By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 43rd Anniversary – Match #1189):- Cosmos scripted an emphatic 93 runs victory in their opening warm-up match over Staten Island last Sunday at the historic Walker Park in Staten Island.
Cosmos boys wasted no time in shaking off the winter rust with an excellent all round performance. Cosmos poster boy Alex Chunilall continued his good form from last season as he stroked a breezy 58 runs which included 6-4’s and 2-6’s before he retired. Devon McCarthy was just beginning to find his footing before he went to just 11.
However, Akash Rahim after a sketchy 2021 season showed signs of his usual self before with a steady 52 (3-4’s, 3-6’s), before he retired. Yudesh Shivpersaud took the captaincy reins for the first time and led the team well as he took control of the middle-order before he retired with a composed 52. Devindra Balgobin held the lower-order with a good 27 not out, while Khamraj Conyers looked his part once again after his solitary half century in last season opener against Majestic, as he got a few swings before he retired as Cosmos posted a commanding 287 for 3 in their allotted 30 overs.
Staten Island in their reply were pegged back early in their inning with a probing opening spell from Ryan Ganesh who bagged two quick wickets. Ramesh and Sunny then offered some resistance with both getting 59 and 58 runs respectively while no other batsman managed to get into double figures before the Staten Island inning closed on 192 for 8 in their allotted 30 overs.
Cosmos will play Centurions on Sunday at Bay Park in their New York National Cricket League (NYNCL) opening match.
