On Saturday, June 2, New York Youth Cricket Club defeated Kingsgrove Cricket Club by nine wickets at 88th Street in Canarsie. Kingsgrove won the toss and decided to take first strike, opening with Goodridge and Blackman. In the first over Blackman played a ball to mid-wicket and took off running, but his partner did not move and Syed Hussain made a good throw to wicket-keeper Surrendra Singh to effect the run-out of Blackman for 1.
Syed Hussain was the pick of the bowlers taking 5 for 39 in 8 overs.
Campbell came in next and was out in the following over lbw to Bjorn Brown for 4. The next batsman Benn was slow getting off the mark and was run-out for 0. Abdool then tried to repair the damage with opener Goodridge but lost him caught Randall Wilson off Chris Singh for 14.
Abdool, a very good stroke player, took charge of the inning and with Goring took the score to 51 for 4 wickets, soon after Goring was out caught Rafeek Nazeer off the bowling of Zahib Tariq for 12. Left arm spinner Michael Katwaroo came into the attack and immediately had Wesley King caught by Chris Singh for 7. Abdool was caught by Brown off Zahib Tariq for a top score of 19 and Lorde was caught by Tariq off the bowling of Katwaroo for 1. Kingsgrove were all out for 80 after 21 overs.
Katwaroo finished with 2 for 9 in 3 overs, Tariq 2 for 13 in 5 overs, Singh 1 for 14 in 5 overs and Brown 1 for 16 in 4 overs.
The score of 80 runs was never a challenge to the youths although they suffered an early set back when Surrendra Singh was caught behind from a beautiful ball from Wesley King and was out for 0. Any illusions of victory that Kingsgrove might have had were quickly dashed as Rafeek Nazeer and Randall Wilson batted with great confidence to lead their team to victory in 13 overs. Wilson was not out with 41 and Nazeer not out on 25. Wesley King, the only successful bowler for Kingsgrove finished with 1 for 22 off 4 overs.
On Sunday, June 3, the venue was Idlewild Park at 223rd Street in Queens, where NYYCC took on New York Centurions.
Michael Katwaroo had 2 for 14. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
The youth club captain Trevor Singh called correctly and had no hesitation in deciding to bat first. He took 15-year old Rafeek Nazeer to the crease with him and they put on 31 for the first wicket before Singh was out. Randall Wilson came in and both batsmen stroked the ball at will and were looking comfortable for a big score when Nazeer played at a ball outside the off stump and was caught at first slip off Manoj for 30, NYYCC 70 for 2. Fifteen year old Surrendra Singh did not stay long as he was out caught off Persaud for 1 with the score at 88 for 3. Wicketkeeper Moeez Quereshi came to the wicket and played well for 13 before he was caught off Marlon.
The score was 128 for 5 when Wilson went down the pitch to Marlon and had a thin edge to the wicket-keeper, scoring 38 with 4 fours. Syed Hussain hit 3 fours and a six for 29 runs. Marlon took a few wickets and cleaned up the tail with NYCCC all out for only the second time in 6 games, for 165. Marlon was the best bowler for New York Centurions with 4 for 24 in 7.2 overs, while Manoj took 2 for 29 in his 8 overs.
The Centurions were chatting up a storm and boasting of the 338 they had made the week before against Kings X1. However to the first ball from Wilson, Raganauth offered no stroke to an in swinger and was out lbw with the score at 0. A great start for the fielding team. Callender joined Kumar and took the score to 34, before Kumar was brilliantly caught by Trevor Singh off Wilson for 3. Wilson was doing the damage, but Chris Singh was holding his own from the pavilion end.
Gyram was adjudged lbw to mystery leg-spinner Syed Hussain for 7. NYYCC then faced their sternest test as Callender and Persaud tore into the bowling. NYYCC got some respite when Wilson hit Callender in the groin with a beautiful in swinger and he had to retire on 49. NYYCC grabbed the opportunity with both hands and tore through the middle of the Centurions’ batting line-up.
Supported by brilliant fielding, Hussain picked up three quick wickets. When Callender returned to the crease 14-year old Chetram (Mario) Persaud observing that the batsman had lost his mobility drew him out of his crease and Moeez did the rest. He was out for a well played 53. Persaud was next out for 29, bowled by Hussain.
Fifteen year old left-arm leg-spinner Michael Katwaroo came into the attack and he was literally unplayable as he wrapped up the tail with two quick wickets as the Centurions fell for 128 and the youths celebrated with a victory lap. Two brilliant catches to be noted is one by Nazeer, one foot from the long on boundary and the other in the gully, with 14 year-old Ryan Persaud diving forward full length to catch the ball with both hands.
Syed Hussain was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 39 in 8 overs; Michael Katwaroo had 2 for 14 in 3.5 overs, Randall Wilson 2 for 26 in 7 overs and Chetram Persaud 1 for 16 in 3 overs
NYYCC will try to add to their 6-0 record on Saturday when they play Casablanca Cricket Club at 108th Street in Canarsie, and on Sunday when they play Knight Riders at Far Rockaway.