A spirited team performance from Liberty Sports Club stamped out a commanding 6 wicket win over Atlantis Cricket Club-NY. Trinson Carmichael bagged 2 for 18 and returned to slam an unbeaten 35 to headline the GMA Enterprise Tax & Real Estate Services and Royal Empress Catering Hall sponsored club’s dominating performance.
Alex Amsterdam won the toss for the host at Heckshire State park and immediately opted to bat first. His batsmen would not back up that call from their captain. Ten overs into the innings Atlantis found themselves in too deep, without a life jacket. Sudesh Dhaniram and Andre Kirton returned the top four batsmen with just 22 runs on the board.
The early procession started with Dhaniram had vice-captain Ryan Sukhdeo (0) chop one on. USA national player Nicholas Standford (0) only lasted 3 balls before nicking one to a stunning reflex catch by Kirton at 2nd slip. The scorecard read 3 for 2 by the 3rd over. Kirton got into the wickets column, at the other end, in the 6th over to send back Henderson Blades for 6 complements of a sharp catch by wicket-keeper Francis Mendonca. Three wickets or 8 runs turned into 4 for 22 runs when Kirton stuck the decisive blow. Under pressure to rescue his sinking skip, skipper Amsterdam (2) , tamely chipped one back to Kirton in the 10th over.
A 41 runs partnership between Keon Lake and Dwayne Smith buoyed Atlantis’ inning. It was ended by Carmichael who lured Smith (17) to Terrence Madramootoo at long-on. Prashanth Nair joined Lake and partnered him for another 39 runs before Hemindra Ramdihal had the dangerous looking Lake stumped by Mendonca for 56. Lake muscled five 4’s and two 6’s in his innings which added some respectability to the Atlantis total.
Madramootoo kept things tight for 7 consecutive overs before removing Kavishwar Bridgepaul (11) and Jermain Horatio (0) in his 8th. Ramdihal returned to take a sharp return catch to remove Nair (27) before Carmicheal scalped Greg Robinson (0) to wrap up the inning for 125.
Bowling for #TheBlueNation; Dhaniram 2 for 24, Kirton 2 for 20, Ramdihal 2 for 14, Carmichael 2 for 18 and Madramootoo 2 for 21 shared the wickets while Leon Mohabir bowled none for 25.
LSC’s chase rocketed to 49 without loss before Mendonca held out to mid-off after stroking four 4’s in his 17. Romeno Deane (6) fell 1 run later and Dhaniram (8) fell shortly after to give Atlantis a sniff. At 53 for 3 in the 9th over captain Danesh Deonarain and Trinson Carmichael joined the chase at the crease. The duo combined for a steady 58 runs partnership. Deonarain struck four boundaries and a maximum in his 31 before getting out. Carmichael, in a particularly aggressive mode, smashed five 4’s and a 6 to an unbeaten 35.
Madramootoo joined Carmichael after Deonarain departed and added 16 complements of 2 boundaries and a maximum in his 17. The chase was wrapped up in the 18th over with the Madramootoo maximum to seal the 6 wicket win.
Jamiel Jackman was the pick of the Atlantis bowlers with 2 for 35 off 4.5 overs while Lake picked up 1 for 35 and Horatio 1 for 21.
The victory takes #TheBlueNation to 5 wins and 1 loss in the EACA CricketZone 40-Over A-Division. The boys in blue takes on the Red Team, NY-Centurions, this Sunday at Bay Park to finish up the first round of the competition.
The 2015 Liberty Sports Club is sponsored by GMA Enterprise Real Estate & Tax Services, located on 122nd St & Liberty Ave and Royal Empress Catering Hall, located on 122nd St & Rockaway Blvd. Please visit their website www.gmaenterprise.com