Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket
In the 2010 South East Region cricket tournament last weekend, the
Central Florida Cricket Association won the championship on better run
rate after ending with a tie on the points table with Florida Southeast
Cricket League (FSCL).
Central Florida's first match was rained out against last year's
champions, Georgia Supreme Cricket League, but they defeated Atlanta
Georgia Cricket Conference convincingly in the second match, and in the
third, they crushed Mid Atlantic Cricket Conference (MACC) to take the
2010 Southeast Regional Tournament (SER).
Notably, last year’s champion Georgia Supreme Cricket League was
defeated by FSCL. South Florida Cricket Association (SFCA) entered a
young team in the competition - losing the near-term battle but laying
the foundation for the long-term. Luther Anderson’s
undefeated 106 stole the spotlight for Central Florida and Victor
Charles and Ricky Nayar stood out for FSCL and SFCA respectively.
Central Florida are champions of the South East Region [Courtesy: CFCA]
The tournament began on Friday, June 4, with FSCL playing against
Atlanta, SFCA playing MACC and CFCA playing GSCL. While SFCA
convincingly defeated MACC by an eight-wicket margin, the remaining two
matches were rained out.
Day 1 (Friday, June 4, 2010)
In the first match between SFCA and MACC, the visitors were put to
bat after losing the toss and were restricted to 194 for 8. Only G
Persaud got going and remained not out for 43. In the reply,
SFCA opener Timothy Surujbally inflicted maximum damage on the bowlers
getting 106 not out from 68 balls with 15 fours and 6 sixes.
SFCA reached its target in 22.2 overs without breaking much sweat.
Meanwhile, at Miramar Regional Park, Central Florida, led by a
hard-hitting Maksood Indawala who scored 82 off 61 balls (8 fours and 3
sixes), reached 249 for 6 0ff 45 overs reduced from the regulated 50,
due to inclement weather. A well played 33 from Aurangzeb Baig off 40
deliveries (5 fours) and 25 from Oneil Hylton (4 fours), helped to
boost the total.
Bowling for GSCL, Andre Hooper captured 3 for 47 from 9 overs and
Lyndon Johnson, 2 for 50 from 7. In reply, Georgia Supreme was on 135
for 5 in 19.3 overs, when rain curtailed play for the day, leaving the
end a no result, as the mandatory 20 overs were not completed. Leon
Garrick, banged 10 fours and 2 sixes while facing 51 deliveries in a
sparkling undefeated knock of 70 to topscore. The best bowler
for Central Florida was Robert Cresser who snared 3 for 24 from 4 overs.
In the match featuring FSCL and Atlanta, Victor Charles scored 85
runs in 64 balls comprising 10 sixes and 1 four helping FSCL post 210
runs. He was supported by Farhat Ullah who scored 48 runs that included
1 six and 6 boundaries. Ashton Denis also chipped in with 30 runs. Amin
Khan was the best bowler for AGCC taking 3 for 43 while Nimir Desai,
Japen Patel, and Jibran Gul chipped in with 2 wickets each. In reply
AGCC was 44 for 2 when rain came in and play had to be abandoned. Ken
Singh took both the AGCC wickets that fell. Victor Charles was
adjudged Man of the Match for his blistering score of 85.
Day 2 (Saturday, June 5, 2010)
FSCL beat MACC by 149 runs on Saturday, June 5. Once again, Victor
Charles dominated the proceedings top scoring with an unbeaten 144 with
the help of 7 sixes and 12 fours. His full repertoire of strokes was on
display as he drove, lofted, pulled, and hooked with disdain. This
time, the FSCL made a mammoth 426 for 4 in 50 Overs. He was supported
in his efforts by Ashton Denis who scored 85 with 5 sixes and 11 fours.
MACC fielders could only look on helplessly as the ball soared over the
ropes or crashed to the boundary many times during the FSCL innings.
The brutal display of power hitting, lovely strokes, and delightful
batting from the blades of Victor Charles and Ashton Denis was enjoyed
by all spectators in attendance.
Syed Hasan chipped in with a useful 51 off 39 balls that included 6
boundaries. Neil Mungal hit 5 fours in his score of 43 that came off 60
balls. Waseem Shazada scored a quick fire 40 that included two sixes
and 4 boundaries. Victor's knock will be remembered for a long time in
the South Florida cricket annals as well as the South East region
leagues. The crowd was thoroughly entertained by the lusty hitting of
Victor and Ashton. Boundaries flowed freely during the whole inning and
MACC bowlers never troubled the FSCL batsmen.
In reply MACC was bowled out for 277. Mike Neuson was the only batsman
who offered some resistance and the top scored with 68. H Patel scored
42, Sunny Singh with 36, and Sanjay Patel with 33 also chipped in to
help MACC. Hyder Hussain was the best FSCL bowler on display as he took
3 for 42 in his 10 overs. Victor Charles was adjudged Man of the Match
for his brilliant innings of 144.
Georgia Supreme lived up to its reputation as the defending champion
on June 5th in its encounter with SFCA after being unlucky with the
rain-out the prior day. SFCA's bowling was not much of a challenge
to Georgia and every bowler with the exception of Ricky Nayar conceded
at a rate of a run a ball. The result of which was that Georgia
amassed 344 runs all out with two balls to spare. The mountainous
task got even more difficult for SFCA after the entire top order
imploded and the score was just 65/5. B Naiyak attempted a phenomenal
rescue taking his side from 125 for 8 to 224 for 9 but afterhe fell,
the SFCA innings came to and end on 233 giving Georgia a 111-run
victory.
At Brian Piccolo Park, occupying the crease first after winning the
toss, Atlanta Georgia posted 164 all out off 46.2 of the allotted 50
overs. A. Tummala top-scored with a sedate 27 off 40 balls (1 four), N.
Sanvam carried his bat for 25 (1 four) and Jibran Gol, got 20 (2
fours). Bowling for CFCA, Duane Nathaniel bagged 3 for 16 from 5.2
overs, Sai Ramesh took 3 for 35 off 10 and Samih Sadiq, 2 for 24 from
5.
In reply, Central Florida cruised to 165 for 5 off 39.2 overs, to
inflict an emphatic 5 wicket victory. Taking them there, skipper Chris
Chung smacked 6 fours and a six in a sizzling unbeaten 34 ball 44,
Ramesh hit 38 off 36 deliveries that included 5 peppery fours,
Nathaniel got 29 (1 four) and Sadiq 23 (2 fours). Bowling for AGCC, M.
Aminkhan took 2 for 32 from 5 overs, whilst Desai H. Choudory and Gol,
each took a wicket.
Day 3 (Sunday, June 6, 2010)
In the match against Central Florida, MACC opted to bat first after
winning the toss and was dismissed for a modest 131 off 36.3 of the
arranged 50 overs. Sunjay Patel, in a measured knock scored 43 off 74
balls (4 fours) and H. Patel, got 25 (2 sixes). Bowling for Central
Florida, Robert Cresser scalped 3 for 20 from 8.3 overs including a
maiden, Sai Ramesh prised out 3 for 22 from 10 including 3 maidens and
Asif Chan, 2 for 10 from 4.
In a bold and dominant reply, Central Florida led by a blistering
undefeated 106 from Luther Anderson, spiced with 5 fours and 10
towering sixes off only 54 balls, rushed to 135 for 1 after only 13.1
overs, to win decisively by 9 wickets. Bowling for MACC, R. Patel took
the only wicket to fall at a cost of 49 runs off 4.1 overs.
Meanwhile, FSCL defeated Georgia Supreme Cricket League by 9 runs in
a thriller. FSCL won the toss and elected to bat. Farhat Ullah and
Neil Mungal went after the Georgia Supreme bowlers from the start.
Farhat scored a brilliant 47 with the help of 6 boundaries. Neil
Mungal played an achor role and scored a valuable 57 with the help of 4
fours. Neil steadied the FSCL innings and was involved in many useful
partnerships. Just when Syed Hasan was beginning to come into his
element and was looking to post a big score he threw away his wicket
after a good knock of 31 that included 5 hits to the fence. FSCL was
170 for 4 and looking a post a huge total. However, the side collapsed
after the umpire allowed Georgia Supreme to take a new ball after 34
overs despite protests from the FSCL captain and management. The
outcome of which was a middle order collapse and FSCL was bowled out
for 236. Only Waseem Shazada offered some resistance and scored 19 runs
with three scorching hits to the fence. E Dyer had figures of 3 for 46,
J Slocumb took 2 for 41, and A Hooper took 2 for 38.
Georgia Supreme lost their first wicket in the first over when L
Johnson was controversially given out LBW to Ken Singh for a
duck. Alexander top scored with 45, Harper scored 33, M Mumby scored
32,and T Powell scored 23. Leon Garrick was run out for 9 when he tried
to take a cheeky single. Hussain Hyder got the important wickets of M
Mumby and T Powell in one over. Syed Hasan took 2 for 17 in 4 overs. In
an exciting end Pieter Potgeiter delivered the final blow when he clean
bowled Husut with GSCL still needing 9 runs. Neil Mungal was adjudged
Man of the Match for his valuable knock of 57 and four dismissals
behind the stumps.
In
the match between SFCA and Atlanta, a 57 run ninth partnership between
S Khaja (41) and H Choudry (23) took Atlanta past the finish line after
the team looked precarious with the score reading 173 for 8 chasing
229. SFCA opted to bat and other than Ricky Nayar, who scored an
impressive 125, nobody really got going. To SFCA's credit, they played
a young team in the tournament.
Pic (Right): Ricky Nayar collects his centurion award. [Courtesy - SFCA]
Central Florida's match against Georgia Supreme was rained out on
the first day. It defeated Atlanta on Saturday and MACC on Sunday.
Match reports and scorecards for these matches could not be accessed
but DreamCricket.com received confirmation that they were ahead on NRR
and were the overall champion. Victor Charles also received the trophy
for Best Batsman of the series and was declared tournament MVP as well.
----------------
In other news around the region, the 2010 South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) Premier League and Division 1
(North & South) competitions with 22 clubs competing, will bowl off
on Sunday June 13th. The Premier League will play a 45-over
competition, and the Division 1 (North & South) will play a 40-over
league.
The clubs competing in the Premier League are as follows:
International, Lauderhill United, Palm Beach, Osswald Park 1, Myrtle
Grove, Sportsman, Lauderhill Jammers, Parkway, Alliance and United
Sports. The clubs in Division 1 North are as follows: Ambassador S.C.,
Osswald Park 2, Islanders, MCC, Melbourne and Leewards United. The
clubs in Division 1 South are as follows: St. Bes, India United,
Westside Cavaliers, Titans, South Shore and St. Lucie.
Meanwhile, the MAQ Twenty20 Lauderhill Night Cricket Final, Team USA
vs. Lauderhill, scheduled for Saturday evening June 5th , was rained
out, and will now be played on Saturday evening June 12th. The action
will get underway at 6 PM sharp.
[FSCL, SFCA and Ricardo Inniss contributed to this article]