On a day when rain threatened to totally prevent play, the skies held back long enough to allow a 30 overs encounter between table topper Everest/ACS and defending champions Liberty Sports Club. Batting first E/ACS posted an imposing 180 for 8. With rain clouds drifting in with the Lido Beach waves LSC’s batting composed an organized chase to bring home a two wicket victory right before the skies broke open with drenching rain.
Following some dedicated work from the E/ACS players to get the pitch ready for play, LSC won the toss and elected to bowl first. Contrary to what the conditions indicated the Lido Beach pitch seemed unaffected by the early morning shower and was favorable for batting.
Muneshwar Patandin took full advantage of the wicket and compiled an aggressive 83. He struck 5 fours and 4 sixes in his inning high knock. Deveshwari Prashad chipped in with 31 while Prashad Mahadeo, Patandin’s opening partner contributed 25.
Leon Mohabir was the pick of the Chan’s P & H Mechanical sponsored LSC bowlers. He picked up 3 wickets for 41 runs. Andre Kirton continued his excellent bowling form sending down his 6 overs for just 18 runs and picking up 2 wickets. Orlando Kirton and Terrence Madramootoo picked up a wicket each by the time the E/ACS inning ended at 180 for 8.
With a required run rate of 6 runs per over LSC needed 91 runs on the board by the time the 15th over come around in order to be ahead should rain end the match at that point. With the clouds holding back, Francis Mendonca (28) and Anthonio Chan kept focus on setting up the platform for the entire chase, however. The pair carried the score to 35 in the 10th over before Chan departed.
When the 15th over finished the score was 64 for 3 with Carmichael and Madramootoo at the crease. The duo put on a 42 runs partnership before Carmichael was run out for 30. Madramootoo added a further 29 runs with Andre Kirton before he was out caught for an inning high 36.
The hard hitting Vijendra Singh joined Kirton in the middle and added a quick fire partnership of 33. Singh contributed 12 quick runs which allowed the ball to runs ratio to draw even. Mohabir joined Kirton and the duo brought the chase down to 3 runs needed off the last six ball. Going for a second of the first ball Mohabir (11) was judged short of his ground despite of a full length diving effort.
A dot ball followed before Kirton (30) held out to deep mid wicket off the 3rd ball of the over. With the equation requiring 2 runs off 3 balls a fortuitous swipe by captain Danesh Deonarain off his first ball resulted in a miss-field by the keeper, four byes and spirited celebration from the LSC camp.
The win puts LSC at the top of the EACA 40 Overs points table but it’s early days yet four games into the 14 game season.
The 2016 Liberty Sports Club is sponsored by Chan’s Plumbing & Heating Mechanical Inc., (917) 257 – 8846 and Royal Empress Catering Hall, located on 122nd St & Rockaway Blvd. Follow the progress of Liberty Sports Club and join #TheBlueNation via facebook (facebook.com/