Brooklyn Cricket League
Shabbash To Diplomats, Victorious Over Punjab

By Dyon Ravello
June 28th, 2009
After last weekend’s rains, Diplomats were back to business against Punjab at Marine Park A. Diplomats won the toss offering first strike to the Punjabis. Punjab were in early trouble as the lost both openers to the swing bowling of Hubert Lewis and Ray Joseph, following up from their demolition of St. Lucia two weeks earlier. The new ball pair of Lewis and Joseph bowled their quota of 8 overs apiece on the trot, leaving Punjabi at 50 for 5 after 16 overs.

New York under 19 offspinner Keon Lake kept the pressure as he broke the resistive pairing of Daani and Waqqas, Waqqas holding out the Andre Kirton at long on. Dyon Ravello bowling medium pace bowled straight to keep the Punjab in check. Daani could not resist to the looping deliveries from Lake and he provided a replay of Waqqas’ earlier dismissal, holding out to Joseph. Kirton entered the attack to nab Babar bowl and caught, a skier, after Babar was put down in front of square on the on side the previous ball by Freeman. Punjab’s innings ended at 91 with Joseph scalping 3, Lewis, Lake and Kirton 2 each, and Ravello the innings closer with the last wicket.

Libert Serieux of St. Lucia bowling.

Punjab came to the field with a pair of pacey seamers. Diplomats lost their first wicket with veteran Oscar Prince run out attempting to steal a single from short fine leg. The initial shy was at the strikers end but the ball went through to the bowler’s end, where the bowler whipped off the bail to catch Prince short of his ground. Freeman joined Ramphal at the wicket and looked in good knick as he stroked a cover drive to the boundary. But he faild to continue as he became victim number two leg before wicket.

Andre Kirton and Ramphal, sensibly negotiated the pacey attack, as they took the game further away from Punjab. Kirton lead by example with 37 not out following up his 61 not out in the previous game. Ramphal closed on 36 not out as Diplomat strode comfortably home to victory by 8 wickets. Kirton had another allround performance as he was astute in the field with 2 catches, with the ball, as well as the bat. Kirton again deservedly earned the man of the match. Diplomats are developing a well tuned brand of cricket with a mixture of youth and veteran doing well for each other. Diplomats have now improved their record to 71 winning percentile, with 5 wins, 2 losses, and 1 match abandoned. Independence weekend approaches, with the US under 19 travelling to Canada to take part in the Americas qualifying tournament. However, club cricket continues with Diplomats facing an interesting affair against Middlesex at Marine Park C on Independence Day, July 4th.

Travel Treat vs Scorpian
Travel Treat batted first and scored 222 in forty overs. Junaid Mirza (skipper) 28, Asim Muneer 80 with 7 fours and 2 six, Zafer Iqbal 48 with 5 fours and a 2 six, Waqas Mughal 22, Asim Mahmood 22, Tahir Shah 18. Bowling from Scorpions, Atiq took 3 for 32, Adnan 2 for 43, Ali 1 for 41, Moazam 1 for 43. Scorpian all out 187. Bowling from Travel Treat Zafer Iqbal took 4 for 41 in 8, Shawaiz Islam 3 for 33 in 6, Muhammad Hussain 2 for 29 in 8, Naveed Islam 1 for 29 in 4.

Stars United VS Grenada
Stars United won the toss and took first strike and scored 108 all out, Iva Martin 28 was the only notable run getter. Bowling for Grenada Leonard James 5 for 15 from 6 overs, Kenrick Latoosh 2 for 25 from 6 overs and Lester Douglas 2 for 25 from 6 overs, Grenada 111 for 1, Leonard James 46 Not Out and Reggie Murray 38. Bowling for Stars United Bruno Henry 1 for 10 from 3 overs.

Joel "Big Tony" Francis

St. Lucia VS Stars United
On 6/27/09
Stars United won the toss and took first strike, they scored 261 All out, Joel "Big Tony" Francis scored his first century in the Brooklyn League, after a 20 years wait, with an aggressive 109, Vin Stanisclaus 41, Joseph Short 36. Bowling for St. Lucia Titus Florence 5 for 42, Victor Mangal and Henry Fasal took 2 wickets each. When St. Lucia batted they scored 263 for 2, Libert Serieux blasted a magnificent 165 Not Out, and Victor Mangal contributed a well crafted 66 Not Out.

Imperial vs Shaheen
Imperial won the toss and batted first. Scores Imperial 191 for 8 from 35 overs, former St.Vincent national players Clarence Wyllie 67 and Colville Browne 28. Bowling for Shaheen, Ali Imtaz was the most successful bowler with 3 for 34 from 8 Overs. When Shaheen batted they were skittled out for 93, Orient Bostic picked up 3 fro 29 from 6 overs and Colville Browne 2 for 15 from 3 overs.

Cavaliers VS Punjab
Punjab batted first and scored 201 in 30 overs, Bilal Ahmad 32, Qasim Gooman 30, Shaoid Barbar Chowdery 30 not Out, and Waseem 30. Bowling for Cavaliers former West Indies fast bowler Cameron Cuffy picked up 2 wickets, and Persaud picked up 3 wickets with his left arm spin. Cavaliers were 81 for 6 wickets when the rain came, Punjab winning the match by a better run rate in the first 15 overs.