By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 42nd Anniversary – Match #1174):- Last Sunday felt very much like the perfect day for cricket, one which we have not had in about a year as Cosmos took on NY Zalmi at Hicksville Elementary School. It was hot in the middle but quite comfortable under the shade, and Cosmos boys were relieved to be under the shade after bowling 40 over and staring at the opposition’s target of 274 runs.
It was a target that grew from 128 for 7 in the 23rd over courtesy of ten spilled chances thereafter as Cosmos welcomed Hicksville Elementary School as their new found home ground. The 8th wicket partnership between Farhan Butt (51) and Said Barran (64) was clinical. The pair capitalized on their chances after both batsmen were easily let-off early in their inning. Cosmos though kept a bad habit of dropping catches through the match after shelling two regulation ones off both openers in the first three overs.
The medium pacers of Shane Grant and Devindra Balkisoon need a larger target to bowl at because the three stumps seemed too small while Daniel Chunilall is look for his head somewhere in the middle of the pitch. The spin combination of Sheoraj Harrychandra and Togeshwar Thakoordeen appeared to be finding their groove as they produced two good spells, but felt the frustration of poor fielding. Alex Chunilall, right arm spin, picked up from Harrychandra with a few steady overs, but then missed his mark when he decided to bowl faster rather than spinning the ball and as a result and leaked a few boundaries.
Akash Rahim appeared to be the batsman to watch this season as he was the only one who applied himself in the middle order after Cyril Choy top edged one that climbed. Alex Chunilall tried to cut at one that was too close to his body to slips. Shane Grant was comical after deceived by a slower ball, and Daniel Chunilall then edged behind.
Cosmos was in deep trouble at 16 for 5 in the 8th over before Rahim and Devindra Balgobin steadied the inning taking the score to 57 runs before Balgobin was bowled when he ran down the wicket for a big heave and missed. Rahim then got an edge when he attempted to leave alone. Dooneshwar Dayanand had his longest stay at the wicket so far with a gutsy counterattack before the Cosmos inning headed to a foregone conclusion giving Zalmi a comfortable victory by 172 runs.