By Dyon Ravello
Playing at Marine Park A off Avenue S in Brooklyn, on May 16th Diplomats opened the 2010 Brooklyn League Season in grand fashion with a 118 run victory over Carriacou. Diplomats won the toss and took first strike after the match had been reduced to 35 overs. Opening the with Romeno Deane and Francis Mendonca Diplomats keep the scoreboard ticking before Mendonca was adjudged Leg before to for 5.
Romeno Deane struck the first 100 in the Brooklyn Cricket League. (Photo by Shiek Mohamed)
Selwyn Ramphal joined Deane and the pair took their team past the half century mark taking the score to 92 for 1 off 14 at the water break, with Deane on 42 and Ramphal on 32. Deane continued his onslaught of boundaries as he got to fifty. Deane showed no mercy for the Carriacou attack as he played lofted drives and hooks to various parts of the park. Ramphal played it patient but he got to fifty playing some exquisite shots with cuts and square drives being his signature shots.
Deane got to the first century of the Brooklyn Cricket League but he was undone by a run out leaving him on 113. This initiated the middle order slide Andre Kirton bowled without scoring, Ramphal Leg before for a 70 and Freeman caught behind for 7.
Dyon Ravello was joined Tegana McKenzie and they stemmed the wicket slide, a task which has been replicated by Ravello many times last season. Both batsmen rotated the strike with end of the innings vigor. Diplomats closed on 261 for 7 off 35 over with Ravello not out on 31.
Selwyn Ramphal had a knock of 70. (Photo by Shiek Mohamed)
In reply Carriacou could only muster 143 all out. R. Lewis retired for 21 after opening the batting. K. Matthews contributed 28 after he had skied Mendonca to mid on, only to be let off the hook by Ravello. Matthews was forced to retire hurt after his thumb was burst by Joel Clarke. Matthews eventually return to complete his innings leg before to Andre Kirton. Ravello did redeem himself with a stunning catch of Kirton running from long on to long off to dismiss V. Chance for 1. A Mitchell played a cameo of 28 before he was caught by Ramphal of Mendonca.
That was all that Carriacou could muster. Gavin Smith was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 15 of 5.3 overs, Kirton had 3 for 18 of his 5 overs, Mendonca 2 for 37 off 7 overs and Clarke 1 for 18 off 5 overs. Deane’s hundred was deservedly a man of the match performance. Diplomats will be looking to continue their lively momentum this weekend when they face Warriors at Marine Park C on Sunday 23rd May from 1:30pm.
