EACA 40-overs Tournament
Imtiaz Hassan produced a solid all-round game to help the GMA Enterprise sponsored Liberty Sports Club to a 77 runs victory over Phantoms CC. Hassan had a match high score of 41 then returned to pick up 3 wickets. Batting first at Lido Beach, #TheBlueNation posted 232 all out in their 40 overs then returned to bowl out PCC for 155 and move to 3-0 in the season.
Imtiaz Hassan hit 41 and return to take three wickets in Liberty SC win over Phantom.
Dilly Khilawan won the toss for LSC and elected to bat first. Khilawan’s side enjoyed a steady start when he and Altaaf Habibulla opened the batting. The pair was separated when Khilawan held out to mid-on for 16. Trinson Carmicheal had a short stay with 14 and Andy Harricharan looked solid in a shot filled 28. Habibulla would fall for 28 after sticking it out for the first half of the inning.
On a wicket and outfield which encouraged batting all of the LSC batsmen got starts but could not continue. Terrence Madramootoo and Imtiaz Hassan partnered for the 5th wicket and threatened to take the game away from PCC with some lusty blows. However, Madramootoo would also get a star of 30 and fail to carry on.
Hassan played patiently and picked off the boundaries on offer in his knock of 41. The left hander hit six fours and one massive 6 in his inning but got out in the latter overs of the inning looking to push on. Bose Persaud (20), Jay Singh (17) & Leon Mohabir (15) had short cameos as the inning closed off. Trevor Henry contributed 7 while Javed Shakoor finished not out on 0 when the LSC inning was wrapped up in the 40th over with 232 on the board.
Phantoms’ chase started aggressively as they took a liking to the LSC pace bowlers. Madramootoo was introduced into the attack and his off-breaks slowed things down on one end while Hassan was working away at the other. The reliable right-armer, Hassan, got Nishchal Manjunath to hold out to long on for 16 then swung pass the blade of Atiq Mufti to bowl him for 13. Hassan then trapped Imran Baig LBW for 28 after Baig threatened to build an inning in the chase.
With the removal of the top three the remaining PCC batsmen could not hang around long enough to build the partnerships necessary to sustain the chase. Madramootoo continued to build pressure from his end to compile figures of 8 overs 1 maiden 2 for 18. Altaaf Haibbulla & Trevor Henry were given short burst of 3 overs spells in which they both picked up a wicket each.
Shakeeb Muraza played steady for 20 towards the close of Phantoms’ inning but Leon Mohabir wrapped up the match in the 32nd over with his spell of 3 for 28 off 4.4 overs.
The win takes #TheBlueNation to 3-0 in the season with their next game being against Long Island United CC in Brentwood.
The 2014 Liberty Sports Club is sponsored by GMA Enterprise, located on 122nd St & Liberty Ave. The please visit their website www.gmaenterprise.com to support our sponsor. Follow the progress of Liberty Sports Club and join #TheBlueNation via facebook (facebook.com/LibertyCricketClubb), Twitter (@LibertySportsC) & Instagram (@LibertySportsC)
