Terrence Madramootoo smashed an explosive 87 not out when Liberty Sports Club scored 229 for 9 after being asked to bat first by Everest/ACS. Trinson Carmicheal followed up with 4 wickets for 7 runs as LSC conquered their opponents by 142 runs. The GMA Enterprise Real Estate & Tax Services and Royal Empress Banquet Hall sponsored LSC recorded their 7th win as play started in the 2nd round of the Eastern American Cricket Association’s CricketZone 40-Over competition last Sunday.
Everest/ACS won a delayed toss and asked LSC to take first strike. Inconsistent bounce and pace on the Bay Park wicket was not an accurate representation for the otherwise appearance of great batting conditions in hot weather under clear skies. Batting on the day also was made tougher by some very questionable officiating decisions going against the men in blue. To belabour the umpiring decisions would add as little value as the poor decissions themselves add to the confidence and encouragement to cricketers who take time off work and their personal lives to play the game we all love.
With 19 runs on the board in the 7th over right hander, Francis Mendonca (9), was adjudged out, trapped leg before wicket. Romeno Deane and number 3 batsman Trevor Henry dug in to partner for 50 runs off the next 11 overs before Deane was also trapped LBW for 27 off of Charlton Senior. Shortly after Trinson Carmichael looked up in disbelief when he was given out caught behind for 3. Henry followed four over later once again via the LBW route for 39.
Madramootoo joined the proceedings with the score at 101 for 4 in the 25th over. He lost his captain, Danesh Deonarain (6) and allrounder Andre Kirton 4 overs later. While wicket fell the dynamic right hander held his calm and quietly played himself in. Madramootoo scored 14 singles, two doubles and a boundary before he unleashed the first of his 7 maximums. His 2nd maximum marked his half-century in style. Dilly Khilawan (9) partnered with Madramootoo for 44 crusical late inning runs.
It was Madramootoo’s brutal hitting in the last six overs, however, that turned the game fully into LSC’s favor. At the start of the 34th over the scorecard read 137 for 6. The next 36 balls were dispatched for 92 runs as Madramootoo made batting look easy as pie. The 34th over bowled by Chris Pathadin went for 15 thanks to two massive Madramootoo maximums. Henendra Ramdihal sparked a quick fire 13 befoe Leon Mohabir chipped in 7. Madramootoo provided the icing on the cake when he masterminded 18 off the 39th over and then 21 off the 40th to account for 39 runs off 12 balls of the 92 off the last 36balls . Javed Shakoor finished not out on 0 with Madramootoo unbeaten on 87* when the LSC inning ended at 229/9 after the 40 overs.
Charlton Senior was the pick of the E/ACS bowleres with 4 wickets for 29 runs. Zamin Amin 2 for 59 and Wasim Haslim 2 for 41 were the other wicket takers along with D. Prashad 1 for 29.
With the Momentum fully with #TheBlueNation and the LSC boys on a high, Trevor Henry knocked timber with the 5th ball of the inning to add more pressure on E/ACS. Andre Kirton accounted for Haslim (4) in the 4th over before Henry knocked over Pathadin (3) in the 5th. Kirton struck once again in the 8th over to remove Terry Hastoo (1) leving E/ACS at 38 for 4. Amin and Prashad (31) dug in for a 42 runs partnership before the devasting Carmichael was introducted into the attack.
Carmichale allowed 5 runs off his first 2 overs and went on to scalp 4 wickets for 2 runs in 3.5 overs to an trigger a catastrophic Everest avalanche. The collapse started when Carmichael had Amin caught behind for 25. Leon Mohabir joined Carmichael, and after going for 11 off his first two overs, partnered with Carmichael brilliantly. The duo accounted for 6 wickets for 6 runs in the space of 5.5 overs as E/ACS closed their chase at 87 all out.
Bowling for LSC Mohabir & Kirton picked up 2 for 15 runs off 5 overs each while Henry picked up 2 for 42 in support of Carmichael. It is noteworthy that while LSC lost 4 wickets which needed umpiring decissions seven of the 10 wickets LSC needed to win came via the caught route while there were 3 clean bowls with a number of close LBW calls being tourned down.
#TheBlueNation will play it’s first match in the Queens area this Sunday against Richmond Hill Cricket Club at the popular Baisley Cricket Cage. Everest/ACS meanwhile will be travelling to Heckshire to take on Atlantis CC-NY.