By Sham Ali
(Celebrating 28th Anniversary). Cosmos captain Dixeth Palmer stroked an aggressive 24-ball half century to lead his team to an emphatic seven wicket victory against Liberty last Sunday at Floyd Bennett Field. The former Jamaican national opening batsman continues to lead from the front. What stood out in his innings was a fearless use of the feet as he went down the wicket time and again to put the spinners off their rhythm as he chased down the opposition’s total after his team had reduced them to 180 for 9 in their allotted 40 overs.
Dixeth Palmer went to the wicket with Cosmos on 117 for 3 in the 17th over and any hope Liberty had of making further inroads into the Cosmos batting lineup quickly vanished into thin air. Mister Palmer quickly shifted into fifth gear and proceeded to pulverized the opposition’s attack with a vintage batting display of 58 runs which included five fours and four massive sixes while his partner Melroy Kingston, after completed his contribution with the ball earlier, remained anchored, at the other end, and appeared happy as he absorbed the show with his contribution of a half dozen singles in a partnership that yielded 65 runs off 5-overs.
Palmer had won the toss and sent the opposition in to bat first on a good batting wicket and a fast outfield after they claimed three overs from Cosmos for a late start; a move that later proved fruitless and quite poor indeed – Cosmos captain did not flinched at such ‘sportsmanship’ and could have afforded Liberty another five overs. Liberty came into this match after a run of successive victories, their confidence on a high and possibly intent on gaining every advantage. However, Cosmos had planned well for this opposition and their bowlers stuck to the task and kept them searching for runs throughout the inning. Kevin Darlington was quite lively; he bruised the edge of Jason Graves in his second over and returned to complete his eight overs with 2 for 32, while Sham Ali completed his 8 overs for 28 runs. It was Melroy Kingston 3 for 31 that stifled the Liberty middle order batting with an excellent spell picking up Jamal Mohamed (46) caught at point by Sham Ali and then only to have Dennis Evans floored double centurion Quasen Alfred at mid off in the same over before he scored. Kingston later accounted for both Alfred (45) caught by S. Ali at short gully and then trapped V. Stoute for 29 and consequently stamp a period to two developing partnerships. With the score on 130 for 3 in the 27th over, the young off spinner Morris Powell 2 for 37, added enough pressure from the aviation end, and with Cosmos fielding holding its own with few lapses and young Marlon Persaud, who continued to improve, throwing himself around to save countless runs before the opposition crumbled to 180 for 9 in the allotted overs.
After the opposition did their ritual before taking the field and perhaps thinking that their total was enough, Cosmos opening batsman, the inform, Dennis Evans and Morris Powell, promoted to open the batting, had their own instructions and answered the opposition opening bowlers with utter disdain. The senior Evans took charge in a blistering opening partnership of 98 runs in just 11 overs with Evans and Powell getting 55 runs and 21 runs respectively. Norman Hutchinson had a brief stay at the wicket and liberty inhaled somewhat perhaps for the first time in the match, however, Palmer cameo led Cosmos to a seven wicket victory in the 22nd over as he made the Floyd Bennett Field 85 yards boundary appeared small, he ended the match with three huge sixes over the mid off.
Cosmos Will Play International At Fairmont Park On Sunday.