EACA 40-overs Tournament
A soggy Lido Beach wicket combined with a poor batting display from Liberty Sports Club (LSC) and a spirited bowling effort from opposition Meten Meer Zorg (MMZ) Cricket Club resulted in #TheBlueNation being defeated for the 2nd time in 2014. Shines Beepat picked up 4 for 8 to lead the MMZ attack in defending 125 in a game reduced to 30 overs.
The flooded Lido Beach pitch before the game.
The day began with both teams working together to make the game possible. After about an hour or work the pitch was cleared of water and the bowler’s run up was dried up to facilitate start of play. The game was reduced to 30 overs when play started at 2:30 PM. LSC won the toss and immediately sent in the opposition looking to take advantage of the conditions.
Imtiaz Hassan struck first up with 2 wickets in 2 balls in his 2nd over. This brought Andy Mohammed to the crease to join Sumon Bari. The pair would consolidate to add 45 before Mohammed (25) held out to Hassan off of Altaaf Habibulla’s 3rd ball in the inning. Habibulla would pick up 2 more wickets; Andre Persaud for 10 & Beepat for 20, while the MMZ inning edged along.
Eighteen year old Javed Shakoor was introduced and bowled Zaaid Majeed and Ajaz Asgarally for 2 runs apiece. Trinson Carmichael then cleaned up the two remaining wickets to add to Bari’s (21) wicket he picked up earlier off of a ballarina’esq leaping catch by Bose Persaud.
Hassan finished with 2 for 34 off 6 overs, Carmichael & Habibulla 3 wickets and 1 maiden each for 14 and 20 runs respectively. Shakoor bowled his 5 overs for 26 with two wickets while Terrence Madramootoo bowled 5 overs for 26 runs. Gangaram Lochan added a crucial 22 not out batting at number 8 for MMZ before they were bowled out for 125 in the 29th over.
Confidence of chasing what appeared to be a par total for the conditions was clouded with doubt when Beepat got one to roll along the surface to bowl Francis Mendonca and another to hold up to resulting to a mistimed return catch from Dilly Khillawan. This left LSC 2 for 2 after the first over. Carmichael picked off 3 boundaries before he lost his skipper Danesh Deonarain for 2, again to one which held up from Beepat.
The hard hitting Madramootoo only managed 1 before he was cleaned up looking to go big, reducing the chase to 18 for 4 in the 9th over. Imtiaz Hassan joined Carmichael and the pair added 22 before Lochan milked some extra turn to go pass Carmichael’s edge to bowl him. Hassan, looking to take control of the match, stroked some handsome blows for a game high 30. His enterprising knock would fall short when a 31 runs partnership between Habibulla and him ended with Hassan holding out to long on. Habibulla who chipped in with 18 would get run out shortly after to knock the wind out of the chase.
With a climbing run rate and the loss of too many wickets MMZ tightened the pressure on LSC resulting in Bose Persaud being bowled for 9, Jason Rooney run out for 5 & Tooneshwar Kristona bowled for 2. This left Javed Shakoor not out on 1 when the team was bowled out for 90 in the 28th over.
The loss leaves LSC at 8 & 2 with 3 challenging games in the Division A segment of the EACA Power40. MMZ, enjoying a late spurt, improves to 7 & 3 and will be looking to continue their winning run.
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)