Tri-City Scuttle the Pirates
Schenectady, NY - There are some days when playing cricket that one is privileged to see a masterful performance, be it bowling, batting, even sometimes fielding. Even rarer are those days when one gets to see TWO remarkable performances in the same match, but such was the case on this day, as Tri-City Cricket Club's Kiran Vishnu and Mohammed Khair steered the hometown side to a 123 run victory over the Pirates of the St. Lawrence CC in a limited, 35 over game Saturday May 29th. Words are inadequate to describe the absolutely surgical precision with which these two batsman picked apart the bowling of the visitors on a wicket that clearly showed it was built for just they type of batting Tri-City prides itself in having.
The Pirates arrived from Montreal in a bit of disarray, missing three key members and despite winning the toss, chose the curious option of fielding first. Tri-City, happy to oblige, opened with Kiran "the Annihilator" Vishnu and wicket keeper Richie "the Legacy" Persaud. Both batsmen were confident as they headed onto the pitch, and neither wasted any time in establishing themselves right from the start, knocking fours and sixes in their first over. They were aided by the closely clipped outfield of Kailberg Field, which made strokeplay far more productive. The two took full advantage. Unfortunately, Persaud's youthful exuberance got the better of him, as the Pirate's Tom Wisden managed to bowl him and give proof to the tale that age and experience will usually get the upper hand over youth.
Tri-City then opted to bring in their own cache of age and experience in the person of Richie's uncle Mike "the Rock" Persaud. who immediately set about supporting the red hot Vishnu with a solid and restrained batting performance that kept his partner on strike as much as possible. It was a brilliant move by this master tactician, who knew full well that the pair were going to have a tremendous partnership if they played smart, measured cricket. It would prove to be a lethal combination. Before Persaud was unceremoniously caught and bowled by the Pirate's Roy Middleton, the two Tri-City stalwarts had put on an additional 100 runs between them. For his part, Middleton's catch was one of the "look what I found" variety, as he instinctively stuck his hand out to an absolutely scorched straight drive by Mike Persaud and was the proud beneficiary of a catch that rolled up his bruised arm and was wisely cradled against his chest. It was clearly a big wicket, and the Pirates sensed that perhaps they may take some booty from this adventure yet. After all, their reinforcements had arrived in the form of the vaunted Sugdeo family who entered the fray after the fourth or fifth over.
However, no one, not even the hometown side, could have anticipated the impact that the #4 batsman, Mohammed Khair, would have on the outcome of the game. Sure, everyone knew that Khair was a competent batsman and bowler, having seen him at the occasional practice when he was able to attend. But no one could have imagined how this mild mannered dentist would break out and have the game of his life. Khair made everyone at the match stand up and take notice as he too wasted no time in punishing the visitor's bowling corps. With the precision of his chosen profession, Khair drilled the ball all over the field, and proceed to perform anesthetic-free root canals on the opposition with controlled and measured aggression. There was little the Pirates could do to stem a flow, as both Vishnu and Khair batting for hours until Vishnu finally retired not out on 122, with 17 (count 'em, SEVENTEEN) fours and five sixes to his credit. It was truly a spectacular performance, but one that we had seen before from the Tri-City strongman. The big surprise was Khair, who would have no thought of retiring, and he partnered with several more batsman who were happy to keep him on strike and watch him play the innings of his life. When it was all over, Khair had the Pirates rinsing and spitting as he amassed 85 runs not out, with a half dozen fours and an equal number of sixes in the bank. Tri-City had garnered a healthy 311 runs in their 35 overs.
After a brief drinks break, the huge total loomed large for the Canadians, but they had come a long way to play cricket, and their openers, Ray Suhkdeo and Sundar Krishan seemed undaunted by the task set before them. That is, until Mike Persaud began to show his talents as an all rounder, snagging Tri-City's first wicket for just 15 runs. #3 batsman Gopaul Rampersaud came on to repair the damage, and proceeded to have a solid partnership with Suhkdeo. It seemed that the Pirates were beginning to build something solid, but once again, Mohammed Khair came on to make his presence felt. Teaming with Tri-City president Steve Weisse, Khair enticed Rampersaud to hoik a pop up, sky high shot to the waiting Weisse who gathered it in confidently for the second wicket of the day. For Weisse, it would be the highlight of his day, as he had to leave shortly thereafter, much to the consternation of Rampersaud who asked him "why couldn't you have left just five minutes earlier?" as the Tri-City president scurried off to his gig playing trumpet with the Joey Thomas Big Band. At this point, it was clear that Tri-City were on the way.