Skipper Shaffikool Sackroolar Bowls Staten Island To Win Over Island Wide

Metropolitan Cricket League
Strong aggressive bowling and a responsible knock from veteran Charru Choudharygave Staten Island their third straight win in as many games as the action continued on a super Sunday in the Metropolitan Cricket League at Walker Park in Staten Island.

Shaffikool Sackroolar had figures of 4 for 18 off 7 overs.

Staten Island skipper Shaffikool Sackroolar won the toss and had no hesitation in sending the opposition in on a pitch that still had plenty of moisture from the heavy rains on Friday. The opening bowlers Fahad and Majid obliged their captain’s decision. Fahad knocked the middle stump out of the first opener in his first over.

Liebert Sericux came in at one down and hit some feisty blows but surely both batsmen were at sea against some fine swing and seam bowling display.

At the end of the 8th over Shaffi brought himself on and immediately got the result by removing the other opener Bacchus who had a torrid time against some good bowling. In his next over Liebert was out at deep midwicket to a magnificent one handed catch by Wasim Ilyas. For Liebert it was one shot too many as the pressure keep creeping up. At the half way stage Island wide were 65 for 3 as SICC kept the pressure on.

After the break if Island Wide thought they might get some respite and get some easy bowling, they were hit hard by the new prodigy Ibrahim Zahoor. He made this semi old ball move both ways at a very high speed. Island Wide batsmen had no clue if to play the ball on the front or back foot. Their main stay Herbert Maturin was peppered by some hostile short stuff before being beaten by a fast full delivery that caught him plumb in front by Ibrahim. The backbone of the batting has been broken. The rest of the batsmen crawled and tried their best and eventually were all out for 143 in the 34th over. Captain Shafficool again was the pick of the bowlers with the figures of 4 for 18 off 7 overs. He has been in super wicket taking form of late.

Chasing 144 was never a difficult task but SICC lost their opener Prashanth Nandavanam in the very first over courtesy of a mistimed flick. Their last match hero Majid Arab came in and together with Charru Choudary started to build the innings. Both were very harsh on some loose bowling by the Island Wide. Majid was cleaned up by a very good yorker by Fontenelle in the 12th over. At the other end Choudhary looked very good and looked like his old in driving and cutting anything wide of off stump. He was eventually out for a very well made 47 and made sure SICC get to the target easily. After that Fahad hit 2 meaty blows to finish the match in a hurry as SICC won the match comfortably by 6 wickets with more than 5 over to b bowled.

With a strong bowling line up and almost all the batsmen in good form scoring, SICC looks one of the most formidable side in the league.