NATIONAL left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie proved his dominance with both bat and ball to lead Galaxy Cricket Club to a 123-run victory against New York Kings when action in New York National Cricket League (NYNCL) Caribbean Fest 40-over Tournament continued on Sunday.

Motie’s all-round effort was bolstered by the debut performance of former West Indies leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo and former Essequibo cricketer Telson Johnson.
In the Group A battle against the previous unbeaten Kings out of India, group leaders Galaxy won the toss and opted to take first strike. The pre-dominant Guyanese team struggled early with six wickets, including that of skipper Yudesh Bissnauth (8), falling for 77 runs in 15.1 overs, but Bishoo joined his Albion club mate and they repaired the damage.

Motie struck 57 runs (5×4, 2×6) from 49 balls before he was run-out, while Bishoo added 49 (3×4, 2×6) from 53 balls. When Motie fell, Bishoo and Johnson added 71 runs for the eighth wicket.
Johnson, who was particularly aggressive, belted three fours and six sixes in a top score of 62, which helped to push the side to 216 before they were bowled out in 34.4 overs.

Needing to score at just under 5.5 runs per overs, Kings were pegged back in the first over, when Hemindra Ramdihal bowled and caught Sajeev Rahull Kumar (0). The opening bowler took the next three top order batsmen to finish with 4-18 from seven overs, before Motie cleaned up the middle order.

Motie ended with 4-25 from seven overs, while Bishoo took 1-23 from five overs as Kings folded for 93 in 25.1 overs.