Liberty Sports Club enjoyed a successful Memorial Day Weekend trip to Maryland. The GMA Tax and Real Estate and Royal Empress Catering Hall sponsored team headed south for the third year to match up against the Washington Metro Cricket Board. #TheBlueNation returned with 2 wins in two games as the New York based Liberty SC and WMCB strengthened relationship.
T20 on Saturday, May 23rd
#TheBlueNation boys got an early start to the day on Saturday, hitting the road as the sun was rising. Arriving safe to the Camp Springs area of Maryland, LSC was ready for their 1st encounter against the WMCB XI. The host elected to bat first after winning the toss. Vijendra Singh and Trevor Henry took up the attack for LSC.
Singh and Henry kept things tight but the WMCB openers were equal to the task to see off the opening pair. Runs did not flow for the WMCB openers but they stuck to their guns. Replacing Henry who bowled 3 overs for 12 runs, veteran Tooneshwar Kristona found success. He broke the opening partnership thanks to mistimed pull shot and a smart catch by Henry at the mid-wicket boundary.
Kristona would pick up 1 more wicket while Leon Mohabir and Javed Shakoor picked up 2 each and Terrence Madramootoo 1. LSC wrapped up the WMCB inning for 108 in the 19th over.
Feeling confident of their exploits with the ball the mood in the LSC camp sunk quickly when Romero Dean was removed first ball in the case. Dilly Khilawan (2) and Terrence Madramootoo (4) quickly followed. When Randal Wilson departed for 22 and the score on 33 for 4 in the 8th over some concern crept in the LSC camp.
Trevor Henry was at the other end when he was joined by his captain, Danesh Deonarain. Henry showed great restraint while he dispatched the bad balls when they came along as Deonarain rotated the strike to keep the score ticking over. The pair would put on 47 before Henry (28), who struck 2 fours and 1 six would mistimed a cut shot to point. Hemindra Ramdiall (1) would fall shortly after leaving 26 off 24 balls.
Singh joined his Captain and added some quick runs to even up the equation. Some good fortune favored the batting side when a return throw struck the helmet behind the wicket-keeper to tip the equation in favor of LSC.
Deonarain edged #TheBlueNation closer after Singh was run out. With 3 runs needed off 8 balls Deonarain (28) was bowled to add some last minute drama to the match. Twenty one year old Leon Mohabir would keep calm, however, and bring home the victory with his last wicket partner Javed Shakoor in the 20th over.
40-Overs on Sunday, May 24th
The 40-over fixture scheduled for Sunday began along the same lines with WMCB XI winning the toss and electing to bat first. Trevor Henry with the new ball struck immediately. He removed one of WMCB’s openers with his 4th ball. Henry generated fiery pace on the hot Memorial Weekend Sunday. His first spell of 5 overs went for 10 runs.
Henry’s new ball partner Vijendra Singh kept things quiet at the other end also. The pressure built by the two resulted in another wicket when Singh struck. Sing would continue to bowl eight overs on the trot to finish with 1 for 30.
Veteran, Tooneshwar Kristona took over from Henry’s end and maintained his miserly standards. Kristoan would also bowl 8 overs on the trot picking up 2 wickets during his spell. Leon Mohabir took up the attack from Singh’s end and that signaled some trouble for the WMCB XI. Having difficulties picking the wildly spinner the batting team failed to string together partnerships.
Six wickets down and heading into the batting power play Henry was reintroduced to the attack. Maintaining the pace he started the day off with, Henry reaped the reward he deserved. He struck timber twice in his 1st over back and in his 2nd he picked up another leg before wicket. Henry finished with four wickets in the match while Mohabir picked up 3. Hemindra Ramdihal polished up the WMCB inning at 139 when he had the final batsman caught behind.
Defending a low total, WMCB picked up two early wickets. Romero Deane (10) and Dilly Khilawan (5) did not trouble the score much before Henry and Terrence Madramootoo joined forces at the crease. The hard hitting duo settled in and then treated those on hand to some handsome hitting all around the Oxen Hill ground. Both finished with half-centuries as LSC wrapped up the victory inside 20 overs.
Following the game the two teams shared in some food and drinks generously provided by the WMCB. Trevor Henry was acknowledged as the weekend’s most valuable player. WMCB’s Garnet Lalputan presented Henry with a bat courtesy of www.zeesports.net. Liberty Sports Club’s sponsor Hafeeze Ali was on hand also. The Rockaway Group of Companies owner presented Terrence Madramootoo with a bat for his half-century also while presenting financial incentive to Henry and a WMCB player who scored a half-century.
The WMCB also presented LSC with a gift for the club while presenting individuals in the touring team with gifts for performance and participation.
Liberty Sports Club would like to thank Mr Garnet Laluthan and the WMCB organization & players for hosting us over the Memorial Day Weekend. The 2015 games were the third year WMCB has hosted #TheBlueNation in Maryland. The two teams have already locked in Memorial Day Weekend games for 2016.
