8am – Cosmos Kings will play Gen XI
Aug. 10 – 1pm – Cosmos will play GT Fire at Ferry Point Park
