Last Sunday at Roy Wilkins Park, the atmosphere was electric as Cosmos faced off against Tri County in what turned out to be an exciting match. The sun blazed down as the heat wave began to settle in, creating conditions that challenged both players and spectators alike. Tri County won the toss and opted to bat first—a choice that initially seemed like a winning strategy. The opening batsmen came out swinging, eager to set the tone for their innings. However, they didn’t anticipate the talent of 15-year-old Alvin Gobin, who delivered a stellar performance with his controlled medium-pace swing bowling.
Alvin, with the poise and maturity of someone far beyond his years, consistently troubled the opposition batsmen, teasing them with deliveries that flirted with the edges and occasionally jagged back in. With each ball, he tightened the screws on a Tri County side that had sprinted to 39 runs in just four overs. Just when it looked like they were going to run away with the match, Sham Ali seized the moment. He made a breakthrough by coaxing R. Manickchand into a catch, skillfully caught by Doneshwar Dayanand, known among teammates for his exceptional fielding prowess. Dayanand displayed remarkable athleticism, chasing down the ball and plucking it out of the air with a one-handed catch that left everyone in awe.
It was a pivotal moment that injected energy into the Cosmos camp. As momentum shifted, Baveshwar Utam, who had a rocky start, quickly redeemed himself with a stunning run-out that sent shivers through the Tri County batting lineup. His quick reflexes intercepted a powerful drive aimed toward the boundary. In an instant, he executed a picture-perfect throw to wicketkeeper Balgobin, demonstrating the teamwork and skill that has become the hallmark of this young side.
With their tails up, vice-captain Ryan Ganesh joined the action, quickly snatching two wickets in one over—one via LBW and another from a spectacular catch by Devindra Balgobin, leaving Tri County reeling at 52 for 5 in just 10 overs. Captain Balgobin then made the spirited decision to hand the ball back to the exceptional young talent, Alvin Gobin. Stepping up to the bowling crease with confidence, Gobin displayed control and composure, consistently landing on a challenging length that left batsmen guessing. Meanwhile, his teammate, Towgeshwar Thakoordeen, added to their woes with an impressive display of his own. Thakoordeen’s blend of bounce and turn saw him take two wickets, further pushing Tri County onto the back foot.
It was Gobin’s fifth over that marked his moment of glory. With superb seam movement, he lured D. Ramdeo into a catch that was easily scooped up by Yogeshwar Ramgobin at extra cover. In the following deliveries, Gobin struck again, taking two consecutive wickets that dismantled the tail, leaving Tri County reeling at 124 all out in just 24.4 overs. With figures of 3 for 20, joined by Ganesh’s 3 for 24 and Thakoordeen’s 2 for 30, the Cosmos bowlers had done their job—one they could be proud of.
As Cosmos came out to chase their target, they did so with clear focus and determination. Although there was a minor hiccup when Y. Ramgobin fell to a reckless shot and Ghanam Tariq was dismissed for a duck via LBW, the team quickly regrouped. Antanio Rooplall and Akash Rahim stepped up, forging a critical partnership of 73 runs that grounded their side firmly in the match. Rooplall showcased his skill by hammering boundaries with authority, and after a well-crafted half-century off 48 balls, he fell victim to the LBW trap. By this point, Cosmos was firmly in control with 109 runs on the board.
Rahim, having faced challenges in the previous season, came to the crease with renewed confidence. He showed remarkable restraint early on but pivoted as he found rhythm, striking several telling drives and demonstrating an ability to manipulate the field expertly. With Rahim scoring 34 runs alongside captain Balgobin, Cosmos marched steadily toward a convincing 7-wicket victory in just 17.3 overs.
Image Source: USA Cricketers
