Meten-Meer-Zorg defeated favorite Atlantis cricket team in the EACA T20 competition last Sunday at Baisley Park.
Samuil Ghandhi had match figures of 4 overs, 3 maidens, 8 runs, 2 wickets.
MMZ won the toss and decided to take first strike in bright sunshine, with Andy Mohammed and Ken Nandkumar opening the batting, the pair put on 48 for the 1st wicket, the MMZ boys at that stage looking to set a huge total, however with the fall of skipper Andy Mohammed for 25 caught off the bowling of Nair the collapsed started with three unnecessary run outs that includes the experience Deonauth Baksh for 2, Raul Hoyte for a duck.
With some excellent batting by Rondy Ramnarine, NY region all rounder Rocky Kowchai and the talented PSAL hard hitting 17 year old Imdad Khan help their team to 113.
With the batting line up that Atlantis team have on show, with inform USA player Clain Williams who just came off two good games in the inter county matches against Berbice and Demerara. Of course 113 runs seem like a walk in the park.
The MMZ boys and their coach Asgarally had different ideas.
Ron Andrews and Barry opening the batting, first to go was Barry caught brilliantly by Imdad Khan on the third man boundary off Rocky Kowchai. Inform Clain Williams walk to the crease, after scoring a single; he got a good delivery from Zaaid Majeed and was adjudged LBW. Ron continued to bat well hitting the ball powerfully as he struck a huge six out of the park off Kowchai.
Meten-Meer-Zorg team pictured, back row left to right: Raul Hoyte, Ken Nandkumar, Azurdeen Mohammed (captain), Deonauth Baksh, Imdad Khan, Zaaid Majeed (vice captain), Neel Patel, Rayanul Islam and Ajaz Asgarally (coach). Front row left to right: Rondy Ramnarine, Saumil Gandhi, Rocky Kowchai, Nirmal Mungalsingh and Fiaz Asgarally.
Skipper Azurdeen Mohammed kept on Kowchai and Ron tried to go big again and sky a catch to Mohammed who didn’t make any mistake, as Ron was out for a well played 21. At that stage the score was 40 for 3.That brought in the reliable skipper to the crease Zaheer Saffie, with spin twin of Mohammed and Samuil Ghandhi causing problems for the Atlantis batsmen the pendulum started to shift MMZ way slowly. Saffie was dropped in the deep off Mohammed which seems very costly at that time.
However with Samuil Ghandhi bowling well and ended with figures of 4 overs, 3 maidens, 8 runs, 2 wkts, the Atlantis batsmen seems to be in trouble with the scorecard reading 80 for 6 off 16 overs. With 24 needed off 4 overs, Saffie went for a huge hit and was bowled by Raul Hoyte for a well played 29.It was down hill after that for Atlantis and was eventually bowled out for 99.
Meten-Meer-Zorg now takes on the Experience Everest/ACS in the final.
Everest/ACS vs Hillside
Hillside won the toss and elect to bat
They made 89 all out in 19.5 overs:
I. Hassan 24, S. Kanhai 14
Bowling for Everest/ACS: S. Mehta 4-0-18-3, T. Hastoo 4-1-14-2, D. Roopnarine 4-0-18-2
Everest/ACS 90 for 2 in 12.3 overs:
S. Mills 46, K. Ganesh 28
Bowling for Hillside: M. Tamaldeo 3-0-16-1, S. Kanhai 1.3-0-8-1