Wahid Ward during his knock 106 not out that came off 75 balls. Photo: Atlantis Cricket Club
Liberty Sports Club (LSC) was made a Ward of the State on Father’s Day, last Sunday at Heckscher State Park. The obvious pun here addresses the Blue Nation’s loss to Atlantis Cricket Club – NY (ACC), at the hands of Wahid Ward – an all-rounder who captured two wickets and came back to score 106 not out, in Atlantis’ three-wicket win over LSC.
On a bright and sunny Father’s Day, it was Wahid Ward who schooled the boys in Blue, as though he was the day’s father and was punishing the Blue Nation bowlers – a la committing them into the custody of the State – more like a contemplative state of mind, that is.
Winning the toss and electing to take first strike, LSC failed to ignite all of its cylinders, losing their first six wickets with less than 75 runs on the board. Almost 75% of the ticks on the board belonged to opener Francis Mendonca, 47 off 62 balls with five boundaries. However, the four tail-ender siblings added 65 to skipper Danesh Deonarain’s gallant 29 off 20 deliveries. With Extras chipping in with 23, LSC clawed its way to a respectable 185 all out in 32.3 overs. A surprising knock of 25 not out off 19 balls and including 4x4s, came off the bat of young Jamiel Jackman, who until this season was a member of the ACC line-up. His inning alongside Hemendra Ramdihal’s contribution of 33 off 27 balls (3x6s, 2x4s) was the reason for LSC‘s respectable comeback. Would it be enough?
Bowling for Atlantis: Prashanth Nair 8-1-27-3; Wahid Ward 4-1-21-2; Garfield De Roche 8-0-51-2, with Alex Amsterdam 1 for 17, Greg Robinson 1 for 30 and Keon Lake 1 for 37, wrapped up the LSC inning.
Atlantis in return had a cautious start, before losing Randall Wilson, 16 off 30 balls. However, his fellow opener Wahid Ward decided to take control of the rapid response unit, attacking all of the LSC bowlers, taking them to task and trimming all of the trees around Heckscher. He single-handily took control of the ACC inning by chalking up 106 not out off just 75 balls, and including 7x6s and 13x4s.
Not too many other significant contributions came off the willows of the ACC middle and tail, as it was the Wahid Ward flogging on Father’s Day, that got the attention of a sizable Atlantis group of fans on hand to witness the team put a much-needed W in its positive column. Atlantis reached 191 with a massive six off the bat of Ward, who witnessed seven of his team mates visit him in the middle, only to depart without contributing more than 16 each.
Atlantis 191 for 7 in 31.4 overs. Bowling for LSC: Trinson Carmichael 7.4-0-29-3; Hemendra Ramdihal 8-0-38-2 and Leon Mohabir 4-0-28-1. There was one run-out.
A lot more was expected of the Atlantis batting depth, but alas, it was enough of an effort from the willow of Wahid Ward to stop LSC on Father’s Day 2016.