Francis Mendonca (left) struck 81 against Falcons Cricket Club (FCC), Trinson Carmichael (center) scored 52 against FCC and Jamiel Jackman (right) bowled with pace and accuracy picking up 3 for 34 from 13 overs in the two games.
Looking to recover from two consecutive losses, an occurrence which last affected the team in 2014, Liberty Sports Club faced Gladiators Cricket Club at Bay Park on Sunday, July 10th. The defending champions’ bowling blew away GCC to set up a 6 wicket victory. The Blue Nation’s batting was in full flight a week later when they recorded a 142 runs victory over Falcons Cricket Club at the Baisley Cage.
Gladiators CC vs LSC – Sunday, July 10th at Bay Park
Gladiators CC hosted the champions at Bay Park and were eager to take first strike after winning the toss. The GCC batting unit did little to support their captain’s decision. The stifling workings of the Liberty SC bowlers did not help their cause either. Number nine batsman, Jason Rooney, was about the only one who looked fluent at the crease for his 22. Two other Gladiators posted double figures but the remainder folded in the single digits as they surrendered for 89.
It was an equal opportunity bowling effort from #TheBlueNation men with the ball. Trinson Carmichael and Jamiel Jackman turned up the heat early and clipped off 3 wickets. The LSC spinners then came in and knocked off the remaining batsmen inside the 39th over.
Wickets were shared 2 each for Leon Mohabir and Orlando Kirton. One apiece for Hemendra Ramdihal, Terrence Madramootoo and Andre Kirton. These along with Carmichael’s 1 and Jackman’s 2.
With 90 runs to get for victory Andre Kirton and Francis Mendonca raced the chase to 50 for the first wicket. GCC sniffed a chance when 3 more quick wickets fell with the score in the 50’s. The cool customer, Clain Williams, hungry for runs, joined Carmichael at the crease and the pair dampened any hopes GCC had of a come from behind victory.
Williams finished unbeaten on 21 and Carmichael 9 to see home the chase in the 16th over.
Bowling for Gladiators CC Manjrekar Bhola picked up 3 wickets while Kelvin Sewpersaud picked up 1.
LSC vs Falcons CC – Sunday, July 17th at Baisley Cage
With temperatures pushing 90 degrees fahrenheit LSC had the matting down to do battle against the 2015 B Division champion Falcons CC. Having knocked off the vibrant Big Apple Cricket Club the previous week, the FCC boys were confident of a strong showing. The coin fell in favor of skipper Zulie Ali who chose to have his team, sporting Amazon green uniforms, field first.
Pleasantly surprised at the decision of the visiting team, LSCs batsmen were more than happy to take first strike. Hemendra Ramdihal, promoted to the opening slot after some respectable scores in the lower order, got on with things early. He stroked a brisk 25 as him and Francis Mendonca took the score to 42 in the 8th over before Ramdihal departed. Trevor Henry fell shortly after with the score on 65.
Francis Mendonca, who was recently named in the ICC Americas 30 man squad, stroked a well composed 81.
Trinson Carmichael and Francis Mendonca partnered at the crease to lay the backbone of the inning. They joined together for 121 runs. Mendonca reaching his half century with his 5th boundary of his inning during the partnership. The right hander would go on to hit 5 more boundaries before he was bowled for a well composed 81.
Carmichael, the most aggressive of the pair, knocked in five boundaries and two maximums for his 52. He departed shortly after Mendonca looking to clear the tempting caged walls only falling short into the hands of long on.
With the foundation set it allowed Clain Williams, Danesh Deonarain and Vijendra Singh to come in and play freely. The trio combined for 92 runs off the final 8 overs. Williams hammered 21 before Singh joined Deonarain.
Singh blasted 34 in a 63 runs partnership with Deonarain which came off just 27 balls. Singh smashed two fours and three maximums before he was run out with just 3 balls left in the inning. Deonarain got out for 33 off the final ball of the inning having hit two fours and two sixes. Leon Mohabir was left unbeaten with 1 when the 40th over was completed with LSC posting 292.
Ryan Francis and Rohil Asgar left with two wickets each for their toil in the heat while Manojh Shamsundar and Mahendra Haripersaud picked up one each.
Needing to get just over 7 runs an over the Falcons CC batters knew they had to get off to a strong start. The openers came out swinging and with some success. Twenty six runs came off the first 20 balls which included consecutive sixes off the 19th and 20th ball. Looking to repeat the feat on the 21st ball Henry had the first wicket hold out to long on.
Jamiel Jackman scalped the 2nd wicket knocking over the pegs and indeed pegging back FCC to 46 for 2 in the 9th over. The rocket pocket Akshay Homraj came out with his typical guns blazing approach to batting. He fearlessly raced to 29 with four fours and a six before Leon Mohabir had him caught sharply by Williams at long off. Two balls later Mohabir removed skipper Ali before he could trouble the score.
At the 15 over water break mark FCC were still going great guns at 92 but with only 6 wickets left in hand. Following the break Hemendra Ramdihal snagged three scalps in his typically economical fashion. Nazim Uddin chipped in with an inning high 37 batting at number 7 but that was about the most resistance the remaining batsmen offered. Mohabir returned to grab 2 more wickets while Singh took the final scalp to wrap up the FCC inning at 150.
The win puts LSC in contention for the top spot in the league with net run rate needing to separate the top three teams. All three have suffered two losses with five games left before the playoffs.
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)