Liberty Sports Club’s 16-game Eastern American Cricket Association 40-Overs winning streak was last Sunday ended by Atlantis Cricket Club-NY. The win for ACC-NY came on the back of an unbeaten century from veteran Wahid Ward chasing 186 posted by LSC.
Hemendra Ramdihal led the rearguard action by LSC batting with 33 runs and returned to pick up 2 wickets.
#TheBlueNation traveled east to Heckscher State Park to where it all started. Following their only defeat in the 2015 40-Over season the men in blue looked to regroup against Atlantis CC-NY. The outcome was a commanding 6 wicket victory which would be the start of sixteen consecutive wins including the 2015 Championship. This achievement made even more remarkable given that the EACA adopted the the more competitive 1st Division format from the start of the 2015 season.
Fast forward a year later, Liberty SC won the toss and elected to bat first, confident off of the previous week’s hefty batting effort against Richmond Hill Cricket Club. That confidence quickly looked like overconfidence when #TheBlueNation was reduced to 69 for 5 after 15 overs in perfect batting conditions. The majority of the wickets falling more so to poor shot selection than anything special from the bowling unit.
Opening batsman Francis Mendonca held his end amidst the constant procession and eventually found a partner in skipper Danesh Deonarain. The pair took the score to 110 before Deonarain (29) played another poor shot to offer a simple catch at mid wicket. Mendonca, after showing determined resolute in his stay at the crease, also fell to another poor shot choice for an inning high 47 which included five boundaries.
A further two wickets fell to bring together the 10th wicket pair of Hemendra Ramdihal and Jamiel Jackman. With just 126 runs on the board when they came together, the dismissed batsmen ruing the what-if’s and should-haves were in full support of the last men standing. The duo did not disappoint. Stand they did and then they delivered. Ramdihal 33 and Jackman 25 added an inning high partnership of 59 runs in just 5.3 overs.
The LSC inning ended with the score on 185. Prashant Nair finished with 3 for 27. Garfield De Roach and Ward picked up 2 wickets each while LSC offered a wicket each to Gregory Robinson, Keon Lake and Alex Amsterdam.
Atlantis CC raced to 85 for 2 at the first water break in the 14th over and looked well set to chase down the target comfortably. LSC would strike back, however, after the break. Removing three quick wickets the green team was silenced and concerned at 109 for 5. The experienced Warde was at the wicket and had expertly picked off the bad balls offered to him to get past his half century. Treon Forde (10) added some stability and eased the tension to supported Ward in a 52 runs partnership before Forde was run out.
Ward, meanwhile, working to calm his partners at the other end to safely bring home the win got past his century with a sweep down to fine leg. The authoritative batsman banged 13 fours and 7 sixes in his unbeaten knock of 106. He would lose one more partner before ACC-NY sealed the deal in the 31st over.
Trinson Carmichael led the LSC bowling with 3 for 29. Ramdihal picked up two scalps while Leon Mohabir bagged one wicket.
The win brings some stability to the Atlantis CC season after a 2 – 2 start with one of their game being washed out. LSC meanwhile sits on a 5 – 1 record in the season and will look to regroup against Big Apple CC next Sunday at Bay Park.
The 2016 Liberty Sports Club is sponsored by Chan’s Plumbing & Heating Mechanical Inc., (917) 257 – 8846 and Royal Empress Catering Hall, located on 122nd St & Rockaway Blvd. Follow the progress of Liberty Sports Club and join #TheBlueNation via facebook (facebook.com/LibertyCricketClubb), Twitter (@LibertySportsC) & Instagram (@LibertySportsC)