Defending Champions Villagers Humbled By Westbury in Semi Final

Metropolitan Cricket League | Scorecard
By Dervon A. Wallace
A new champion will be crown in the New York Metropolitan Cricket League (NYMCL) as defending champion Villagers Cricket Club was humbled by arch rivals Westbury Cricket Club in one semi final played at the Gateway Park on July 29th.

Barrington Bartley of Westbury finished with 3 for 41. Photo by Shiek Mohamed

In a much anticipated match up Villagers after comprehensively defeating Westbury the previous week in the final preliminary game went in as slight favorite. Villager’s captain Cliff Roye won the toss and ask Westbury to take first strike and his opening bowlers assisted by Westbury’s running between the wickets gave him the start he must have dreamt of with Westbury reeling at 11 for 3 from 4 overs with their three most prolific batsmen back in the hut.

With the score on 10 from 3.2 overs a moment of madness between openers Dennison Thomas and Javein Thomas (no relation) gave Villagers the break through with both batsmen stranded at one end after a delivery from Talisman Gordon hit J. Thomas in the groin and D. Thomas called for a single which was not on and Gordon in his follow though pick up the ball and relay it to Melroy Kingston who wipe the bails off and D Thomas in his pursuit to get back was found well short, he contributed 3 runs.

Walked to the crease was the prolific Barrington Barley but it wasn’t to be his day with the bat as Gordon had him caught behind by the energetic Garfield Wildman for a first ball duck attempting an expansive drive at a quick delivery which swung across him after pitching on mid stump and the very next ball Paul Salmon was well taken by Rashard Marshall at point and Westbury were 11 for 3 and could have been 4 down as with Gordon on a hat trick bowling to the new batsman Devon Campbell

Villagers decided to stay on the defensive when they should be attacking and giving the bowler a chance at a hat trick, as luck would have it an attempted drive from Campbell fell short of George Adams fielding in the covers. Campbell rode his luck after been dropped 3 times; he made Villagers paid with a top score of 73 from 87 balls which included 3 fours and 5 sixes and featured in two important partnerships with Horace Porter and Jermaine Lawson.  Porter contributed 23 from 18 balls with 3 huge sixes and Lawson 33 from 40 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. Westbury dismiss for a respectable 195 in 37.3 overs

Gordon being the most successful bowler with 3 for 29 from 8 overs, G Adams 1 for 23 from 8, Richard Staples 2 for 37 from 8, Joel Persaud 0 for 26 from 3, Marshall 1 for 23 from 5.3 and Cuthbert Mendonca 1 for 21 from 3 with extras contributing 28.

Needing 196 to win from 40 overs at 4.9 runs an over to secure a place in the finals Villagers started their reply with Richard Staples and Melroy Kingston. Kingston was the first to go in the second over with the score on 9 when he attempted a drive at one that moved after pitching and was caught by Salmon at first slip after the ball deflected off the gloves of make-shift keeper Bartley off the bowling of St Louis. Cuthbert Mendonca was promoted to number 3 and along with Staples tried to settle the nerves in the Villagers dressing room until a lapse in concentration caused Mendonca to lose his wicket via the run out route, after a firm drive from Staples that went straight to the fielder Mendonca called for a single which wasn’t on and ended up at the same end as Staples giving the fielder the easy chance of running in to dislodge the bails at the non striker’s end.

USA national Rashard Marshal joined Staples and the pair added 51 before Staples was controversially given out for LBW off Bartley (who by now took off the keepers gloves) for 45 from 52 balls which included 4 sixes. From there on Villagers lost wicket regularly and it was down to number 9 batsman George Adams to try and take Villagers over the line of which he made a valiant attempt. Needing 20 runs from 2 overs Adams brought hope to the Villagers camp when he skied St. Louis over  wide long on for a maximum and then down the ground for  four. With 3 balls left in the penultimate over and needing 10 runs with 1 wicket in hand, Adams was caught in two minds and checked his shot while still managing to get some distance but just enough to hold out to Lawson who took a well judge catch on the long-on fence which started the Westbury celebrations.

Villagers dismiss for 186 in 38.4 overs loosing by 9 runs, Adams made 39 from 35 balls with 1 four and 4 maximums, Marvin Simpson contributed 33 from 39 balls hitting 3 sixes.

Bowling for Westbury; Lawson 0 for 45 from 8 overs, St. Louis 2 for 36 from 7.4, D. Thomas 2 for 27 from 8, Bartley 3 for 41 from 8, Barrington Mc Leash 1for 14 from 5, C Gayle 0 for 13 from 1 and J. Thomas 0 for 10 from 1.

Westbury will meet Progressive in the championship match at Floyd Bennett on August 5 at 12 noon. Progressive defeated Cosmos by 66 runs; score in the match Progressive 224 for 5 from their allotted 40 overs and Cosmos replied with 158 all out in 35.3 overs.

Good luck to both finalists!!!

Please note we will cover the final on Sunday via a live scorecard.