Andre ‘Rusty’ Kirton and Trinson Carmichael were the masterminds behind a low scoring, 33 runs victory over Falcons Cricket Club. The clash of the Champions, Liberty Sports Club the EACA defending A-Division title holder and Falcons Cricket Club the promoted B-Division winner, took place in very damp conditions at Belmont Lake State Park this past Sunday. Kirton struck 56 and Carmichael 22 when LSC batted first. The duo returned to pick up 3 and 2 wickets respectively to ensure the A-Division champions maintain supremacy.
Making the trip out from Queens, NY up the Southern Parkway the two teams found the wicket to be damp from heavy overnight and early morning rain. Overhead clouds did not allow for much drying of the wicket and even promised more showers later in the day. LSC was awarded the toss and chose to bat first.
The soggy surface claimed victims early and frequent. Anthonio Chan, Francis Mendonca, Trevor Henry were all early victims of the wicket. Danesh Deonarain’s run out and Javed Shakoor LBW shortly after the fall of the first three wickets left the batting unit tottering at 21 for 5 in the 8th over.
A determined Carmichael was joined by the usually flamboyant Kirton and the pair batted smartly to move the score up to 68 before Carmichael was given out LBW for 22. Kirton kept the score moving along stringing together a partnership with Hemendra Ramdihal. Kirton would pass his 50, hitting four maximums and 2 boundaries. He would hit 1 more six before he was out brilliantly caught on the long on boundary by Kumar Hemnauth.
Ramdihal, Leon Mohabir, Jamiel Jackman and Orlando Kirton all chipped in with small contributions to see #TheBlueNation to 129 all out in the 27th over. Ramnarine Madramootoo was the pick of the FCC bowlers with 3 wickets for 26 runs while Komal Shamsundar, Mahendra Harripersaud and Rohail Asghar picked up 2 wickets each.
With the conditions not improved much the 129 were runs already on the board and LSC was confident it was a workable total to defend. Three consecutive maiden overs and one wicket down to start things off from Jackman and Carmichael must have brought some realization as to the level of difficulty for batting to the Falcons camp.
Carmichael would pick up a second wicket in miserly opening spell of 5 overs, 2 maidens, 2 wickets for 5 runs. Ramdihal picked up from Carmichael’s end and continued keeping things tight with 6 overs, 2 maidens, 2 wickets for just 12 runs. Akshay Homraj (30) and Zuli Ali (24) threatened with a partnership but the tough batting conditions lured Homraj out of his wicket to be stumped by Mendonca as Ramdihal’s 2nd wicket.
Henry was introduced after Ramdihal and he removed Ali with his first ball to break the game open for LSC. Henry would pick up a second wicket along with Mohabir’s one wicket. Carmichael came back to polish off his phenomenal spell of 8 overs, 3 maidens, 2 wickets for 8 runs. Kirton then took control of the clean up finishing his spell of 7.2 overs, 2 maidens, 3 wickets for 31 runs and restricting FCC to just 96 all out in the 32nd over.
Prior to the game the LSC players who were a part of Liberty Sports Club’s 2015 Championship team were presented with commemorative snap-back caps. Pictures of the presentation can be found on the club’s Facebook page.
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/