Blistering half-centuries from youth all-rounder, Ushardeva Balgobin and Looknauth Chinkoo piloted Meten-Meer-Zorg New York (MMZ) to a 62-run win over Friend’s XI Saturday in the New York National Cricket League 30-over tournament at Baisley Pond.
MMZ won the toss and batted, posting 249 for five from their full quota of overs.
They then dismissed Friend’s XI for 187 in 24.4 overs.
Andy Mohammed gave MMZ a rocketing start, striking three sixes and eight fours in 71. His 54-ball innings allowed a 101-run opening stand with Keith Edie who made 23 from 32 balls.
Both openers were dismissed within four deliveries and Chinkoo and Balgobin carried MMZ to a competitive total.
Chinkoo clubbed four sixes in 55 from 37 balls. He shared in a 79-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Ewart Nicholson who made a run-a-ball nine.
Balgobin then shifted gear and hammered five sixes and four fours, racing to 63 from just 29 balls.
The West Demerara right hander added 45 for the fifth wicket with Kelvin Shewprashad who was left unbeaten on 18.
Sandeep Singh bagged 2-22 while Yuvi Singh, Ahsan Riaz and Amanpreet Singh each took a wicket.
Chinkoo returned to partner Shewprasad and rip through the Friend’s XI batting order. Chinkoo took 3-37 and Shewprashad 3-41. Rickey Kissoon and Balgobin took 2-30 and 1-60 respectively.
Friend’s XI also had a solid start with Amanpreet Singh, who made 42 from 41 balls and Hardeep Singh (37) adding 53 for the first wicket.
After slipping to 103 for four, Rizwan Mazhar came in and struck six sixes and one four before being dismissed for 45 from just 15 balls.
With Mazhar back in the pavilion the required run rate was too much for Friend’s XI as Shewprashad made light work of the lower order.
