American Cricket League
By Clifford Hinds
New York Youth Cricket Club (NYYCC) was eliminated by Queens United Cricket Club from the Mark Clarke Knock-Out Tournament of the American League in New York last Sunday at Idlewild Park, Rosedale.
Syed Hussain 4 for 42 couldn't stop Queens United.
On a warm sunny day, Queens United won the toss and decided to bat. Duncan and Hutchinson opened the inning against the bowling of Trinson Carmichael and Chris Singh. The openers put on 35 runs before Hutchinson drove straight to Carmichael in the covers off Singh and was out for 16. K. Bennett joined Duncan and they took the score to 80 before Bennett was stumped by Andre Koulen off 15 year-old Michael Katwaroo for 35. Butler edged to first-slip off Syed Hussain and was snapped up by another 15 year-old, Chetram Persaud for 8 runs.
Charles Walker did not stay long as he was caught behind off Hussain for 4 with the score at 125 for 4. Two more wickets fell at the same score as Hodges was lbw to 15 year-old Keifer Phill for 0 and Lawes was run-out for 0. Duncan, who had been dropped early in the inning, went on to make a well-played 75 before he was caught by Hussain off Phill. Drysdale, 18 and C. Bennett, 16 added to the score before they both fell victim to Hussain, Katwaroo had Lowenfield caught by Abdullah Afridi for 3 and Queens United was all out for 197.
Hussain had 4 for 42 in 6 overs, Katwaroo 2 for 19 in 3 overs and Phill 2 for 41 in 6 overs.
Any idea that it would be a walk in the park for NYYCC was soon dashed as Andre Koulen was out first ball, bowled by Drysdale, Omar Afridi joined Rafeek Nazeer and they set about repairing the damage. They took the score to 60 before Nazeer was given out lbw to Edwards for 22.
Trinson Carmichael came next and the score was moving along merrily until Afridi made a big heave at a well-pitched up ball and was bowled for a well-played 39. Chris Singh came and left in a hurry bowled by C. Bennett for 1. Syed Hussain tried to stay with Carmichael but NYYCC lost its fifth wicket at 130 as Syed was given out lbw to C. Bennett for 6. Two overs later, Carmichael went via the same route to Edwards for a well-played 59.
With the team struggling at 145 for 6 it became a ball to ball battle as the lower order struggled to reach the target score. Abdullah Afridi who scored 10 and Phill 8 not out batted with determination but it was not enough as NYYCC fell for 179 after 38 overs, 18 runs short of the targeted score.
C. Bennett took 3 wickets and K. Bennett had 2 dismissals. NYYCC has this weekend off to lick their wounds as they prepare to come back strong against Melbourne NY Alliance on Saturday, July 21 at the Baisley Pond Park ground.
