In his debut season for Richmond Hill Liberty Cricket Club (RHLCC) Azeem Khan struck a brilliant, unbeaten century last Sunday against Meten-Meer-Zorg Cricket Club-NY (MMZ). Altaaf Habibulla struck an match winning, unbeaten 53 against Everest/ACS (E/ACS) the previous week while Keifer Phill blased 50 off just 19 balls against the same opposition. The exploits were in the past two weeks of Eastern American Cricket Association (EACA) games which saw RHLCC first edging E/ACS by 2 wickets at The Cage and suffering it’s first loss of the season against MMZ at Bay Park.
RHLCC vs E/ACS at Baisley Cage on July 14th
Following a nail biting, 9th wicket, last over thriller in their first round match the table toppers RHLCC and E/ACS squared off at the Baisley Cage for a re-match on July 14th. With a whole lot promised in the clash the league leaders did not disappoint producing another thriller with RHLCC once again narrowly edging E/ACS.
The experienced Wasim Haslim produced a steady inning of 81 when E/ACS won the toss and elected to bat first. He found consistent support from Anthony Haley (39) as the pair combined for a 76 runs opening partnership. RHLCC’s bowlers found a grain after dismissing Haley, however, with two more quick wickets.
Deveshwari Prashad (37) and Zamin Amin (23) put up some resistance but #TheBlueNation boys kept taking wickets to restrict Everest to 215 all out in the 38th over. Leon Mohabir and Terrence Madramootoo led the way with 3 wickets each while Dino Chooweenam picked up two and there were one each fro Jamiel Jackman and Kiefer Phill.
The chase got off to a gloomy start when Dino Chooweenam who has racked up two half-centuries so far this season was out off the first ball of the inning. Runs leader, Dominique Rikhi, followed next and the team was quickly reduced to 64 with its top four batsmen back on the Baisley Benches.
Promoted to number 5 for the season, Habibulla, buckled down along with Madramootoo and the two carried the score to 122 before Madramootoo departed. The score quickly turned 155 for 7 with Habibulla hanging on and joined by Phill at the crease.
Otherwise known for his lightning fast pace bowling in the New York circuit, Phill turned in a whirlwind performance with the bat. He blasted 50 runs off 19 balls which included four boundaries and five maximums. This performance along with Habibulla’s experienced hand took RHLCC to 211 for 8 when Phill got out.
The ever reliable Mohabir joined Habibulla and the pair safely saw home the victory for the home team with the latter hitting the winning runs with a boundary to bring up his first half-century for the season. It included six fours and spanned a 21 overs stay at the crease.
MMZ vs RHLCC at Bay Park on July 21st
MMZ won the toss and elected to bat first with Andy Mohammed (46) and Nicholas Chinkoo (33) putting together a steady opening partnership to see the team to the fist water break. Terrence Madramootoo would come on and immediately remove both batsmen.
Keith Edie stuck around for 21 and Imran Hassan swung his bat to get 29 before Kelvin Shewpersaud came to the crease with 4 wickets down and just over 10 overs to come. He latched on to the RHLCC bowling to score a rapid 65 off 36 balls to push the final MMZ score to 233.
Blowing for RHLCC Madramootoo picked up 3 wickets while there were a wicket a piece for Phill, Habibulla, Mohabir and Moien Khan.
Following his success with the bat Shewpersaud returned with the ball to pick off the two RHLCC openers Dino Chooweenam and Dilly Khilawan. Shameer Khan, who was handling the second new ball from the other end, picked off Trevor Henry all with the RHLCC inning yet to get off the ground.
Azeem Khan and Habibulla joined forces and patiently starting to piece back the inning in extremely hot conditions. Fighting off exhaustion and pressure from the opposition the duo saw the score to 91 in the 23rd over before Habibulla was bowled for 34.
Khan meanwhile was getting settled in his inning getting past his first 50 for the club. He would carry a lone hand from there onward to convert his maiden club century. He struck 7 boundaries and 4 maximums to finish unbeaten on 106. Unfortunately Khan lacked consistent support on the other end as the run rate constantly climbed eventually resulting in RHLCC falling short by 44 runs.
Kelvin Shewpersaud finished with 4 wickets for MMZ while his opening partner Shameer Khan picked up 3 wickets. There was one each for Chinkoo and Mohammed.
RHLCC continue their EACA campaign on Sunday against Galaxy CC at the Cage.
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