EACA 2012 Division A Power40
On a day that most of the Meten Meer Zorg (MMZ) players celebrating the auspicious day of Eid-ul-Fitr and also without their star player and skipper Azurdeen Mohammed who decided to take a much needed rest, stand-in captain Ajaz Asgarally to take charge and deliver.
Zaaid Majeed 5 for 16 sink Everest/ACS. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
The toss was won by Everest/ACS’s skipper Karan Ganesh who decided to send the visitors to take first strike on a soft batting surface and a very damp new looks picturesque Lido Beach Outfield. MMZ opened up their batting lineup with new member, the stylish Singapore National Player Glenn Meyer and Ajaz Asgarally. It was the experienced pair of Saeed Amin and veteran Trevor Walke to take arms as ACS struck early and claimed the wicket of Meyer who looked very positive and crisp at the crease but was unfortunately addressed with a short ball that slowed up and was well caught at mid off by Walke. The experienced Deonauth Baksh was next in to join his captain and shoulder the responsibility of the team. Their plan did not begin smoothly as another wicket fell from Amin’s spell who got the ball to swing away and claimed Asgarally who went for a big drive and was caught at mid off.
MMZ at 15 for 2 at this early stage usher in Trevis Ross to join Baksh and stay firm to see the chase through as many depended on these two hopefuls, however Ross was introduced with a delivery from Amin down the leg side, the keeper snatched the ball and Ross over balanced and was unexpectedly stumped for his first duck since playing for MMZ. The informed and composed USA Under -19 player Amarnauth Persaud came to the rescue. The heavy outfield and the ball not moving as it supposed to, Baksh was finding some difficulty in scoring, aiming for a big drive off Amin’s well pitched delivery he was bowled for 16. Persaud then shared in a fine and useful partnership with Zaaid Majeed and accelerated the score to 85 before Majeed tried to launch one on Zamin Amin out the park but was stumped for 15. Rawle Hoyte came in to join Persaud and with cooperative effort saw the 100 came up, with the score running on 115, Hoyte drove a delivery to short extra cover called for a single which in the process Persaud was run out for a well played and helpful 31. Hoyte was then bowled by Shahanwante for 17, he was replaced by Keith Mungalsingh who played a spanking cover drive for 4 before he was caught off Zamin Amin for 5. Fiaz Asgarally then came in to join Fazurdeen Mohammed and the pair took MMZ to 126 before Asgarally was out LBW to Ganesh.
Bowling for ACS: Saeed Amin 3 for 22 and Zamin 2 for 25.
It was ACS’s usual pairing of Aun Merchant and Steve Nowrangilall to open batting. MMZ estimated early wickets in order to win this tight competition so skipper Asgarally insisted in bringing on his too fast bowler one over each immediately after introducing his two off spinners Zaaid Majeed and young Trevis Ross to the attack. It was Majeed who struck early to lead MMZ fight back and bowled Steve Nowrangilall for 2. Former USA Under-19 Player Gregory Sewdial joined Merchant .Merchant and while on 3 nicked to wicket- keeper Asgarally who eagerly spilled the chance off Majeed. Merchant also retired early in his attempt to hit Majeed out the park held out to Ross at deep mid-wicket who took a fantastic catch. Sewdial was in good form batting well until Majeed darted one into his pads and the ball ricocheted unto his stumps and yet again dissolved another. Captain Karan Ganesh was next in at the crease and joined Tamesh Balwant to lay a solid foundation and shed some light as the score card reading 25 for 3. Skipper Asgarally on the other hand kept on with his spinner, Ross keeping things tight at his end while Majeed picking up the wickets with ease. Majeed again struck, bowling a faster ball to Balwant just outside the off-stump and smoothly nicked it into the gloves of Asgarally who took a smart catch. The veteran Zamin Amin came in and joined his skipper at the crease who kept things together with the score on 33 for 4.
Majeed again led the attack, giving away nothing at his end, delivered one down the leg side as Zamin flicked at it and was brilliantly stumped by the experienced Ajaz Asgarally. Terry Hastoo came in and was immediately out LBW by Trevis Ross for a duck. ACS at that stage score card reeling with a mere 35 for 5 lost yet again another Shafeek Shaw bowled by Ross for 5. Amarnauth Persaud replaced Ross who along with Majeed had already dented the back bone of ACS batting, Majeed finished with figures of 8-3-16-5 and Ross 8-1-17-2. Karan, looking to accelerate the score faced a delivery that nipped back a little and got an inside edge, was bowled for a fighting 27. Rawle Hoyte cleaned up the rest of the innings finishing with 2 for 24 and Persaud 1 for 8 off 6 overs. ACS was eventually bowled out for 92 in 30 overs.
MMZ finishes 2nd place on 60 points with an impressive 12 wins and 2 losses.
MMZ will now play third seed Everest ACS at Baisley (Cage) this Sunday at 12 noon in a Semi-final match up. The other Semi-final is between the number one seed Atlantis and number four seed Big Apple Cricket Club also this Sunday.