Romeno Deane hammered an explosive 85 last Sunday when Liberty Sports Club clashed with Big Apple Cricket Club. The encounter was in the final round of the Eastern American Cricket Association league stage. Deane’s inning spearheaded a massive 148 runs victory over BACC and ensuring that Liberty SC finished on top of the points table for the second consecutive season.
The day started with a delay in start which resulted in the game being reduced to a 25 over affair. Skipper Jamal Hickson won the toss and sent in LSC in perfect batting conditions at Seaview and 108 Street. Dean wasted no time to take advantage of the conditions. Along with opening partner Hemendra Ramdihal the duo raced the score along to 37 in the 3rd over when Ramdihal departed.
Trevor Henry joined Deane and the pair added 96 in the next 9 overs. Deane dominated the partnership smashing three fours and blasting five sixes before bringing up his half century with his sixth maximum. The imposing opener hit three more fours and two maximums before his inning was brought to an end at 85.
Henry continued his hand scoring 49, hitting six boundaries and one six before getting out. Andre Kirton was the only other middle order batsman in double figures scoring 18.
Finishing off the inning Jamiel Jackman and Orlando Kirton put up a 38 runs partnership to close off the LSC inning at 245 for 8. The partnership included 22 runs taken off of the second-to-last over bowled by Michael Noble. Jackman dominated the partnership spanking 28.
Bowling for BACC Anthony Ali picked up 4 wickets while there were 2 wickets each for Renrick Batson and Mark Gomes.
In reply BACC was aggressive in their approach needing to score close to 10 runs per over. At 97 for 2 in the 9th over drizzles which were threatening before BACC inning started broke into a full downpour. The rains ended the match resulting in a win based on league rules for LSC due to BACC not having covers to protect the wicket from the downpour.
The win means that the defending champs LSC finishes the league stage of the tournament at number one for the second consecutive season. In 2015 LSC finished the 14 game season at 13 and 1. This season LSC’s 11 and 3 was still good enough to top the standings with a superior net run rate.
At the end of the league stage leg spinner Leon Mohabir finishes at the top of the EACA bowling rankings with 25 wickets, 1 short of tying Trinson Carmichael for the most wickets following the regular season. Francis Mendonca finished 4th in the league’s batting rankings with 315 runs while Trinson Carmichael and Andre Kirton finished ranked in the top five overall player rankings.
#TheBlueNation will continue the defense of it’s 2015 title this Sunday against number 4 ranked Atlantis Cricket Club – NY. The match is slated for the popular Baisley Cage and will bowl off at 12 PM.