Guyana Amazon Warriors player Steven Jacobs played an innings reminiscent to his hey days with the bat to the delight of the scores of spectators at Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) to witness an important clash between the hosts MSC and Everest Cricket Club on Saturday.
Jacobs 68 not out spearheaded MSC’s chase as they successfully 169 set by the visitors. They finished on 170-5 in 19.5 overs replying to the 168-2 made by Everest.
Ashkaya Persaud facing up to off spinner Stephan Browne in his top score of 72* for Everest while Rajendra Chandrika is at the non-striker’s end
Subsequent to Nichosie Barker’s dismissal for 25 by Chandrapaul Hemraj, Jacobs entered the crease with MSC placed at 58-2 in the eight over, joining Clinton Pestano, who enjoyed a successful first outing with MSC.
He looked pretty in defence immediately and rotated the strike within the initial six deliveries to follow before he was formidable against anything in his zone.
In the 11th over he struck Hemraj for a glorious six that went towering over the roof of Tutorial High School situated to the southern straight boundary of the pitch.
Following that strike, Jacobs cut loose he accounted for five more sixes and three fours to seal the deal for the ‘Who Knows’ team.
In the process he added 59 in a significant partnership with Pestano, who was dismissed by Ashkaya Persaud for 34 and an unbroken 43 for the sixth wicket with Kellon Carmichael, who played the supporting role to score six.
But the most thrilling feat in his innings was to score 12 from the final over bowled by Troy Gonsalves who operated as a medium fast bowler in the match and did not bowl his usual ‘leggies.’
The first ball Jacobs got a single, then the second was a dot ball to Carmichael, who then got a single off the third before Jacobs hit the fourth for a six over midwicket, sending the home supporters into frenzy.
However, the standing umpire was unsure of where the ball landed and after a brief talk with the square leg umpire signaled four. The fans went into an uproar mode before long on fielder Hemraj informed the umpires it was indeed a six, playing in the spirit of the game.
The fifth ball was flicked past the short fine leg fielder and went racing to the boundary for four sparking wild celebration as the MSC players scampered unto the field to celebrate the win.
Like MSC, Everest batting was their standpoint but they probably fell short by some 20 odd runs after being well placed at 91 without loss at the start of the 12th over.
Rajendra Chandrika and Persaud started well, adding 92 for the first wickets before the former was brilliantly run out by Edwin Burnett for 52 attempting a quick single. Chandrika showed spark throughout his knock which included two huge sixes.
After Chandrika was removed, Persaud led batting to the end, finishing on 72 not out with sis sixes and four fours. Hemraj made a quickfire 20 while Gonsalves scored 11 not out.
When MSC bowled, Stephan Browne got 1-28 while Jacobs was economical throughout his four over spell as he gave away 17 runs.
Meanwhile, Persaud was Everest best bowler with 2-18 while Shaheed Mohamed, Gonsalves and Hemraj claimed a wicket apiece.
The result takes MSC to two wins from three matches, the same as Everest and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), who are in the same group. However, MSC is expected to go atop the point standing with one match to play against Guyana Defence Force t (GDF) today at MSC.
The group is heading for a photo finish with MSC, GCC and Everest in the rush for semifinal spots.
