Last Sunday, the stakes were high for the Cosmos as their playoff hopes hung in the balance during a match against GT Fire at Ferry Point Park in Whitestone. Under the warm sun, the Cosmos were determined yet faced a harsh reality as the game swiftly turned into a one-sided encounter after GT Fire won the toss and opted to bat.
From the outset, things went awry for Cosmos. A few blunders in the field betrayed their focus and made it hard to rein in the opposition’s aggressive batsmen. One of the pivotal moments came early on when I, Sham Ali, let slip a catch at point with the very first ball bowled. This set the tone for what would be a challenging afternoon. Ryan Ganesh managed to strike first, dismissing A. Siewraj in his opening over, but another chance slipped away when V. Bhir mistimed a shot to cover, and Ghanam Tariq was unable to capitalize on it.
The first and second wickets felt like a storm brewing, as E. Velaidum and Bhir forged a rapid 70-run partnership in just six overs, overshadowing our efforts. Bhir’s quick dismissal at 42, caught behind off Alvin Gobin, seemed like a glimmer of hope, but GT Fire absorbed the setback and surged ahead, accumulating another solid 81-runs for their third wicket. It was at this point that Antanio Rooplall at last broke through, catching M. Lionel behind for 34.
It wasn’t until Towgeshwar Thakoordeen and Rooplall found their rhythm that we put a dent in GT Fire’s momentum. Thakoordeen took out E. Velaidum for a well-fought 77, and Rooplall picked up two more crucial wickets. However, at 183 for 5, we reflected painfully on the missed chances that eviscerated our chances of seizing control during the innings.
Baveshwar Utam showcased his skill with a tight bowling line, claiming three wickets in the process. But unfortunate errors, especially in the crucial closing stages, allowed GT Fire to gallop to an imposing total of 257 all out in just 29 overs. Rooplall’s figures of 4 for 34 and Utam’s 3 for 19 stood as the silver lining amidst the tumult.
When Ghanam Tariq stepped up to open our batting, there was a glimmer of hope. He had been on a roll lately, and a solid performance from him along with strong backing from our top order was crucial if we were to challenge the shell-shocked run total of GT Fire. Tariq started enthusiastically, racking up 31 runs in a quick-paced opening partnership of 41, only to slice one to point—an unfortunate early exit that left us vulnerable.
After that, the fire in our innings seemed to fizzle out. GT Fire’s fielding was nothing short of spectacular, dazzling us with their skill on either side of the innings. Devindra Balgobin managed to muster some resistance, scoring 37 runs, but ultimately, our efforts crumbled as we succumbed to a paltry total of 117 all out in just 24.5 overs. A. Lallbeharry proved to be a formidable force for the opposition, taking 5 wickets for only 15 runs, with Siewraj and Dewlall contributing with 3 for 12 and 2 for 30, respectively.
Looking forward, the Cosmos will be taking a team trip, riding to Atlantic City on August 16 and facing off against Empire at Randall’s Island on August 17. It’s a chance for us to regroup and bounce back—after all, every setback is just an opportunity in disguise. Let’s rally together and keep pushing ahead!
Image Source: USAcricketers.com
