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By Peter Della Penna

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Global CC tail-ender Carlton Crandon smashed a six off the final delivery of the match from Freedom CC’s Dennis Evans to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as Global won the inaugural North American Telugu Society T20 tournament by one wicket under the lights at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Pic (Right): Global CC team poses with the silver at the post-match ceremony.  Carlton Crandon (first from left - seated) hit a sensational last ball six to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  The team took home the $3000 winner's purse.

The match seemed all but finished after Global’s big-hitting top order failed to fire. Glen Hall, Oneil Powell and Andrew Gonsalves were all gone by the fifth over. Sean Stanislaus boosted his side with 24 runs at number four, but he was one of three wickets that fell in the 12th over bowled by Evans as Global fell to 84 for 8 in pursuit of 175 to win.

However, Global captain Neil McGarrell and Crandon put on a 71-run stand for the ninth wicket to breathe life back into the chase before McGarrell fell for 32 top-edging a pull with nine balls to go. Rushi Amin joined Crandon at the crease and they took five runs off the next three balls to enter the final over with 15 needed to win. Freedom opted to use the off-spin of Evans, whose first three overs gave up 20 runs.

After a three by Amin put Crandon on strike, the number 10 hit a two to midwicket and then inside edged a three to fine leg to cut the margin down to seven in three balls. A single by Amin put Crandon back on strike and then another two was hit to midwicket so that heading into the last ball, a boundary was needed to win. Crandon then took a full pitched delivery and blasted it over the bowler’s head, clearing the boundary with ease to spark wild celebrations in front of a crowd of about 300 people. The Global players hoisted Crandon into the air and carried him off the field. He finished 47 not out with three fours and two sixes to steal the Man of the Match award away from Freedom’s Carl Wright (pictured right).

Freedom had won the toss and elected to bat first with Wright putting on a scintillating display of clean hitting. He finished with five fours and five sixes in his knock of 79. Wright could have easily scored a century were it not for a severely sprained ankle he suffered late in his innings. After using a runner for a few overs he was caught off the bowling of Kumar Nandlal in the 17th over.

Pic (right): NJ's best field - Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus.

Freedom entered the last over of their innings with five wickets in hand and the score at 170. McGarrell, fresh off his four wickets in four balls at the USACA Twenty20 Nationals, bowled the 20th over and only conceded four runs while taking one wicket and dispatched another batsman with a run out. The stingy final frame in the field proved vital in the end.

The winners will be recognized on Saturday at the NATS American Telugu Sambaralu at the Raritan Convention and Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey. Former Indian Test legend Kapil Dev is also scheduled to be in attendance. 
 

Pictures below: 

Vasu Tupakula of NATS T20 presents the trophy to Global Cricket Club.   Global also won the DreamCricket.com organized Radiant Info T20 in September of 2010.

Neil McGarrell led from the front, as has become the norm.