Mendonca Bags Seven Wicket Haul

Francis Mendonca of Diplomats had 7 for 12 against Wanderers. (Photos by Shiek Mohamed)

By Dyon Ravello
Diplomats won convincingly playing against Wanderers in the Brooklyn league on June 13th in rainy conditions. Wanderers won the toss and elected to take first strike at Marine Park A. they were soon in trouble when Francis Mendonca had F. Ali leg before for 1 in the very first over. Two overs later Mendonca was again in the action bowling M. Sawari for 2, and in the same over A. Bailey edge to wicketkeeper Selwyn Smith with out scoring to leave wanderers reeling at 7 for 3.

From the other end new ball bowler Tegana McKenzie got his man R. Akram caught at the wicket after Akram had offered a couple of bowl and caught chances to the same bowler. From there on in it was the “Francis Show” as he bowled a wicket maiden when he removed S. Mian leg before for a duck. That was followed by two wickets off two balls on his sixt over when he bowled B. Benjiman for 7 and R. Mc Pherson for nought, Wanderers 26 for 7.

Mendonca ended his spell bowling T. David for 2, David was dropped earlier by Joel Clarke in the covers but there was not any damage done. Mendonca had match winning figures of 7 for 12 off 8 overs. Andre Kirton had G. Sutherland bowled without scoring and Gavin Smith bowled one ball and had top scorer R. Jackman leg before for 15,  Wanderers allout for 43. Mendonca was the pick of the bowlers with his match winning 7 wicket haul, Mc Kenzi bowled 6 overs 1 for 23, Kirton had 2 over 1 for 8 and G. Smith 0.1 ball 1 for 0.

Rain delayed the resumption of the match with ominous shower threatening to win the game. After an extended intermission Diplomats were given the opportunity to complete victory and it was done at whirlwind pace with Andre Kirton hitting a six over the square leg boundary to score the winning runs. Diplomats did lose Mendonca leg before for 6 and Deane run out for 12 before, Selwyn Ramphal and Kirton steer their team to safety. Bowling for Wanderers F. Ali had 1 for 13 off 2 overs, R. Jackman bowled 1.2 overs for 20 runs, and R. Mc Pherson bowled 1 over for 15 runs.

Francis Mendonca easily the man of the match as Diplomats got 2 and 1. Diplomats look to keep up the moment the gained from two victories over Memorial weekend when they hosted Caricom sports club. This weekend Diplomats play back to back matches when they play Knights on June 19th at Marine Park A, then the come up against the in form Panthers at marine Park C on June 20th.

Adil Ali of Panthers struck 48 against St. Lucia.

Summaries of other games:
On Saturday 6/12/2010, Brooklyn Knights VS Punjab. Brooklyn Knights 152 all out in 35 Overs, Nafees Butta 30, Saqib Salim 5 for 21 from 7 overs. Punjab 136 all out, Qasim Guman 21 and Naeem Arif 20, Bowling for Brooklyn Knights Nabeel Butta picked up 5 Wickets, Brooklyn Knights winning by 16 runs.

On Saturday 6/12/2010, Queensbury VS Warriors. Queensbury 133 all out, David Peters 27, Jonathan Jackson 28, Otis Charles 17, bowling for Warriors, Waqaz Mughul 3 for 15 from 4.1 overs. Warriors 139 for 1, Mohammad Asad 93, Waqaz Mughul 29, bowling for Queensbury, Bruno Henry 1 for 9 from 2 overs. Warriors winning by 9 wickets.

On Saturday 6/12/2010, Brooklyn Stars VS Pak Kashmir. Brooklyn Stars 129 all out from 25 overs, Asim 32 and Abrar 31, bowling for Pak Kashmir, Waheed Shahzad 5 for 38 from 7 overs, Zaheer Hussaine 2 for 25 from 6 overs. Pak Kashmir 132 for 8 wickets from 22 overs, Waheed Shahzad 30, Ansar Ali 25, Tahir Shah 23 and Irfan 22 Not Out, bowling for Brooklyn Stars, Bakar 4 for 39 from 7 overs, Yasir 2 for 51 from 7 overs. Pak Kashmir winning by 2 wickets.

On Saturday 6/12/2010, Panthers VS St.Lucia. Panthers 223 for 7 from 30 overs, Adil Ali 48, Qayyum 44, Asim 37, bowling for St.Lucia, Winston Celestine 3 for 40 from 6 overs, C. Mathrin 3 for 30 from 6 overs. St.Lucia 172 all out from 29 overs, Jude Jno Baptiste 42, and C. Mathrin 37, bowling for Panthers, Shabaz 4 for 27 from 5 overs, Ulfat Shahzad 3 for 27 from 5 overs, and Mauzam 2 for 24 from 5 overs, Panthers winning by 51 runs.

On Sunday 6/13/2010, Queensbury VS Cavaliers, Queensbury 90 for 3 from 27.4 overs, when the rain stopped play. Joseph Short 26 Not Out, Iva Martin 21, bowling for Cavaliers, Ephraine Bacchus 2 for 19 from 8 overs. Cavaliers 93 for 1 , Albert Texeira 47 Not Out, bowling for Queenbury , Syed Abdul 1 for 31 from 2 overs. Cavaliers winning by 9 wickets.