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By David Sentance

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Since its founding in June 2003, California Cricket Academy has galvanized both Northern California and US Cricket in the area of junior cricket.  Seven members on the USA Under-15 team have participated in matches hosted by the Academy and over 250 active league cricketers have been trained in the six year existence of the CCA.  Most impressive is the volunteer base of eighty parents, with seven volunteers assigned to help maintain each of the two Cupertino grounds at Dilworth School and the Cupertino Library.

Five Under-13 teams contended for first spot in the CCA 25-over Invitational tournament which started on June 23rd with an opening ceremony that included several local Cupertino Council members and the deputy mayor. The teams participating were: DreamCricket Academy, Northern California Cricket Association, CCA Champions, CCA Challengers and Los Angeles Tri-Counties (representing Orange, Riverside and San Bernadino counties of Southern California). 

Pic (Right):  True to their name, the CCA Champions were crowned champions in the U-13 tournament

This was only the second tournament for the visiting DreamCricket Academy team which is coached by Jamaican born cricketer - Earl Daley and his wife Malika Frank Daley.  And it was the first tournament for the Southern California based team coached by former Sri Lankan test cricketer, Malayasian National, Australian Level 3, Coach Mumtaz Yusef.

With the most match experience of any team, the CCA Champions, the senior of the two CCA sides, were the favorites to win the tournament. The CCA Academy has implemented a winning formula for developing young cricketers that could be replicated nationwide if funds were available.

According to Kinjal Buch, wife of Hemant Buch, who co-founded CCA along with her husband, the CCA’s Silicon Valley location has a 30% Asian, 12% of which is Indian. The high educational level of Cupertino’s cricket parents encourages full parental involvement in an area where median house prices are in the $1 million range! 

Pic (Left): The DreamCricket Academy U-13 boys finished runners-up.

Ajay Athavale, CCA President, remains clear in his training objective when he says: “We want one great team not eleven individuals,” he’s also a realist noting that “Cricket was a Gentleman’s game.”  Currently, Maharashtra coach Shyam Oak, lives in Mumbai and Poona when not coaching in Cupertino, directs a three month six times a week training regime based on rigorous physical conditioning applied to technical skills training. 

USACA Treasurer John Thickett, a generous individual CCA sponsor in the past three years, believes the CCA’s youth program is the best organized in the United States.

Under-13 Day 1: CCA Challengers vs Tri-Counties

Library Ground June 24th: CCA Challengers 94/7 Tri-Counties 70. Challengers won by 24 runs

The Under-13 tournament started on the clay wicket of the Cupertino Library Fields at 9.30 sharp.  The first game was between Challengers - the young farm team of the CCA, and Tri-Counties. This was Tri-Counties first competitive match. Challengers won the toss and their opener Swapnavo Biswas(14) teamed with number 3 Shankara (10) as they put on a re-assuring 27 run partnership before Shankara was run out by Nihar.

Swapnavo then teamed with Monil Patel (10) before he was caught out by Arjun off Paras Choudhry’s bowling for a team leading score 14 in 47 balls. The Challengers tail-enders wagged effectively with Apurna scoring 13 not out in 21 balls. Challengers made 94 (including 41 extras) for 7 in their 25 overs. Tejas Peruvamba was the most effective of the Tri County bowlers with 1 for 9 runs in 4 overs. In their innings, Tri-Counties scored a confidence inspiring 70 (including 22 extras) all out. Opener Braham (6) did well to stave off a rampant Shankara who took a devastating 3 wickets for 2 runs in his 5 over opening spell. Lakshya Jain took 2 for 15 and Apurva Mishra effectively staked his claim as an all-rounder with bowling figures of 2 for 20. Challengers defeated Tri-Counties by 24 runs-a good result for both teams.

Tri-Counties managed by Pradeep Patel and coached by Mumtaz Yusef were well pleased with this first match.

Under-13 Day 1: CCA Challengers vs NCCA

Library Ground June 24th: Challengers 83 all out NCCA 59/7, Challengers won by 24 runs

After a delicious curry lunch, the second game on the Cupertino Library pitch was between Challengers and the NCCA. Challengers again won the toss and elected to bat. The home side scored 83 which included 26 extras. After the Challengers openers were dismissed cheaply with one run on the board, number 3 Vikram Ramesh(11) teamed with Monil Patel(9). The pair stabilized the innings scoring a 35 runs partnership from 76 balls. Apurva Mishra’s match winning contribution of 29 runs not out in 30 balls, his second undefeated innings, scored more than half the CCA Challengers runs as he teamed with Lakit Jain for a 24 run partnership. Apurva, a black-belt in karate, rose to this occasion after Challengers posted five ducks.

Nikhil was the most economical NCCA bowler with 1 wicket for 9 runs. Shivane Sabharwal 2 for 15 and Kushal Singh 2 for 12 also bowled well for the NCCA. The CCA Challengers were all out in 24 overs.

Batting in reply, the NCCA put up a dogged defense using their full 25over allotment, scoring just 26 runs with 33 extras for an innings total of 59 for 7. No batsman made double figures for the NCCA. Kushal Singh led the NCCA batting with 7 runs. Challengers won the game by 24 runs. Challengers Monil Patel’s economical 5 runs in his 5 over opening spell set the tone early in this duel of bowlers. Ajit Kumar was the Challengers most successful strike bowler with 2 wickets for 12 runs.

Under-13 Day 1: NCCA vs DreamCricket Academy (DCA)

Dilworth June 24th: DreamCricket Academy 83 /6 defeated the NCCA 57 all out by 25 runs 

The opening game at Dilworth on the June 24th between DCA and the NCCA went the full 25-over round. DCA scored 82 (39 extras) for 6 with opener Vivek Narayan (18) their top-scorer.  Kushal Singh 2-16 and Nikhil 2-20 were the top NCCA wicket takers.

For the NCCA opener Rudrik (16) led the batting ably supported by number 7 Shivane(11). With five of the remaining NCCA players scoring ducks they were all out for 57 (including 17 extras) as DCA came out victors by 25 runs. Vivek Narayan 2 wickets for 5 runs (including a difficult caught and bowled), Gavranshu 2 for 8 and Raymond Ramrattan 2 for 10, underpinned an economical winning bowling performance for DCA.  Vivek Narayan proved to be the best all-rounder in this game but the spectators also witnessed some spectacular fielding from the DCA boys including a juggling catch by Richard Ramrattan and a spectacular full-stretch catch by Ryan Aravind.

Under-13 Day 1: Tri-Counties vs CCA Champions

Dilworth June 24th: Tri-Counties 58/6 lost to Champions 59/0 by an innings  

In the second game at the Dilworth Elementary Ground, Tri-Counties won the toss and elected to bat on the Astroturf wicket. Shikar (24) batting number 3 scored over two-thirds of the earned runs as Tri-County ended their 25overs with 58 (including 21 extras) for 6. All of the CCA Champion bowlers took a wicket each. Captain Neil Tagare (27 in 46 balls) scored swiftly with M Buch (13 in 39 balls) as they steered the Champions home to victory in just over half an hour at the crease. Both opening batsmen were not out, as Champions scored a total of 59(19 extras) runs for no wicket. The Champions coasted to an easy victory by an innings in 10 overs.

Under-13 Day 2:  CCA Champions vs DreamCricket Academy

Library Ground June 25th: DreamCricket Academy U-13 47/7 lost to CCA Champions 118 for 7 by 71 runs

The Under 13 June 25th day of the tournament continued in perfect cricket weather as the CCA Champions played DCA at the Library Ground. Hirsh Solanki was the Champions dominant bowler taking 4 wickets in one over including a hat trick.

A right hand fast medium pace bowler Hirsh, whose family hails from Gujarat, bowls off a rhythmic twelve pace run up with a high delivery release that enables pin-point accuracy for his off-breaks that land on a full length. Hirsch’s yorkers in the batsman’s block-hole will be feared in future. One of Hirsch’s wickets in his 5 wicket effort was caught off a brilliant catch at silly mid-on.

Chasing a mammoth target of 119 on the Libary Ground clay wicket, a surface that DreamCricket Academy team is unaccustomed to, the boys showed poise as they dug their way out of the Hirsch induced crisis with straight bats and determination. Coach Daley has imparted character to his team, which was demonstrated as the DCA team ended their innings with 47 runs for 7 wickets.

On interviewing CCA's Hirsch Solanki after his match winning performance, Hirsch gave credit to training at the DreamCricket Academy's fast bowling camp, conducted by Englishman Ian Pont, and a CCA organized cricket tour to Maharashtra with its enhanced opportunities for gaining mental toughness playing against well coached opposition on turf wickets.

Under-13 Day 2:  DreamCricket Academy vs CCA Challengers

Library Ground June 25th: DreamCricket Academy U-13 53 beat Challengers 42 by 11 runs. 
 
A nail biter of a game played out between the CCA Challengers and the Hillsborugh based DreamCricket Academy at the Library Ground's clay wicket. CCA Challengers lost the toss and soon had DCA reeling DreamCricket openers were dismissed cheaply out LBW to S.Srikantan and Vivek Narayan, a usually reliable opener who plays men’s league cricket in New Jersey.

Gauranshu Sharma repaired the damage with a determined 14 runs off 63 balls, scoring more than half DreamCricket’s batted runs and ending highest individual score for the visitors. Wickets tumbled regularly as DCA put just 24 scored runs on the board. The highest scorer was extras with 29 as DCA finished their innings with 53 runs in 24 overs on an unpredictable track.

The Challengers bowlers were devastating with S. Srikantan taking 3 wickets for 6 runs in 4.5 overs finishing with a 2.00 bowling average. This stunning bowling performance was beaten by Apurva Mishra who took 3 for 4 in five overs for a superlative bowling average of 1.33. Lakit Jain mopped up with 3 for 8 and a third place average of 2.67. Challengers could easily be forgiven for assuming victory was theirs’ for the taking.

Challengers got off to a wobbly start when their openers S.Srikantan(2) and Ajit Kumar were easily dismissed by DCA.  But with V. Ramesh stabilizing the innings for over an hour scoring 16 in 48 balls and Ramesh also in control, Challengers were cruising comfortably to victory.

An all CCA final looked firmly set for the following day, then according to a proud Coach Daley who played his cricket for Milburn CC in Jamaica, “...came a brilliant full-stretch catch to his weaker side by Ryan Aravind who caught Ramesh’s hard stuck on-drive at ground-level for a brilliant caught and bowled.” 

The young Challenger team were awestruck as their in-coming batsmen, drained of confidence fell cheaply to the DCA dream team. None of the remaining seven batsmen scored more than 3 runs as Challengers scored 25 runs. Including extras, Challengers were all out for 42 in 22 overs.

DreamCricket Academy's stunning snatch of victory from the jaws of defeat was secured by tight bowling, which by Under-13 standards, gave up a miserly 17 extras.  Ryan Aravind’s (16), the highest score for DCA, followed his dominating 4 for 11 bowling resulted in a 2.75 bowling average; definitely a man of the match performance.

Talking to the Coaches Daley after the match - the following day - Malika Daley, a therapist by training, was effusive about Aravind’s performance. It was a sure reminder that one young man most certainly can make a difference. Ryan’s turn around effort had a primal, dramatic, unforgettable quality. South African singer Miriam Makaiba sang Malika as a theme song against apartheid in 1960, a song so unique in resonance that it recalls a troubled time and place. This day it was Ryan Aravind’s effort that resonated as he carried his team triumphant into the finals.  

Under-13 Day 2:  Tri-Counties vs NCCA

Dilworth June 25th: NCCA 104/9 defeated Tri-Counties 68/8 by 36 runs.

The June 25th morning game at Dilworth was between Tri-Counties and the NCCA. NCCA won the toss and decided to bat. Batting number 2, R.Sauthur (15) played a captain’s innings for the NCCA who struggled to score runs as  Tri-Counties gave them away instead as the NCCA as ended 104/9 innings helped by 68 extras.

T.Peruvemba was the most successful Tri-Counties bowlers with 2 wickets for 13 runs ending with a team leading bowling average of 6.5 runs. In reply, S. Gupta (14) batting number 2 played a captain’s innings but found little batting strength to rely on for the rest of the team. Kanth (5) was the next highest scorer as Tri-Counties fell short of their goal by 36 runs, ending their innings at 68 for 8. In addition to two runs out, six wickets were evenly distributed between 6 NCCA bowlers. S.Sabharawal won the NCCA bowling honors with 1 wicket for 3 runs in 4 overs including a maiden.

Under-13 Day 2:  NCCA vs CCA Champions

Dilworth June 25th: NCCA 61 lost to CCA Champions by 8 wickets.

The afternoon game at Dilworth between the NCCA and Champions started at 2.08 with a solid partnership of 30 between NCCA Captain R Suthar(6) and A Prabhu(7). They crafted a solid foundation which was not built on by successive NCCA batsmen. The NCCA 20 scored runs were greatly aided by 41 extras at the Champions gifted as the NCCA innings closed at 61 for 9 wickets in 25 overs. For the Champions, Dasarthy (4) and Khasigwala’s (7) opening partnership was broken up early by  Kushal Singh and R Suthar. The Champions reliable Avinash Ghimikar (15) and Champions captain Neil Tagare (22) were easily up to the task, as they overhauled the NCCA total in twelve overs, steering the Champions to victory by 8 wickets.

Under-13 Day 3: CCA Challengers vs CCA Champions 

Dilworth June 26th: U13 CCA Champions 175/2 defeated U13 Challengers 72 all out by 104 runs

The following morning at 8.53 the U-13 CCA Challengers took on their CCA academy rivals the Champions, on the Astroturf of Dilworth. CCA records tumbled as the Champions R Khasgiwala (59) and S Dasarthy (61) scoring at the rate of just under a run a ball, opened with a 134 run partnership that lasted over an hour and half. After Dasarthy was bowled by A Kumar and R Khasgiwala was run out, Champions captain Mihir Athavale (15) was joined by A Murthy (13) with the score on 154.

Both batsmen combined for an unbeaten 20 run partnership as Champions finished their over 25 over allotment with a total of 174, the largest innings of the Under 13 tournament. To the Challengers credit there were only 28 extras in the 174 total, a testament to tidy, economical bowling under adverse conditions. The Challengers showed character under pressure-a good omen for their future as a cricket team. Wicket-taker A Kumar was the most effective bowler for the Challengers taking 1 for 24 in 4 overs. Faced with a daunting task the Challengers got their collective heads down as left-hander S Srikarnan and right-handed batsman Mohil Patel opened with a respectable 28 partnership which was broken up by a catch to mid-wicket. Wickets fell rapidly after that wicket-keeper Shashir Dholakia (4) showed resistance until Neil Tagare ran him out.

The tail wagged as A Kumar(14) and Satish Ghimikar(2) posted the Challengers second highest partnership of 8 runs. Helped by 27 extras combined with 45 earned runs, Challengers resistance lasted for just over two hours, their combined efforts recorded as a reasonable total of 72 runs. A Murthy 3 for 9 (average 3), R Bise 3 for 5 (average 1.67) and M Buch 2 for 6(average 3) were the Champions most successful bowlers as Challengers lost by 104 runs.

Under-13 Day 3: DreamCricket Academy vs Tri-Counties

Dilworth June 26th: DreamCricket Academy 131 defeated Tri-Counties 43 by 88 runs 

On June 26th at Dilworth, Tri-Counties won the toss and decided to field. With openers Vivek Narayan(1) bowled N. Shah and S. Singh(3) run out, Ryan Arvind (32 not out) was called on to right the ship which he did effectively with his captain V.Barbhaiya who played a spectacular knock of 34.  The two featured in a 72 run partnership.  

Ryan Arvind retired not out with the score at 100. S Gupta then ran out two DreamCricket Academy batsmen before taking a wicket himself. N Shah got the remaining wicket for Tri-Counties as DCA finished their innings with a score of 131 for 6 including 52 extras. Shah was the  Tri-Counties best bowler taking 2 wickets for 9 runs in five overs which included 3 maidens, a fine performance. Tri-Counties were all out for 43 in 24 overs, including 18 extras, losing the game by 88 runs.  Ryan Arvind led the DreamCricket bowling taking 2 wickets for 1 run in three overs to end the game with a .5 bowling average for another Man of the Match performance.  His effort was aided by Humzah (2 wickets) and Rohan (1 wicket).  For Tri-Counties A. Patel (11) and S.Peruvemba (6) showed some resistance with a seventh wicket partnership of 15 runs, thereby avoiding a rout.

Under-13 Championship Match - CCA Champions vs DreamCricket Academy

Dilworth June 27th - CCA Champions 146/5 beat DreamCricket Academy 70/7 by 77 runs. 

The Under 13 final was web-streamed live by eParasaran on the internet as CCA Champions took on DreamCricket Academy, based in New Jersey.  The CCA Champions were fresh off a dominating batting performance against Challengers. On this occasion Neil Tagare (76) their most prolific batsman, the Champions' young Tandulkar, combined for a opening partnership of 119 runs with M Buch (35) aided by weak fielding on the part of DreamCricket Academy.   That is when Richard Ramrattan broke through taking Buch’s wicket caught and bowled. Vivek Narayan captured Neil Tagare’s wicket after the Champions posted their second consecutive century opening partnership in the tournament.

Hirsch Solanki (8) moved the score along briskly before he was run-out. At this point, Richard Ramrattan established himself as the strike bowler for DreamCricket Academy match as he enticed Mihir Athavale(11) and A Murthy(1) into giving up their wickets, tempted by his flighted balls to be stumped by the alert wicket-keeper and captain for the championship game V. Barbhaiya. This left Khasigwala (7) and Darthy not out at the end for a total of 146 which included just eight runs in extras, a testament to DreamCricket Academy's tidy bowling.

In response DreamCricket Academy put on 20 for the first wicket. Opener Vivek Narayan (9) was tempted out of his crease by the right-handed spinner Mihir Athavale and stumped by wicket-keeper Vijir. S Kripilani (4) put up less resistance being caught by Bhise off A Ghirnikar’s bowling. Ryan Ardvind (4) batting number 3 was also out cheaply as DreamCricket Academy failed to get traction in their batting.

G Sharma (10 not out) and Richard Ramrattan(8) had good innings but DCA scored just 41 with 29 extras for a final innings score of 70 as the over allotment ran out.

CCA Champions lived up to their name with the strongest batting line-up in the tournament. DreamCricket though handily beaten by 77 runs were the most dangerous bowling side, giving away the least extras of the tournament while defending and winning with low scores. On this occasion the bowlers were dominated by the batsman, particularly right-hander Neil Tagare of Champions who with his big frame, strong forearms and supportive family will be a batting force to be reckoned with in future.

Neil Tagare was by far the most dangerous and aggressive batsman in the Under 13 tournament. Mohak Buch was the most economical bowlers for Champions with just 2 runs and over while A Ghimkar was the leading wicket taker with 2 for 14 in four over for the Champions best bowling average of 7.

Under-17: All Stars vs CCA Champions

Spartans Ground June 24th: U17 CCA All Stars 124 lost to CCA Champions 125/3 by 7 wickets.

The Under 17 Tournament play started on June 24th at the Spartans Cricket Club ground in San Jose. It was hoped that an east coast team might participate but no team materialized. The U17 tournament was played between three teams, the CCA Champions, CCA Challengers and the All Stars drawn from Northern California league teams. The All Stars opened the Under 17 US Invitational against CCA Champions with a depleted team. The Under 17 age group remains hard to capture for cricket events as school pressure for college entry is tough at that age and cricket has yet to achieve National Collegiate Athletic Association scholarship status.

The All Stars scored 124(29 extras) with Ramnarine 25 and wicket-keeper Z.Sattur 38 scoring the majority of runs. The CCA Champions A.Watave, brought on late as number 8 bowler, ripped through the All Stars side with 5 wickets for 11 runs-an impressive performance earning a 2.20 run bowling average.

The CCA Champions replied with A Talwalkar (21) and A Buch (20) putting on 45 for the first wicket. Batting number 3, A. Watave’s 43 not out in 58 balls broke the back of the All Stars team as he combined in a 57 runs partnership with A Buch. Champions captain V.Suni scored 6 before by Nazeer off V.Sehgals’s bowling for 6 runs. Singh, Ramnarine and Sehgal were the wicket takers for the All Stars and Sehgal ended with 1wicket for 8 runs in 3 overs-the best bowling performance for the All Stars. The Champions A.Watave was definitely man of the match taking 5 for 11 and scoring a match-winning 43 not out.

Santa Clara Cricket Club Ground June 25th: CCA Challengers 53 all out lost to All Stars 54/0 by 10-wickets

On June 25th, the U17 CCA Challengers played the All Stars at the Santa Clara Club ground and lost by ten wickets. Challengers were all out for 53 and the All Stars captain J.Singh scored 39 runs in 25 balls including three 6’s while his opening partner Z.Zadoo(2) remained content to anchor the partnership. The slaughter lasted less than two hours. 

Under-17 Championship Match

Santa Clara Cricket Club June 27th: All Stars 180/5 defeated Champions 115 by 65 runs

While the CCA Under 13 Champions side dominated the competition things played out differently at the Santa Clara Cricket Club ground where the Under 17All Stars took on the CCA Under 17 Champions team.

Put in to bat by Champions, the All Star team changed their line-up from the previous game with the addition of players not previously available owing to school constraints during the week. Openers, J Singh(38) and Z.Zadoo(9) posted a strong partnership of 52. Singh dominated the Champions bowling as he saw Pradhan off with two consecutive 4’s in the first over. Bowling fast from the other end A Buch bowled unchanged in his eight overs. He had Singh caught by Watanave to break-up the 52 run opening partnership in his seventh over- a wicket-maiden.

The All Stars strong batting continued with R.Ramnarine (20) and wicket-keeper Sattaur(54) adding 17 for the second wicket and 30 for the third. CCA Captain P.Suri enticed both batsmen into giving up their wickets as Ramnarine was caught by Buch and Sattaur stumped. The All Stars batting showed its depth as S.Abudlghani scored 17 runs before he was caught by Buch off Vardarajan’s bowling with the score on 136. Sattaur(54) was the last All Star wicket to fall with the score on  173. There were just 20 extras in 40 overs given by the CCA Champions as the All Stars closed their innings at 180/5.

In reply the Champions were all out for 59 with Watanave (20) P. Singh (16) and D.Parikh (16) their top-scorers as the rest of the team combined for just seven runs. Wickets taken by the All Stars were evenly distributed with openers Akhtar and Niazi taking 2 for 32 and 2 for 23. J Singh took 2 for 25, S.Abdulghani 2 for 13 while S.Sehgal had the best bowling spell of all, with just 2 runs off 4 overs ending with a 2.00 average, by far the most economical outing of the All Star bowlers. The Champions were a stronger bowling than batting team and will need to hone their batting skills against top-notch competition if they want win. Amazingly the All Stars gave away over 56 extras as Champions were 115 all out in 34 overs. The Champions lost by 65 runs.

PostScript: Historical Resonance

Having watched the sixth CCA US Invitational Tournament one could clearly see cricket’s future in the US building on a strong foundation. Several names come to mind as potential future stars but they have their own story. Having earlier written the history of the Citrus Colony Cricket Club which existed from 1895 to 1900, the achievement of the California Cricket Academy has strong historical resonance. Located east of Sacramento, near Rocklin, a British colony grew up with its own club house and a strong interest in sports. Most residents came from India and grew fruit for a living. They played hard and as their cricket improved they took on the best California Cricket Association (founded at the Occidental Hotel on Montgomery Street in San Francisco in 1892) teams. Within six years the CCC sides were the best in California.

The CCA has had greater impact as it has leveraged internet savvy executives with strong management skills in conjunction with USACA sanctioned events such as the second US Women’s Trials. Citrus Colony did not have a schools program nor does the CCA but that is set to change with Vijay Pradhan’s leadership of the schools program. Vijay plans on using six certified coaches in the local schools combined with a summer camp to reinforce skills. Hitesh Lokanki the CCA webmaster has planned enhancements to the CCA website to make it more interactive for Vijay’s program.

The future looks bright for the CCA as it has shown the ability to attract strong successor leadership. Ajay Athavale who has succeeded Hemant Buch, has a clear vision for his organization but most importantly he remains a team player, modestly acknowledging the achievements of his executive team. This frankly I found most impressive and hopeful aspect of the whole tournament.