Villagers CC Ambushed River Valley CC To Advance To Semi-Final

MCL League Roy Sweeney Challenge Cup
By Dervon A. Wallace
An attacking half-century from Melroy Kingston guided Villagers CC to a massive 137 runs win over River Valley CC in the New York Metropolitan Cricket League (NYMCL) Roy Sweeney Challenge Cup played on 8/26/12 at Gateway Cricket Ground.

Melroy Kingston blast 54 from 31 balls. Photo by Dillon Bourne

In a game reduce to 30 overs and River Valley CC been penalized 5 overs for their part in a late start, Villagers CC won the toss and decided to take first strike. Kingston fresh from representing Demerara in the 2012 Guyana Inter-County was in a no nonsense mood slamming 8 massive sixes in a top score of 54 from 31 balls. Kingston shared in a 68 runs opening stand from 8 overs with former USA captain Richard Staples who played an anchor roll.

Staples was the first to go caught behind by P. Dewar off the bowling of A. Safi for 9. In came Rashard Marshall who was playing with a groin strain that force him to withdraw from the USA touring party en-route to Malaysia to participate in ICC Pepsi World Cricket League Division 4 Tournament. Kingston was next to go losing his off stump to a Jerry Hewitt in- swinger as Villagers were peg back losing 4 wickets for 18 runs including Marshall and skipper Cliff Roye for 10 and 7 respectively. Other notable contributions were cameos from G. Wildman 18 from 10 balls with 2 sixes, M. Simpson 24 from 18 balls with 3 sixes and G. Adams 29 from 15 including 3 sixes. Extras accounted for 16 as Villagers close on 189 for 9 from their allotted 30 overs.

Bowling for River Valley CC; A. Hussian 3 overs 0 for 24, B. Goyal 0 for 23 from 4, J. Hewitt 2 for 32 from 6 with 1 maiden, A. Safi 3 for 25 from 6, D. Evans 3 for 43 from 6 and R. Blackman 1 for 37 from 5.

Requiring 190 to win from 25 overs at 7.6 runs an over River Valley was never in the hunt as wickets kept tumbling. When danger man Dennis Evans who River Valley was heavily depending on to produce one of his big knocks chapped on a out-swinger from T. Gordon for a top score of 10 the writing was on the wall and 4 runs later with the score on 24 when Dewar was well caught by Simpson at mid-on off the bowling of Adams for the next best score of 6 it was clear that it was only going be a matter of time. The only excitement to a rather poor batting display was that of Denzil “The Chief” Powell a stalwart of Metropolitan Cricket League for over 7 decades who purposefully walked to the wicket to do battle at number 10 and negotiated 16 balls with the Villagers fielders crowding the bat, the Chief made 1 before he was last man out as his beloved River Valley were dismissed for 52 in 19.1 overs.

Bowling for Villagers CC; Adams 2 for 26 from 5 overs, Gordon 3 for 19 from 6, Staples 1 for 5 from 5 overs with 2 maidens and E. Gayle 1 for 2 from 3.1 overs with 2 maidens.

Villagers CC will play Cosmos CC in one semi-final while Progressive CC will go up against 2012 Busta Lawrence Round Robin champions Westbury CC on 9/9/12, the venues and times will be decided by the league.