By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 45th Anniversary – Match #1277 / 20240909):- A chilly feeling of an early Spring temperature was in the air as Cosmos took on West Coast Warriors at Baisley Pond last Sunday in the New York National Cricket League T20 competition. A 10:30am start may not be ideal for a majority of cricketers especially the likes of Sohan Dass or Ganesh Ramsingh, and this young Saturday night trotters, but Cosmos boys were all ready for game day.
Devindra Balgobin won the toss and elected to field. His decision to bowl first appeared to be correct as yours truly struck with his first ball when he clipped the edge of C. Persaud, and in his next over had N. Rambharos caught off of a mis-timed pull. However, Warriors recovered as their new imports A. Dhanpaul and W. Haslim, settled in for two important third and fourth wickets partnerships at a healthy rate of nine runs per over. A steady 3rd wicket partnership yielded 61 runs between K. Christian and A. Dhanpaul before Antonio Rooplall took an excellent catch running in off the mid-off boundary to dismiss Christian (32) off Towgeshwar Thakoordeen.
A 67 runs partnership for the 4th wicket between Dhanpaul and W. Haslim took the score to 154 before Keifer Phill, who had bowled with lively pace and control earlier returned for his second spell and immediately cleaned up Dhanpaul (67) and S. Deonarine. The mild buddy banter between Junick Mingo and Haslim was shortlived when Mingo outfoxed Haslim with a slower ball, and the ever reliable and energetic Bavesh Utam held on to a good catch at mid-off. The Warriors inning closed on a competitive 176 for 6 off their allotted 20 overs. K. Phill took 2 for 28, S. Ali 2 for 37, J. Mingo and T. Thakoordeen took 1 wicket each for 30.
Cosmos needed good start in the powerplay overs if they were to challenge the target, however, Warriors struck an early blow in their second over when K. Phill was deceived by a slower ball from off spinner J. Rampersaud. Naresh Persaud, who returned to the Cosmos squad after an extended absence this season partnered with Antonio Rooplall for a solid half-century partnership, but they were unable to maintain the required run-rate against a disciplined Warriors attack. The asking rate was climbing, and Persaud (13) was undone with an attempted heaved. Rooplall (34) was then left stranded when he moved down the wicket to Rampersaud. Devindra Balgobin was Cosmos’s last hope of a late inning blast off, but he struggled to find the middle of the bat. Junick Mingo and Raj Sewanan added some respectability to the inning as both of them got into double figures with a 30-run partnership to take the total pass the one hundred mark, however, by that time result was academic as Warriors sealed a convincing 71 runs victory. J. Rampersaud took 2 for 16, and A. Dhanpaul 1 for 16.
Cosmos will play Richmond Hill on Sunday at 10:30am.
ALL ARE INVITED TO
COSMOS 45TH ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATION DINNER AND DANCE
November 9, 2024. at the elegant Liberty Palace Banquet Hall, 130-11 Liberty Ave, 11419.