Saliq Iqbal fell for a match winning 95. Photos by John Ramsingh
By John Ramsingh
The second annual Rockaway New York T20 Cricket Fiesta in the Big Apple got off to a flying start with defending champions, Pakistan and debutants New York Select XI (NY XI) registering moral boosting victories.
In the opening fixture Pakistan’s experience and all round strength proved too much for a youthful Guyana side as the champions romped home to a commanding 31-run victory. It was the fourth consecutive time in the short history of the tournament that Pakistan (New York) have beaten Guyana (New York) having done so in the two round robin matches and again in the final last year.
In this year’s curtain raiser, the champions were sent in and were off to a rapid start in cool windy conditions with temperatures dipping to 16 degrees Celsius for the most part of the day at the Ferry Point Park which is adjacent to the majestic Whitestone Bridge while the concrete jungle, Manhattan was clearly visible in the distance.
After a 14-ball, 34 run opening stand between Umar Farooq (32) and Shahzad Shahid (21); Saliq Iqbal crafted a well composed 95. The powerfully built right-hand batsman’s match winning knock came off of 56 balls (10×4; 6×6) but with two and a half overs left he was sent back when well set for the first ton of the season.
The pick of the Guyana bowlers was former national off-spinner, Rajiv Ivan who used his experience and guile to stem the flow of runs while picking up two wickets for 31 runs. Pacer mark Tyrell (1-48) and off spinner Keon Lake (1-33) were the other wicket takers as Pakistan chalked up 202/4.
In the run chase, former Pakistan international player, Mohammed Khalil worked up some pace on the mat wicket to peg back Guyana with an opening burst of two overs for three runs and eventually finished with 1/25 from his four overs. However, it was seam bowler Adnan Nasim 3/31 was the best bowler.
Guyana opener, Derrick Narine hit an unbeaten 76 (57b; 4×4; 6×4) while captain Andre Kirton 30 and Moshin Khan 27 tried valiantly but fell 31 runs short ending on 171/7.
The crowd increased for the second match of the day which was dubbed ‘battle of the debutants’ and did not fail to deliver a good show.
However, it was the more determined NY Select XI that came out with the five points following their seven-wicket victory over Jamaica.
Left-handed batsmen, Chris Patandin and Wasim Haslim were the chief architects of the victory with an aggressive 74-run second wicket partnership that took NY XI to 157/3 for the seven-wicket victory after Jamaica were restricted to 156/6.
Chris Patandin (left) and Waslim Haslim after their match winning innings at the Ferry Point Park, Bronx.
Patandin hit the top score of 57 (42b; 4×5; 6×3) while Haslim got to 42 (31b; 1×4; 4×6) but were dismissed leaving captain Karan Ganesh (21 not out) and Deveshwari Prashad (22 not out) to bring up the victory with seven balls to spare.
Former Jamaica limited overs player, Yannick Elliot led the way with the ball with figures of 4-1-11-2.
Earlier, Haslim spun webs around the Jamaicans after coming on to finish an over in which Telston Johnson sent down two head high full tosses and was taken off. Haslim finished with 3/17 and was responsible for limiting the Jamaican onslaught.
After former Jamaican First Class Captain, Tamar Lambert (01) was run out in the first over; Everton Nelson (63) and O’Neil Powell (45) put on 98 in quick time. The debutants were well set for a big total but the spin of Haslim, Terrence Madramootoo (0/24) and Karan Ganesh (1/24) put the brakes on the scoring to ensure the other debutants don’t chase a big total.
The tournament will continue this Saturday in the Baisley Pond Park (BPP) with the first triple header. Hosts, New York Select XI will be looking to extend their winning ways when they take on debutants India in the first match from 09:00h followed by a meeting between Guyana and Bangladesh who will be playing their first match this season after finishing third last year. The final match of the day will see NY XI playing their second match of the day this time against defending champions, Pakistan from 15:00h.
The Rockaway Cricket Fiesta began in 2016 with four teams of expats from Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Guyana and Pakistan. This year, T&T failed to field a team while India, Jamaica and the New York select XI which is made up of mainly Guyanese were brought in.
The final is set for August 12 at the BPP for a top prize of US$7,000. The tournament is solely sponsored by the Rockaway Group of Companies comprising of The Empress Banquet Hall, Rockaway Roti Shop and Rockaway VIP Taxi Service in Queens New York.
