Terrence Madramootoo’s 70 and Hemendra Ramdihal’s 3 wickets for 37 runs led an all round Liberty Sports Club to a 35 runs victory over Richmond Hill Cricket Club. Trinson Carmichael’s unbeaten 55 and Romeno Dean’s 52 were also stand out performances for #TheBlueNation in their EACA 40-Over Semi-Final match at Bay Park last Sunday. The win for the GMA Enterprise & Royal Empress Banquet Hall sponsored LSC earns them their first EACA Final appearance.
Completing the preliminary round of matches with a league leading 13 and 1 record atop the A-Division, LSC drew RHCC in the semi-final. The ground of choice for LSC was Bay Park since the Queens, NY based club was assigned that ground to host most of their regular season matches. Playing in their 2nd EACA 40-Overs Semi-Final, the boys in blue was looking to surpass their 2014 showing where they were eliminated.
Danesh Deonarain won the toss and elected to have his LSC side bat first. Early setbacks of Francis Mendonca (2) and runs leader, Trevor Henry, (13) did not hinder the progress of Romeno Deane. The imposing left hander hammered the RHCC bowlers around the park at every opportunity to race LSC past 50 inside the 8th over. Deane raced to his half century striking 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Sudesh Dhaniram struck 3 fours and partnered with Deane for 33 runs before Deane mistimed a lofted drive to deep extra cover. One over after the 1st water break LSC slipped to 90 for 4 when Dhaniram was stumped for 13.
Terrence Madramootoo joined Trinson Carmichael at the crease and the pair batted with maturity and character. The duo staged a 126 runs partnership mixing the power and aggression of Madramootoo with the timing and elegance of Carmichael. Madramootoo, braving an injury and in noticeable pain during the inning, brought up his half century with 6 fours and 1 six. After spending 18 overs at the crease the burly right hander succumbed to his injuries and was forced to swing for the fences after he had indicated he was going to bat his last ball in the 34th over.
Carmichael, who had previously been the anchor in the partnership, shifted gears after the fall of Madramootoo. Hitting 5 fours and a six the left hander got to his half century in the closing overs. Andre Kirton (23) and Hemendra Ramdihal (22) had quickfire cameos with partnerships of 27 and 25 with Carmichael respectively. Carmichael finished the inning unbeaten on 55 with his partner Vijendra Singh unbeaten on 1.
Posting a season high total at Bay Park of 273 for 7 by the time the 40th over had ended LSC was confident that they made the right decision to bat first. Nadesh Basdeo picked up 2 wickets while there was a wicket apiece for Imran Ali, Deryck McDonald, Sean Stanislaus, Ramphal Bactowar and Shameer Sadloo bowling for RHCC.
The 7 & 7 recrod of RHCC might have suggested an easy win for the 13 & 1 LSC but on the day RHCC came out ready to fight. The fight was led primarily by Marlon Khalicharran. Khalicharran raced RHCC to 50 runs in the 7th over, and then 100 runs in the 15th over. The aggressive right hander rocketed past his half century with 8 fours and a six. His partner Stanislaus was a mere spectator in the 102 runs opening stand.
LSC kept their cool and pulled back the game in the 16th over. Leon Mohabir and Hemendra Ramdihal was brought onto the attach and slowed down the run rate. Following the 1st water break, Ramdihal struck the first of his decisive blows. Stanislaus looking to match his opening partner’s intensity only managed to pick out Henry at long on for 11. One over later Carmichael took care of Kallicharran who chipped past a delivery leaving a simple stumping opportunity for Mendonca. Scoring 91 of the 112 runs on the board Khalicharran’s loss was a decisive blow in the chase.
Going at just about the required run rate in the 17th over Basdeo was joined by Ali. The pair added 73 runs before Carmichael’s sharp fielding resulted in Ali being run out for 46. Skipper Shameer Sadloo (6) also fall to the run out route chancing the arm of Ramdihal on the long on boundary for a second run.
With the quick loss of Ali and Sadloo the pressure mounted on Basdeo to increase the scoring rate. He was gifted some chances from LSC but Ramdihal ensured that Basdeo’s let off hurt his team. The left arm spinner bowled Basdeo (46) and his 5th wicket partner Bactowar (2) in successive overs to strangle the RHCC chase. Andre Kirton removed Debo Sankar (5) in the 36th over with the required run rate beyond 12 runs per over. McDonald (13) and Zaheer Sadloo (14) batted out the remaining overs brining the RHCC total to 238 when the last ball was bowled.
There were a wicket each for Kirton and Carmichael while Ramdihal finished with 3 for 37. Dhaniram, Mohabir, Henry, Singh and Madramootoo also shared the ball but did not pick up wickets.
LSC completed the 35 runs victory over RHCC and earned their firs EACA Final spot. #TheBlueNation will take on Big Apple Cricket Club in the grand final on September 13th at a location to be announced.
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