Dixieth Palmer’s Ton Pulverizes Defending Champions Westbury
Cosmos In MCL Final

S. ALI
August 29th, 2008
(Celebrating 26 Anniversary) - A classically scripted performance from Cosmos’ Dixieth Palmer coupled with two devastating spell of pace and swing bowling from Kevin Darlington and Sham Ali secured a spot in the Metropolitan Cricket League (MCL) final as Cosmos displaced a hapless Westbury team in the MCL Round-Robin semi final last Sunday at Floyd Bennett field, Brooklyn.

Sham Ali

It was practically a single-handed cameo from Dixieth Palmer, which gave credence to some of cricket's notables that any cricketer worthy of his salt and his title must rise to the fore on the big occasions and that is just what was served up by the former Jamaica national team representative. Palmer strolled to the wicket with Cosmos on 52 for 2 after Martin Nurse (24) and Vinord Woolcock (31) put on 48 runs for the first wicket. Palmer, proving once again that he is a cut above the rest and one of the best cricketers to have graced the cricket arena in the United States, proceeded to pulverize the defending champion's bowling attack with 3 massive sixes and 11 fours on his way to powerful 138 runs not out off 114 deliveries. He executed flawless cut shots and pulled with unrelenting power converting the eighty-five yards boundary into an apparent caricature.

A fourth wicket partnership of 66 run with Woolcock and then a 50 run sixth wicket partnership with Orville Williams set Cosmos on course to avenge last season’s defeat at the hands of Westbury in the knock out Challenge Cup – a bitter defeat which left Cosmos particularly unfulfilled after failing to convert a single run needed to overhaul Westbury on the final delivery of the match. Palmer unleashed a particularly punishing batting display on the Westbury's captain McLeish who had reverted to some unsportsmanlike comments, contributing the bulk of the 63 runs McLeish conceded off his 8 overs. Palmer’s magnificent knock displayed class and resolve as his professional demeanor exhibited discipline and concentration under the heat and humidity at Floyd Bennett.

Emotions reminiscent of those felt when Cosmos were unceremoniously denied a rightful place in the embattled 2008 Challenge Cup semis almost overcame the Cosmos camp after a Westbury fielder claimed a catch off Palmer that was clearly beyond the mid-on boundary. However, Cosmos would not be denied as their batsmen rallied around Palmer as he proceeded to make the opposition toil even more in the closing overs. Palmer and Shafeek Shah put on an unbeaten 64 runs in the last five overs knocking the wind out of the Westbury team as Cosmos posted an improbable 265 for 6 off 40 overs.

Cosmos were not done, in defense of their total; Sham Ali struck with the second ball of Westbury’s innings when he removed Donald Bennett brilliantly caught by Williams, on the second attempt, at cover point. With the ball swinging a bit, Ali ran through the oppositions top order, in his next over, a leading edge went a begging at point. Ali then got one to nip back and knocked out the next batsman’s mid stump after a few desperate swipes. Sham frustrated Kevin Baugh who fished at a few before he played an adventurous sweep only to be trapped plumb.

Former Guyana national representative, Kevin Darlington, was quite military from the Concorde end with speed as such joined the fray removing Barrington Bartley before he could tap his bat twice, comprehensively bowled -- his mid stump cart-wheeled out of the ground. The next man in, Devon Campbell, never appeared too comfortable against Darlington’s pace, slashing at a few deliveries after the ball was already in the wicket-keeper's glove prior to also having his middle stump uprooted by Darlington. Darlington was on fire and Cosmos was going for the jugular after the devastating opening spell from Sham Ali, 3 for 31, and Kevin Darlington, 2 for 34. With the score on 54 for 5, chasing Cosmos' 265-run target, Westbury was comprehensively outclassed, reduced to running a marathon uphill, with crutches, on one leg

Palmer, the principal architect of Westbury's destruction, initiated a bowling change that was even more potent on the fledgling tailenders; it required just another six overs to put an end to Westbury's misery. Nurse, 2 for 16, with his second ball bowled Paul Salmon “neck and crop”, while Camilus Alexander’s, 3 for 9, right-arm leg spin tied the feet of the tail. It was a spineless performance by the defending champs as they were bundled out in the 18th over for a paltry 91 runs all out, handing Cosmos the highest margin of victory ever recorded in an MCL semi final, by a whopping 174 runs.

Cosmos coach Ashmul Ali, in his familiar Cosmos team apparel pacing the boundary line for the entire match alongside Manager Shadi Khan and U S Cricket Umpires Association founder Lloyd Scott, remarked after the match that, “the disciplined performance of our team with both bat and ball proved that we executed our plan to the fullest. It was a comprehensive and resounding performance by our guys.”

Cosmos will face Progressive, which defeated River Valley, in the MCL Premier RR Final on Sept. 7, at Floyd Bennett Field.

SCORECARD
COSMOS VS WESTBURY
MCL Round Robin Semi Final
Umpires: E . Gardner / D. Coleman
Played at Floyd Bennett Fld 40 overs

COSMOS 265 FOR 6 OFF 40 OVERS
M. Nurse c C. Lewis b. B. Meikle 24
V. Woolcock c D. Meikle b. B. McLiesh 31
T. Surujballi c B. Bartley b C. Lewis 2
D. Palmer Not Out 135
O. Williams Run Out 22
C. Alexander stp K. Baugh b P. Salmon 1
M. Moonesar c D. Bennett b B. Bartley 6
S. Shah Not Out 17
S. Ali Did Not Bat
K. Darlington Did Not Bat
R. Kissoon Did Not Bat
Mr. Extras 27
TOTAL 265 for 6 off 40 overs
Fow: 1-48, 2-52, 3-118, 4-168, 5-177, 6-204.
Bowling for Westbury
O-M-R-W O-M-R-W
D. Meikle 8-0-65-1 B. Bartley 7-0-52-1
C. Lewis 8-0-39-1 B. McLiesh 8-1-40-1
D. Bennett 6-0-38-0 P. Salmon 3-0-25-1

WESTBURY 91 ALL OUT
C. Baugh lbw b. S. Ali 9
D. Bennett c. O. Williams b. S. Ali 0
C. Roye b. S. Ali 14
P. Salmon b. M. Nurse 21
B. Bartley b. K. Darlington 2
D. Campbell b. K. Darlington 2
C. Lewis c. R. Kissoon b. C. Alexander 11
D. Ferguson c. M. Moonesar b. M. Nurse 9
D. Meikle stp/S. Shah b. C. Alexander 9
P. Gilbert Not Out 0
B. McLiesh lbw b. C. Alexander 0
Mr. Extras 14
TOTAL 91 all out in 18 overs.
Fow: 1-0, 2-20, 3-39, 4-42, 5-54, 6-66, 7-81, 8-87, 9-91, 10-91
Bowling for Cosmos
O-M-R-W
S. Ali 6-0-31-3
K. Darlington 6-1-34-2
M. Nurse 3-0-16-2
C. Alexander 3-0-9-3
Result: COSMOS WON BY 174 RUNS