American Cricket League

by Dyon Ravello

Ardsley made the trip to Baisley Pond, Queens where they met Melbourne NY Alliance. Melbourne won the toss and inserted the opposition to take first strike. Melbourne made use of the moist conditions as seamers Roopnarine and A. Khan accounted for the openers by the end of the fourth over. Batting at number three Kevin Murrell combined with former West Indian International Junior Murray to repair the damage. Murrell got into his stride a he walloped 25 off Khan’s third over, effectively ousting the bowler from the attack. At the other end Murray seemed circumspect as he attempted to acclimatized to the conditions.

Melbourne’s captain Troy Mars replaced Roopnarine from the Pond End, as he nipped Murray’s edge, with glove-man Rahimullah Shakoor completing the dismissal. Anthony Harewood had Orient Bostic caught at the wicket with Shakoor taking a sharp catch to his right. Murrell continued to anchor the innings even as he lost another partner, Chris Bachu finding the edge with Mars finishing a regulation catch behind the stumps. Amid the constant procession, Murrell was given a life as he slapped Ravello to extra cover, with the fieldsman unable to hold on. Bachu accounted for two scalps in his sixth over to maintain the pressure on the batting side.

Murrell (43) looking to step on the pedal could only manage to sky a return catch, Mars’ third snatch on the day. Jamal Simon was joined by Lester Douglas as the pair tried to release the shackles. Simon was keen running in between the wicket, and was even spared as Shakoor failed to effect in what should have been a simple run out with Simon 15 yards up the pitch. Both Mars and Shakoor kept the screws locked with their miserly off breaks. Douglas had a maximum as he swung Mars over wide mid wicket, but generally the boundaries were few on the day. Ardsley closed their innings by posting 183/9 with Douglas contributing 30. For Melbourne Bachu was the pick of the bowlers with 3/36, Mars 2/32, Shakoor, Khan, Harewood and Roopnarine all with one wicket each.

Set 184 at a modest rate of 4.6 runs per over Melbourne Alliance were confident in chasing the total. Simon began the defense with a maiden over first up. Shakoor stroked two sixes and boundary signalling his intent. Yet the heroics were all but short lived as Shakoor was adjudged stumped off the bowling of Simon to be the first man out. Harewood joined Stefan Rampersaud adopting less aggressive approach. Harewood nicked one onto his pad, which resulted in an appeal, as the umpire affirmed the appeal. The impact the ball made on the bat was so distinct that the stewards 70 meters away could decipher the sound similar to the Snickometer. Ardsley made the gallant decision to withdraw their appeal, recalling Harewood.

Undeterred by all the commotion Simon breach Rampersaud’s gate, through bat and pad identical to his dismissal to Khan a fortnight earlier. Mars opened his account by crashing a huge six over mid wicket. Harewood fell to another leg before decision but his time without reprieve. Mars fashioned his knock as Shakoor had done before him as he whipped a volley to the square boundary. The moisture seemed to overwhelming as yet another fiery display was quelled, Mars 24 caught at the wicket off Douglas 64/3. Now Melbourne has lost its talisman with 160 needed for victory, Ravello joined Persaud. Douglas bouyed by his success, found added motivation as he went pass Ravello’s bat outside off stump.

Looking for the effort delivery Douglas strayed down the legs concede three wides. Douglas was in the hunt again a he wrapped Ravello on the knee roll outside off, initiating a confident appeal. Ardsley were pumped as they claimed their fifth wicket, Melbourne Alliance trembling with the chills. From there on Melbourne found no repose as Persaud was adjudge leg before and Khan bowled by Orient Bostic. Bachu went for the jugular, to only pick out mid wicket, where the fieldman took an exquisite diving catch with Bachu still looking for his first run of the season. Douglas claimed Ujerm Galloway leg before playing on the back foot as Bostic played timber music with Errol Deally’s wicket to complete the rout. Melbourne Alliance 83 all out with more that 20 overs unused. Lester Douglas led the wrecking crew with 4/13, to add to his cameo with the bat to earn the Man of the Match, with Simon 2/19 and Bostic  2/29.

Melbourne have now lost three consecutive matches and will be keen to improve that record when the travel to 80th Street Canarsie Brooklyn to play Somerset on June 15th. Somerset will be looking to maintain this season’s record against Melbourne following their victory a week earlier. Ardsley face West Indian at 108th Street on June 16th in a Father’s Day affair.

American Cricket League Schedule: https://vellocricket.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/acl-2013-cricket-season-fixtures.pdf

Carib Mixx Sports June 15 @ Westbury High School

June 15th

Jazba vs Kingsgrove @ Baisley

Warriors vs Casablanca @ Kingsgrove (88th St.)
Kings XI vs Pak Kashmair @ Beach 58
Somerset vs Melbourne NY Alliance @ Somerset (80th St.)
West indians vs MVP’s @ TBA

Caribbean Heritage 6’s @ Westbury High School 

June 16 th Father’s Day

Ardsley vs West Indians @ Casablanca (108th St.)
Pakistan vs Challengers @ Baisley
MVP vs Victorian @ Beach 58
Punjab vs Queens United @ Queens United (223rd)
Cambridge vs Warriors @ Kingsgrove (88th St.)