Sankar And Lochand Power Cosmos Masters Past Connecticut in Thrilling Clash
By Shivnan S. Ramjattan
Cosmos secured their first win in this year’s in the New York Masters Tournament with a hard-fought, thrilling victory. Royo Sankar anchored the innings with a fighting, unbeaten 42, keeping the Connecticut bowlers in check. He shared several laudable partnerships that bolstered the chase and ultimately secured victory for his team.
Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat first on a damp wicket, Connecticut Masters compiled 179 for 5 from 35 overs. Their gamble on a slow track paid off, as Peter Heywood led from the front with a patient 40 off 81 balls. Bobby Grewal added impetus with a brisk 42 from 26 deliveries, while Trevor Smith (32), Achal Yadav (19), and Timothy Sealy (11) were the other players to reach double figures.
Gangaram Lochand and Sunil Narine impressed with two wickets apiece, while Sohan Dass and Mark Kippings chipped in with one wicket each.
In what initially seemed like a walk in the park, Cosmos’ batsmen were made to work hard for every run as the Connecticut bowlers maintained a disciplined line throughout the chase. Openers Ganesh Ramsingh and Kawal Persaud put together 37 from 63 balls, thanks in part to the consistency of Raja Iftikar and Peter Heywood with the new ball. Skipper Trevor Smith then trapped Kawal LBW for 15. Coming in at number three, Royo Sankar held the innings together, sharing two morale-boosting partnerships that shifted the momentum toward Cosmos.
After the fall of Ramsingh for 21, Aggrey Salmon joined Sankar with Cosmos still needing 135 runs from 118 balls. The pair added a crucial 57-run third-wicket stand from just 51 deliveries, with Salmon clobbering 30 off 24 balls before falling to the impressive Raja Iftikar, who finished with a tight economy rate of 3.00 from seven overs. Mark Kippings followed soon after, going cheaply for just one.
With the required run rate climbing and 74 needed from 52 balls, Gangaram Lochand partnered Sankar and decisively swung the match. Lochand wasted no time, hammering 49 off 30 deliveries with five fours and two sixes. He fell with the score on 171.
With just eight needed from 12 deliveries, Sunil Narine joined Sankar. The pair rotated the strike effectively in the penultimate over before Narine cracked the final delivery of the over to the boundary behind square leg, sealing the win and sending the Cosmos camp into celebration.
