Rosedale Royals Dethroned By Tri-City

Commonwealth Cricket League
Schenectady, NY – In a satisfying turn of events after last year’s resounding defeat at the hands of these very same Royals, Tri-City won a hard fought six wicket victory over visiting Rosedale on Sunday July 20th.

Ryan Girdhary hit an unbeaten 45 with four boundaries and two sixes.

The weather was glorious, the field close cropped and quick, and the crowd buzzed with excitement as Rosedale unloaded after the long trek from New York to Schenectady.

After some time to stretch their legs and get settled, the toss was spun and Tri-City won.  Flying in the face of traditional logic which typically would favor batting first, the home town boys surprisingly opted to field first instead.

Rosedale openers Mark Lionel and Jerry Karan took full advantage of the opportunity given them by their upstate hosts and proceeded to build a solid opening partnership.  Tri-City countered with the opening duo of newcomer Ryan Girdhary and Matthew Persaud.  Both bowlers were stingy and stifling, but Lionel and Karan were patient and batted well through the first 19 overs.  Unfortunately, this was a limited 35 over  Commonwealth League match and such patience proved to be fatal.

After slowly building a 55 run partnership, Rosedale began to see that a run rate below three was far too anemic for them to reach a defendable total.  Karan was the first to fall, with a 29 run contribution that included two boundaries.  Shane Bacchus then stepped in and batted with a sense of urgency that led him to take too many chances while partnering with Lionel to build a 35 run second wicket partnership.

However, when Lionel was dismissed for 38, the middle order dissolved in such spectacular fashion that it was difficult for the scorers to keep up!  Wickets began to fall as regularly as the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

This stunning turn of events coincided with a tremendous bowling partnership between Faisal Husain and youngster Steven Mangal.  Despite some early wildness from Husain, the Tri-City teammates combined to mow down SEVEN Royals in less than an hour.  Husain took two in his third maiden wicket over to finish on 3 for 29.  Not to be outdone, Mangal wound up on 4 for 24, including a caught and bowled that was absolutely brilliant.  The recent Schenectady High graduate was simply fantastic as he bowled a disciplined line and length and Rosedale had no answer for him.

Tri-City continued tightening the noose and the visitors managed to eke out just 130 runs in just 27.3 overs.  After numbers 1-3, not a single Rosedale batsman reached double digits.  It was truly spectacular to see.   And the fielding was equally terrific in support as well.  Seven wickets were taken on catches, giving yet more credence to the old cricketing adage “catches win matches”.

With league President Lesley Lowe and umpiring legend Raouf Khan on hand to witness the proceedings (having travelled with the Rosedale party bus earlier in the day…), Tri-City decided to showcase some additional young talent in their innings, opening with 23 year old Richie Persaud and 18 year old Mahesh Ragunandan to begin the chase.  Both youngsters were instrumental in dismantling Bachan just two weeks earlier, and they wasted little time in getting after the Royal’s bowling.

Steven Mangal had bowling figures of 4 for 24.

After Tri-City raced out to 24 runs in just the first two overs, Rosedale’s resistance stiffened as they took their first wicket of the day.  Persaud’s innings ended shortly after that, and the visitor’s confidence began to grow.  Perhaps they could defend 130 runs, after all.

That’s when veteran Mike Persaud entered the fray and partnered with Tri-City’s newest member, Ryan Girdhary.  Persaud’s depth of experience and Girdhary’s raw talent proved to be the perfect combination to make a huge third wicket stand for the hometown side.  With plenty of overs in hand and a modest total to reach, Persaud knew exactly what to do, having been in this situation hundreds of times before.  He and Girdhary played an array of conservative, yet productive shots, and ran between the wickets with nimbleness and speed, keeping pressure on the Rosedale fielders.

As both batsmen settled into a confident rhythm, the runs began to pile up.  Mostly singles and doubles, but Girdhary displayed some of the power and style that led him to be one of the best cricketers in the Commonwealth league a few years ago.   After Persaud fell to a beautiful ball from Navin Deolall, he and Girdhary had brought Tri-City to a 92 run total in just 17 overs!  Persuad finished on 24 with just a single boundary to his credit.  Girdhary batted on and brought Tri-City home in the 23rd over, chipping in 45 runs with five boundaries and two sixes.  With such a small target to defend, Rosedale’s bowlers were simply overwhelmed.  Shane Bacchus was the best of the bunch, taking 2 for 26.

This was a great chance for Tri-City to showcase some of the best young talent in the Commonwealth League.  The bowling of Matthew Persaud and the batting of his cousin Richie Persaud were terrific, but the men of the match were clearly Steven Mangal’s 4/24 haul and Girdhary’s 45 run, not out knock.  The future of Tri-City CC will burn bright with such young talent coming up.

After the game, there was plenty of time for the socializing and camaraderie for which Rosedale is famous, and the Rosedale entourage proved themselves to be gracious in defeat and terrific sportsmen.  Well played, sirs!

SCORECARD
Tri-City vs. Rosedale Royals
Type: 35 Overs
Date: 07/20/14
Ground: Grout Park
Toss: Tri-City
Umpires: Ashwin
INNINGS OF Rosedale
Duration in Minutes:
Batting:

Extras 25 (23 wd, 0nb, 1b, 1lb)
TOTAL 130/all out in 27.3 overs    
Fall Of Wickets (Wkt/Score): 1/55; 2/90; 3/90; 4/90; 5/97; 6/112; 7/117; 8/120; 9/130; 10/130

INNINGS OF Tri-City
Duration in Minutes:
Batting:

Extras 19 (10 wd, 8nb, 0b, 1lb)
TOTAL: 131/4 in 22.1 overs          
Fall Of Wickets (Wkt/Score): 1/19; 2/39; 3/92; 4/130