EACA 40-Overs Tournament
Leon Mohabir bagged 4 for 13 after Trinson Carmicheal carved out an excellent 41 to lead the GMA Enterprise sponsored Liberty Sports Club to a commanding 63 runs victory over Atlantis Cricket Club – NY. Batting first TheBlueNation posted 162 all out in the 40th over on a challenging Flushing Park wicket. In reply Atlantis only managed 99 before their last wicket fell.
Leon Mohabir led the LSC bowling with 4 for 13 off 5.3 overs.
The match between the two clubs had a buildup and is one of the keener rivalries, a rivalry which Atlantis has dominated over the past 4 years. LSC has only managed one win in their previous 5 encounters.
Winning the toss LSC captain, Danesh Deonarain, elected to bat first on a warm May 31st afternoon. Atlantis struck the first blow when Gregory Robinson removed Francis Mendonca in his 3rd over for 9. Carmicheal joined Dilly Khilawan at the crease and the pair patiently pulled the game back towards LSC’s direction. Carefully picking off boundaries and rotating the strike on a slow turning Flushing wicket, the duo saw the score to 84 before Jonathan Foo had Khilawan caught and bowled for 29. Carmicheal followed in the next over, bowled by Prashant Nair for 41. Carmicheal, one of the few batsmen on the day who did not appear too bothered by the wicket, struck 3 fours and 1 six in what would be a match high score.
Andy Harricharan (9) and Imtiaz Hassan (8) had brief stays at the crease before Terrence Madramootoo and Deonarain (9) put on 42 for the 6th wicket. The partnership, dominated by Madramootoo who struck 1 four and 3 massive sixes in his 35, moved LSC past the 150 mark before the remaining batsmen only muster up 10 more runs when the team was bowled out for 162 in the penultimate ball of the inning.
Nair was the pick of the Atlantis bowlers with 2 for 26 off 8 overs while Jason Greaves picked up 3 for 17 off 3 overs. Michael Noble picked up 2 wickets while Amsterdam, Foo and Robinson accounted for 1 each.
The Atlantis chase saw a brief moment of flourish when the openers took 11 runs off the 2nd over. That would be the most runs off an over for the inning. Imtiaz Hassan set the tone of the LSC attack with his swing bowling. The consistent right armer removed both of the Atlantis openers in his spell of 8 overs for 19 runs with one maiden. Altaaf Habibulla replaced Hassan and struck the prize blow, bowling the prolific Atlantis skipper, Alex Amsterdam for 16.
Trinson Carmicheal top scored for Liberty with 41.
In a critical passage of play the athletic Trinson Carmicheal connected with Francis Mendonca to run out Guyana National player Jonathan Foo for just one after he was injudiciously called through for a single by Michael Noble. The fall of Foo’s wicket triggered a jubilant celebration by the LSC players having recognized the criticality of removing the hard hitting right hander. At 46 for 4 in the 20th over with Michael Noble being the only recognized batsman left in the Atlantis camp then Leon Mohabir took control of the match.
Habibulla removed Nazim Uddin for 1 before the 20 year old Mohabir wrapped up 4 of the remaining 5 batsmen. Noble edged Mohabir to Mendonca who took a spectacular catch behind the stump and sent back the right hander for 15 in his 16 over stay. Habibulla then dove full length in slip to take a sharp catch to get rid of Jamiel Jackman for 1. Nair scored 18 before holding out to Hassan and Robinson was bowled to close off the Atlantis inning. Mohabir finished off a match winning spell of 4 for 13 off 5.3 overs.
Keifer Phill bowled 3 pacy overs picking up 1 for 10 while Habibulla finished with 2 for 20 off his 5 overs. Madramootoo bowled 4 economical overs for 8 runs with 2 maidens while Carmicheal did the same with 5 overs for 15.
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)