Powell 4 for 15, Dyer 3 for 30, pave way to easy win over FSCL.

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By Conroy Reid

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The team from Mid Atlantic Cricket Conference (MACC) did not show up.   And an attempt by unscrupulous individuals (or groups) to sabotage the SER tournament games at the new facility in Orlando caused some disruptions but failed in intent.  

Pic (Right):  An attempt by unscrupulous individuals (or groups) to sabotage the SER tournament games at the new facility in Orlando caused some disruptions but failed in intent. 

The games went on and Georgia Supreme Cricket League prevailed in the end.

On center field it was GSCL vs Florida Southeast Cricket League (FSCL), while at the South field it was Atlanta Georgia Cricket Conference (AGCC) vs South Florida Cricket Alliance(SFCA). The North field had been rendered useless by the saboteurs, while days of work and commitment by the host salvaged the event by them completing repairs to the damage done to the other two.

After winning the toss, FSCL chose to bowl first and were rewarded immediately. Mumby pulled across a short one from Potgeiter, and failed to handle the high bounce and pace off the new surface – and it was 1 for 1. Tony Powell, former Jamaica national, and Morgan staged a mildly patient recover to post a 42 run partnership before he steered one straight into the hands at slips. Later, with the score at 51, Morgan was too nonchalant on latching onto a Singh long-hop, and gave a simple catch to square-leg. Then in quick succession two more wickets fell. First, Parchment played all-around a straight one from Singh and was hit plumb in front, and then Taylor edged a wide delivery to be taken by the keeper diving forward and inches off the ground.

At 54 for 5 off just 15 overs, GSCL was reeling, and the touted deep batting lineup seemed rather limp, even more so when Seelai was run out at 72 for 6, and McFarlane fell to Javed at 93 for 7. But batting at number seven was Lindo – the regular opening batsman for his home club Tropical, and at number nine was captain Mark Baker. Under the now sweltering Florida sun, a 14 overs, 63 runs, eight wicket partnership developed between these two, and the FSCL fielders withered, failing to grasp a few simple chances.

When Dyer was last out in the 46th over, the recovery had been staged and a modest 185 had been posted.

FSCL’s run chase suffered an early setback to the fast and furious pace attack of Dyer and Jowayne Powell. The slips and gully cordon accounted for two quick wickets at 10 for 2 as Ahmed edged to Morgan, and Liyanage did similarly, but to Powell. Mungal and Hassan put on 34 for the third wicket before disaster struck – three wickets for no runs.

First, Dyer removed Mungal, caught by Taylor for 20. Then Powell bowled “the over of the day”. With successive deliveries he team up with Parchment at first slip to remove Ashton and Timitiaz, as both edged fast rising deliveries on off stumps. At 44 for 5, FSCL back was against the wall, but Hassan and Blake refused to give in, and produced their own version of the Lindo/Baker partnership by adding 53 off 13. McFarlane then produced the “ball of the day”.

A fast turning, bouncing off-break, evaded the long forward defensive prod by Blake to clip the top of mid stump, and it was 97 for 6. Hassan continued to fight, reaching a well deserved half century before falling to McFarlane for 56. Dyer and Powell then returned to finish off the tail-enders, and GSCL seal the victory as the winds picked up and the temperature dropped.

[In their other game versus SFCA, the GSCL team bowled their opponents out for 163 in just under 37 overs despite a solid opening stand by SFCA's Tim Surujbally (36) and Steve Taylor (36).   Dean Morgan (4 for 34) was the pick of the bowlers for GSCL.   Tony Powell helped GSCL score a six wicket victory with a 75* performance containing 4 fours and 3 sixes.  

Atlanta Georgia Cricket Conference defeated SFCA by 49 runs as Anand Tummala scored 81 not out, taking his Atlanta side to 208.   Japen Patel scored 38.  Despite a 53 run knock by Steve Taylor, SFCA caved for just 159.

Several matches were cancelled due to the damage caused by the saboteurs.]