A WELL-PLAYED half-century from top-order batsman Karan Ganesh, coupled with a solid bowling performance, lifted the full-strength Galaxy Cricket Club (GCC) to a 95-run victory against Majestic Cricket Club (MCC) in the semi-final of the New York National Cricket League Caribbean Fest 40-over tournament.

A large number of spectators turned out for the pro-Guyanese battle at Baisley Pond Park in Queens on Sunday.

Galaxy won the toss and opted to take first strike, with former U.S. cricketer Ganesh leading the charge.

The Berbice-born was solid, batting at three, after a relatively good start from Mushin Perkhan (27) and Keeran Krishna (30). Ganesh was both watchful and aggressive in his innings as he struck 89 runs from 75 balls while hitting three fours and five sixes.

For the fourth wicket, he and former West Indies U-19 cricketer Zamal Khan added 90 runs, with the latter hitting 46 runs from 45 balls (4×4, 1×6).

Telson Johnson 31 (21 balls, 3×4, 2×6) also played a few quick shots late in the innings to push the score to 272-8 before the overs expired.

SOLID BOWLING LINEUP
Needing to score at over 6.8 runs per over, Majestics were on the back foot early. Adding to their predicament was the strong lineup of bowlers in the arsenal of GCC, including Amazon Warriors left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and former West Indies Test leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.

Opening batsman Nadesh Basdeo weathered the storm, but only a 53-run third-wicket partnership between him and skipper Yutesh Dhanpaul showed MCC’s fight. When Dhanpaul fell for 34 (36 balls, 3×6), bowled by Bishoo, the floodgates opened.

Shiv Raghubar got the wicket of Basdeo and cleaned up the tail to finish with 4-32 from seven overs, while both Motie and Bishoo finished with two wickets each as Majestics were bowled out for 177 in the 36th over.