Queens One Win Away From Being Kings, ACC-NY Decapitated in Semi-final

By John L. Aaron
The Caribbean Premier League’s acronym, CPL, is also used as a Cricket Played Louder tagline, and rightly so, as the spectators at CPL matches can be very boisterous in their support of cricket and their teams. Like the CPL’s use of “Cricket Played Louder,” the Queens United Sports Club (QUSC) has earned the right to use Cricket Played Harder, and that’s precisely what the Idlewild residents did against Atlantis Cricket Club-NY (ACC-NY) this past Sunday at the New York “Lords” of cricket grounds – Idlewild. With bright sunshine and no rain in the forecast, it was one of the two New York National Cricket League’s Premier 40-overs semi-final fixtures to wrap up its 2024 season.

It was the second time ACC-NY and QUSC met for the 2024 season. In the first encounter on May 19, 2024, ACC-NY won by three wickets. QUSC posted 158 all out in 36.3 overs, with ACC-NY eclipsing the total at 159 for the loss of seven wickets in 32.2 overs. Fast-forward to this year’s semi-final, with the NYNCL 2024 debutante ACC-NY reaching the semi-final as the club surged to the top tier of the points leaderboard, similar to its debut in the Metropolitan NY Cricket League five years ago.

QUSC, a premier club in the New York metropolitan area, enjoyed the title of one of the winningest clubs in the Metro League alongside Westbury Sports Club, with the two clubs enjoying several championship titles in recent years. Most recently, QUSC emerged as the champions of the NYNCL in the club’s 2023 debut. The defending champion QUSC rose to the top of the 2024 NYNCL pile and was pitted against ACC-NY in last Sunday’s semi-final. The fixture was billed as a challenging match-up for both clubs and one of the premier attractions in the very young NYNCL.

QUSC was more prepared for the battle ahead than ACC-NY in fielding a full squad following the departure of its franchise player Ronaldo Alimohamed for the Caribbean Premier League just before the NYNCL’s playoffs. Atlantis could not replace the CPL designee with a player of his caliber in time to engage QUSC. In no way is the ACC-NY lack of preparation meant to belittle QUSC’s semi-final 111-run victory. However, it would have made the match-up much more exciting with Mohamed in the ACC-NY line-up. ACC-NY was not battle-ready, although credit must go to the boys in yellow and green for the gallant effort made while fielding only ten players for more than 72 of the 74.2 overs played.

Winning the toss and electing to bat in the ACC vs. QUSC rematch, the latter demonstrated its batting prowess when it mattered most—the playoffs, posting 331 for seven in the allotted 40 overs. Topping the runs chart was Andre McCarthy with an even 100 off 67 balls with 5x6s and 9x4s. Despite being put down while in his 20s, McCarthy built his inning on the back of the opening stand of 73 formed by the partnership of Andrew “Dumbe” Davis, 59, (2x6s, 6x4s) c. Randall Wilson b. Dino Choowenaam and Ricardo McIntosh, 20, c. Freddy Pestano b. Kellon Carmichael. Davis was dropped twice before reaching double digits.

McCarthy’s ton was a defiant one, as ACC-NY slowed down its opponents’ scoring rate after QUSC lost the wickets of Emekes Jones, 15, b. Kheshram Seyhodan and skipper Oraine Williams run out for 6, with the QUSC tally at 112 for four. The victorious QUSC would add 163 more runs before losing McCarthy, c. Dino Choowenaam b. Kellon Carmichael. McCarthy had teamed up with former Atlantis allrounder Yannick Elliott, 77 (2x6s, 6x4s) c. Telston Johnson b. Kellon Carmichael. In between, Marinaro “Zar” Dixon enjoyed a cameo knock of 23 (2x6s, 1×4) c. Freddy Pestano b. Kellon Carmichael. Gavin “Addi” Brown, 14 not out, and Extras, 16, closed out the QUSC inning at 331 all out.

QUSC, literally and figuratively, played hardball cricket, seizing every opportunity to overpower the ACC-NY bowlers and pushing to add to their tally of runs. It was indeed cricket played harder and often louder. ACC-NY gifted QUSC with at least seven dropped catches throughout the latter’s stay in the middle. The proverb—catches win matches—could not be more evident in the game between the two teams.

The QUSC wickets fell at 73, 101, 106, 112, 275, 309, and 318. The ACC-NY bowling was spearheaded by Kellon Carmichael’s 7-0-71-4, while Dino Chooweenam and Kheshram Seyhodan each enjoyed one QUSC scalp apiece.

There was no doubt that ACC-NY’s task when they took to the middle was a significant ask. Flying a one-man missing formation at 8.3 runs per over would not help the ACC-NY cause. Early advantage, QUSC!

In reply, ACC-NY was in early trouble, losing the wicket of Dino Choowenaam, who clocked one six toward the South Conduit off the bowling of Gavan “Addi” Brown. The burly Chooweenam faced seven deliveries and exited shortly afterward for six, c. Emekes Jones, b. Michail “Saddam” Powell. ACC-NY seven for one in two overs. It was not exactly a proper response to an 8.30 per over ask. However, ACC-NY enjoyed a 59-run rally between opener Jamal Norton and his skipper Randall Wilson, who made an unusual early inning exit, having contributed a painstaking 11 off 22 balls, c. wktpr., Jeremy Samuel, b. Damion “Jazzy” Jacobs. ACC-NY was then scoring at a rate of just under six per in the eleventh over.

ACC-NY vice-captain Kellon Carmichael’s contribution of 48 off 40 balls including 4x6s and 2x4s, c. Damion “Jazzy” Jacobs, b. Michail “Saddam” Powell was a mainstay in his club’s middle-order, while wicketkeeper and opening batter Jamal “Short Boss” Norton was in fine fighting form, taking the team upon his shoulders, before retiring hurt in the 16th and 20th overs, with the score at 107 for two and 126 for three. A battle-scarred Norton would emerge limping at the end of the ACC-NY inning, having top-scored with 63 (1×6, 5x4s) off exactly 63 deliveries. During his gritty but determined “award-winning” half-century, he had to be wheeled off the field in a makeshift “matting cart ambulance” with a calf strain. However, “Short Boss” hobbled back to the middle just before the missing formation man, Jamal Hinckson, showed up to bat and closed out the ACC-NY inning at 220 all out in 34.2 overs. Jamal Hinckson’s curtain call cameo produced 18 off 16 deliveries with two massive sixes and a solitary boundary as Andre McCarthy ran him out.

The ACC-NY wickets fell at 7, 66, 126, 149, 157, 163, 171, 172, 199, and 220. Bowling for QUSC: Marinaro “Zar” Dixon was the pick of the litter with figures of 8-0-47-5. His fiver was matched in effort only by Michail “Saddam” Powell’s 6-0-38-3. Damion “Jazzy” Jacobs snared one ACC-NY wicket for 50 off his eight-over spell.

The Queens United Sports Club semi-final victory puts them one win away from being crowned Kings of the NYNCL for the second consecutive year. The NYNCL 2024 Premier 40-Overs championship final is set for Sunday, September 15, 2024, at Baisley Pond Park, Rockaway & Baisley Boulevards, Queens, NY. As of this posting, the other 2024 NYNCL semi-finalist between Everest/ACS Sports Club and Melbourne Cricket Club is expected to be played on Sunday, September 8, 2024.