By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 28th Anniversary): Kevin Darlington and Dixeth Palmer produced two inspired spell of fast bowling followed by a indomitable team effort and a solid opening partnership from Morris Powell and Sham Ali that helped Cosmos sealed a crushing victory against International at Fairmont Park, Philadelphia on June 13th. Darlington, the former Guyana fast bowler took his team’s burden on his shoulders as he teamed up with his new ball partner Sham Ali to leave the opposition’s batting order in tatters on 49 for 5.
Kevin Darlington had match figures of 4 for 28.
Under the heavy overcast conditions, the combination of Darlington and Ali proved to be a lethal dose for the opposition as three wickets tumble in opening overs before a brief drizzle then stopped play in the 5th over with international on 3 for 12. A resulted moistened ball brought a premature end to an incisive opening spell of pace and swing, Darlington though, after the interruption, continued to extract enough pace from a dampened pitch to return with figures of 4 for 28 and Ali 1 for 17.
After Cosmos opening bowlers left a gaping hole in the opposition’s batting line-up, Captain Dixeth Palmer was purposeful on finishing off International before the weather could have had any further ‘say’ in the match. Palmer got the ball to skid off the wicket as he combined with Morris Powell to blow away the opposition for a paltry 66 all out in 13.2 overs. Palmer and Powell dislodge the woodwork with 4 for 17 and 1 for 7 respectively in a brief spell.
This match was surrounded by a number of uncertainties on one side and combined with more volatile elements than the periodic table on the other, however, the dogged efforts of a few good men held the reins in more ways than one. It showcased how noble the game is and better for those who subscribe to a committed effort of playing as the opening pair of youth player Morris Powell and the experienced Sham Ali treated the international opening bowlers with contempt. They featured in a 62-runs opening partnership that handed the opposition a taste of division one cricket and the possibilities that lies ahead. Cosmos maximized on an all important victory in the 11th over before the ‘timely’ skies opened to a drenching downpour as a contented cosmos team headed homebound.
Cosmos will play Mid Island next Sunday at Roy Wilkins Park.