After the Memorial Day weekend break, teams showed up to play cricket with an eye on the weather forecast, which predicted rain in the afternoon. As the writer was parking outside the ground, Ali Alvi was almost dragging himself out of the car, complaining of allergies, fatigue, and looking pretty lethargic in general. I guess this is the perfect example of not judging a book by its cover, four hours later, after opening the batting; Ali had brilliantly carried his bat beyond the century mark of the day.
Ali Alvi compiled a brilliant 123 not out in Long Island United Cricket Club’s win over Phantoms.
Long Island United won the toss, and opened the batting with the explosive Selwyn Mohan and Ali Alvi. Selwyn seems to be in one gear these days, and after a quick-fire 26, with five boundaries, he was adjudged LBW to Aman, while attempting one boundary too many. United’s Vice-captain Waqas Ashiq joined Ali and the two youngsters kept the score ticking as Phantom fielders got frustrated with some quick running between the wickets and the occasional boundary.
Waqas was caught off Arshad against the run of the play, after making 31. Captain Ishtiaq Khan with 20 and Sajeed Khan with 19 were the other contributors in LIUCC’s total score of 260. Ali Alvi scored almost half of LIUCC’s runs, and was 123 not out at the end. He looked remarkably better than a few hours earlier.
Ali Alvi’s century was also sweet as he had been run-out while in the 90s in the first game of the season, in a very close decision. Another interesting incident during the innings was the Mankad run-out of United’s captain Ishtiaq Khan. Even though he was not warned by the bowler or the umpire, United’s captain walked out as soon as he was given out. The interesting conversations in the Long Island United dug out in reference to this appeal and eventual out are unfortunately not fit for printing.
Atiq and Atif opened the batting for Phantoms, with an eye on the clouds and the net run rate. Young gun Babrak Jalal clattered Atif’s middle stump in the second over, but unfortunately had the dangerous Atiq dropped in the slips two balls later. Atiq played his usual dependable innings and the Phantoms batsmen attempted to play around him. Umer with 21 and Shakeel with 33 provided some support to Atiq who was Phantom’s top scorer with 43. Phantoms kept loosing wickets at regular intervals though and never posed a real threat at any stage of the game. Burhan top edged a few fours over the slips for 26, while providing entertainment for the crowd against United’s fast bowlers.
Phantoms were eventually all out for 221. Sajeed Khan as usual was called upon whenever a wicket was required, and answered with four wickets in his spell. Extras topped the scorecard with 57. Atiq was the top scorer in Phantom’s final score.
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