Trinidad: Moosai's sail into semis (28 May 1998)

28 May 1998

Moosai's sail into semis

The Trinidad Express

A BRILLIANT half-century from Clico Preysal's Amarnath Basdeo (57) and a whirlwind knock of 45 from Randy Bachan failed to save their team from a 10-run defeat by Laparkan Moosai in the All Sport Savannah cricket quarterfinal match at the Queen's Park Savannah yesterday.

Chasing Moosai's total of 163 for 7, Preysal fell for 153 in 24.4 overs. Basdeo struck two fourswhile Bachan, in a punishing mood, blasted four massive sixes and one four in his explosive innings. The pair also featured in an excellent fourth wicket partnership which produced 82 runs to lift Preysal's hopes.

But once they departed, the rest of the batsmen failed to cope with Moosai's attack and fell short of their target.

Both Basdeo and Bachan were dismissed by medium pacer James Dodds who ended with three for 21. Former national leg-spinner Ganesh Mahabir came in for some hefty blows from Bachan but still ended with four for 39 while former West Indies pacer Tony Gray picked up two for 23.

When Moosai had batted on the previous day, they were paced by a hurricane half-century (58) from Robert Brown which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

In the other quarterfinal matches, defending champs MTS Wanderers defeated Clean and White Riversdale by 107 runs while Texaco Police and Music Radio Queen's Park won by five-wickets from Fruta Caroni Savannah and Unit Trust Ebony respectively.

Rajendra Mangalie won the Player-of-the-Week award for his fine allround performance for Wanderers against Riversdale. Mangalie scored a half-century (59) and then picked up three for 19.

In the next week's semifinals, Laparkan Moosai clash with MTS Wanderers at Invincible grounds while Music Radio QPCC will do battle with Texaco Police at Palms ground.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)