Baker Triumphs At The Valey Of Death

The landscape, camaraderie and preparation at the home of “THE CHIEF” River Valley Cricket Club in Poughkeepsie have a stark reminiscence of the serene country life and carnival cricket atmosphere in the Caribbean. However, the performances on the field were quite the opposite, centered around two innings – one brilliant century from River Valley’s Bryan Murphy and the other a master-class from Cosmos’s Orlando Baker.

River Valley posted a fighting 190 for 9 off their 35 overs in this the first round of the Metropolitan Cricket League color clothe Challenge Cup. Much of their batting centered on former Jamaica player Bryan Murphy’s 117, which included two sixes and nine fours. He received quite a bit of help though, only four spilled chances, from a cosmos lackluster day in the field. He remained composed and delivered well for his team.

Cosmos cognizant of River Valley’ s ability to deliver the element surprise as they did earlier in the season to Westbury and Progressive who suffered the shocked of defeat from a team that was promoted to division one in 2006. Cosmos batting rotated around a pivotal inning from Orlando Baker, his 79 not out which included one six and two fours, overshadowed his counterpart, and clearly demonstrated his level of concentration as he featured in three decisive partnerships. The 70 runs with Dennis Evans (45), who has batted consistently throughout this season and missed his sixth half century by just five runs, laid the foundation, and then an accelerated 54 runs with Vinord Woolcock (23).

However, it was the tense match winning 40 runs with Livingston Puckering’s aggressive 23 which delighted the vocal crowd in the 33rd over. Puckering charged Rizzvi on this 85 yards boundary, hoisting him high and hard over River Valley’s pavilion, the ball sailing over the trees and landed in the goat pen. He was not done, but the ending was near, this time he charged Murphy, hitting him over the hill and onto the highway. It was time to hit the road “jack” However, our trip of an hour and a half, Mr. Puckering, Baker and Lenny had no answer for the “doosra” which our navigator Mrs. Khan tossed at them as we arrived home safely- four and a half hours later!!!