American Cricket League
By Clifford Hinds
Mystery spinner, Syed Hussain continued his rampage through the American Cricket League as New York Youth Cricket Club (NYYCC) won its tenth game of the season by defeating the highly touted Melbourne New York Alliance Cricket Club last Saturday at Baisley Pond Park, in Queens, NY.
Syed Hussain took 5 for 11 against Melbourne New York Alliance Cricket Club.
NYYCC won the toss and decided to bat, although the pitch seemed a little soft. Trevor Singh and Rafeek Nazeer opened the batting and took the score to 18 before Singh followed a ball outside his off stump and was brilliantly caught at first slip off Shakur for 4. USA Under-18 player Randall Wilson joined Rafeek and took the score to 65, before
Wilson was run-out by a direct throw as the batsmen tried for a second run.
Trinson Carmichael, the next batsman in, continued his amazing form, stroking the ball to all parts of the ground. In the meanwhile Nazeer lost his wicket caught behind off Yusuf Zafar for 28.
USA Under-18 batsman Zahib Tariq kept the score going but went caught off Troy Mars for 13. The score was then 84 for 4. Syed Hussain hit 3 fours in his 18 before he was caught off Zafar for 18 and Carmichael was caught off Rocky for 38 with 5 fours and 1 six. All the batsmen were getting good starts but failed to carry on. Keifer Phill and Surrendra Singh went for 8 and 0 respectively victims of Zafar and Mars.
Chris Singh made a quick 25, while Andrew Koulen 24, and Michael Katwaroo 2, were the not out batsmen as the overs ran out. NYYCC ended with 226 for 9. Zafar took 3 for 47 in 8 overs and Bryston 2 for 26 in 4 overs.
There was much anticipation as Melbourne AC began their reply and loud cheers rang out from their pavilion as the opening batsmen Zafar and Shakur raced to 21 after the first two overs from Carmichael and Chris Singh. However, with the score at 28, Zafar was bowled by Carmichael for 13.
Haynes came next and after six overs the score was 53 for 1. Change came quickly as Wilson took a magnificent catch to get rid of Shakur for 23 off Chris Singh’s bowling and Tariq bowled Haynes for 18. Wilson also got among the wickets as he had fellow high school player Troy Mars, caught by wicket keeper Koulen for 14.
At 73 for 4, the captain figured it was the right time to bring on NYYCC’s mystery spinner Syed Hussain and immediately things fell apart for Melbourne AC, as Hussain had Sookram caught behind for 7 and Franklin well caught on the boundary by Wilson for 9. DeFreitas was caught at mid-on by Nazeer for 14, Rocky was lbw for 0, and Chiney was bowled for 6. Melbourne all out for 126 in 21.2 overs.
Syed took 5 for 11 in 5.2 overs, Carmichael 1 for 40 in 8, Chris Singh 1 for 28 in 3, Wilson 1 for 7 in 2 and Tariq 1 for 27 in 3. The next game for NYYCC is on Saturday against Cambridge Cricket Club at Canarsie Park at 88th Street in Brooklyn, NY.
