By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 46th Anniversary):- Cosmos turned in a substandard performance last Sunday at Whitestone Park number two wicket. It was a good toss to win, and Warriors did just that and elected to bat under heavy overcast conditions and an outfield that held some of the overnight showers. It is difficult to make any proper sense of the conditions; a slippery concrete wicket damaged at the bowling end, yes bowling end, bowling from one end; the new way to play the game, and a damaged green covering glued on top of it. Those conditions are not suited for cricket no matter how one tries to twist it except to conclude that the people who play the game in these parts must have a deep love for the game.
But more so, a cricket field that looks like the perfect grazing ground for animals. It is puzzling to see that ALL THE ADJACENT SOCCER FIELDS ARE WELL MANICURED and the CRICKET FIELD JUST NEXT TO IT LOOKS LIKE A JUNGLE WITH THE GRASS SIX TO EIGHT INCHES HIGH. THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE NYC PARKS DEPARTMENT GIVING CRICKET THE MIDDLE FINGER. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE. THESE CONDITIONS ARE ATROCIOUS FOR CRICKET!!!!! I suppose that is what we signed up for!
And now over to playing the game. Cosmos got an early breakthrough when Sham Ali removed Youghestir Bachan (23) in his third over and would have had a second in his fifth if Antanio Rooplall did not grass Brandon Cabose at mid-on. The ball had to be changed after six overs because it was soaked and swollen. Thereafter, not much went right for Cosmos for the next twenty overs. It was pure carnage thanks to a few slippery hands. It was only two weeks ago that Cosmos appeared to be able to catch wind on the adjacent ground.
However, on this day they could not wrapped their hands around a beach ball even if it had glue on it, and they paid a dearly for letting off both batsmen on a number of occasions. In all fairness though, it was extremely difficult to navigate through six to eight inches of wet grass.
The next twenty overs appeared as though it was hunting season as Cosmos bowling attack began to bleed profusely to the tune of sixes. They served up a truckload of half-volleys, long-hops. Surely that is not the recommended dressing to stop their bowling attack from hemorrhaging. It was a sumptuous feast for Warrior’s batsmen, Cabose and Christian, and they feasted delightfully. Cabose rode his luck on a charmed inning, but nonetheless an important one that provided the foundation for his team on his way to a century, while Kevin Christian, an aggressive young batsman, was even more brutal. He gave the inning the impetus it needed with a relentless array of strokes taking full advantage of the small boundaries.
At times, Cosmos fielding got a bit comical, but it was nothing to crow about despite a few disappointing body languages of unwritten messages that revealed a silent thought; rather being somewhere else today. Frankly, Cosmos was just flat on this Father’s Day. Towgeshwar Thakoordeen, Cosmos ace bowler, delivered a dizzying spell. He bowled like a drunk trying to get his foot on a narrow board across a trench, over at night, missing it on several tries. He was that bad in this match and served up a barrel of freshly brewed ‘punchin’ to the tune of a wooooah ninety-nine runs in his spell of six overs, full-toss, long-hops, and off the pitch at times. Lord, Cosmos ace bowler on this day was a jack, and Akash Rahim reminded him later, not so kindly, when the boys gather for dinner and swank at Sohan’s house (Cosmos club house).
At crucial stages of the match, Cosmos missed simple opportunities before both batsmen had a chance to settle, and paid the price as Cabose and Christian proceeded to amass a massive partnership of 233 runs. Christian, who was gifted chances on either side of his half century, was in an aggressive mood. He unleashed some telling blows over cover and mid-off on his way to a belligerent 56-ball century of 136 runs that included 17 sixes and 3 fours, before Mister 99, Thakoordeen, finally managed to get one leg on the board, to affect the breakthrough via lbw, but he never makes it across the trench, he only got half way. Cabose then went for a well-played 105 runs (8 fours,6 sixes) when Balgobin knocked him over as he and Ganesh kept the closing overs a little quiet. The Warriors inning closed on an imposing 328 for 9 off their allotted 30 overs. D. Balgobin took 4 for 14, R. Ganesh 2 for 33, T. Thakoordeen 2 for 99.
It would have required a gallant effort from Cosmos to offer a challenge to a formidable total posted by the opposition, Cosmos does have the firepower, however, it was not to be after they lost three early wickets. Alvin Gobin is a talented all-rounder on the rise, and has earned a spot on the Cosmos senior team this season. An opportunity which he grasps quite willing and has been impressive so far. Fittingly, a few days ago, he earned his selection on the NY Hub U-15 team that will be going to play three matches against the New England U-15 team in Albany. Cosmos will pave the way by giving him ample opportunity to improve, and in this match, he walked out to open the batting. It is a big occasion for a fifteen-year-old. He looked quite comfortable against the opening pace attack, and after playing an ambitious pull to mid-wicket, he attempted the shot again and miscued to watch the wicketkeeper pulling off a good catch making good ground while running back.
After a run of three consecutive victories Cosmos found themselves on the backfoot in this match. Ghanam Tariq and Balgobin gave their team a little spark with a brief counterattack, a 4th wicket partnership of 48 runs in just four overs. Balgobin lost his ‘head’ perhaps he had some of Thakoordeen’s brewed, after he cleared the mid-on boundary, he then sliced the next ball, a long hop, to the man at backward point. Tariq then unleashed a few towering maximums as he raced to a 28-ball 45 runs that provided Cosmos with some much-needed highlights on a day that was already too long and dreary day. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Cosmos ‘power-hitting machine,’ Doneshwar Dayananad, failed to fire a single shot when he was unfortunately adjudged lbw, first ball; a decision that appeared highly questionable. Thakoordeen looked sober in his defense and showed that he can be dependable if needed getting into double figures before he went via the lbw route.
With nine down, the opposition sounded the alarm of wrapping up the match. That alarm had a power shortage and was silenced very quickly after only a few balls got passed the willow of the two veterans Sohan Dass and Sham Ali. This last pair kept the opposition at bay and chirping for the next eight overs. This ‘test’ would end in a ‘tame draw’ as this pair batted quite comfortably until the cows came home. The front-runners though, Warriors, had the best of the days play when they sealed a comfortable victory by 210 runs courtesy of a brilliant 2nd wicket partnership between Brandon Cabose and captain Kevin Christian. K. Ghai took 4 for 13, K. Adam’s 2 for 32.
Cosmos will play Tri County next Sunday at Roy Wilkins Park.
Cosmos King will play Punjab next Sunday morning at Roy Wilkins Park.
