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By Peter Della Penna in Los Angeles (on Twitter)

Southern Connecticut Cricket Association batsman Carl Whyte’s six over midwicket sealed a win via a super over eliminator against Minnesota Cricket Association to cap the first day’s play in style at the 2012 American Cricket Federation Twenty20 Tournament inside Woodley Park at the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex in Los Angeles, California.

In the other matches on the day at Woodley, Cricket League of New Jersey defeated Michigan Cricket Association by 25 runs, Massachusetts State Cricket League defeated Washington Metropolitan Cricket Board by 59 runs and the Southern California Cricket Association defeated Midwest Cricket Conference by 44 runs.

Image (right) - Carl Whyte looks on after connecting with the six that won the super over for Southern Connecticut side. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]

In the last game of the day, Jay Singh was named Man of the Match after top scoring with 59 not out for the Southern Connecticut side coming in at number four in their total of 164 for 5. Pavan Chakravarthy spearheaded Minnesota’s chase with 82 at the top of the order. Only two other Minnesota batsmen reached double-figures though as they finished on 164 for 8. In the super over, MCA could only manage six runs. Whyte came out in response and after a two on the first ball, struck a six to give Southern Connecticut a thrilling win.

In the first match of the day, Michigan won the toss and sent CLNJ in to bat. Rohan Sheth led the way for CLNJ with 35 off 31 balls opening the batting in CLNJ’s total of 137 for 8. In reply, Michigan was bowled out for 112 in 18.3 overs.

Medium pacer Jasdeep Singh was named Man of the Match after a superb spell both with the new and old ball, finishing with 3 for 20. Off-spinner Sakshey Vij also turned in a solid performance with the ball, taking 3 for 21.

Image (left) - Rohan Sheth of CLNJ smashes one over cover. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]

After Michigan as reduced to 83 for 6, Adnan Ali provided a spark of hope at number seven with sixes off three consecutive balls, but when he got out for 27 off 16, CLNJ had the match comfortably in hand.

Massachusetts batted first in their match and posted the highest score of the morning session, 181 for 8 in 20. Sharaz Baksh got things going at the top with 55 off 37 balls including nine fours. Huen Daley came in at number four and one-upped his teammate with 63 off 38 balls, slamming five fours and four sixes in his sizzling knock. Sardar Ahmed took 3 for 34 in the field for WMCB.

In reply, Manpreet Singh wiped out both WMCB openers and when Alexi Martin removed Ashutosh Gairola for 1, the score was 18 for 3 in the third over. Vishal Khatri provided brief hope for WMCB with 46 at number four, but it wasn’t enough as Massachusetts eventually bowled them out for 122 in 18.2 overs. Daley was named Man of the Match for his first innings blitz.

In the afternoon game at Wright Field, the host side SCCA won the toss and batted first against Midwest. SCCA got off to a rollicking start behind opener Rohit Yadav, who pulverized the Midwest bowling attack, bringing up a half-century in just 17 balls. He appeared to be racing toward a certain century before he drove a low full toss to long off to walk off for 78 in 38 balls with SCCA 132 for 3 in the 13th over.

Image (right) - SCCA batsman Rohit Yadav on his follow through after crushing one of his seven sixes straight down the ground at Wright Field. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]

The scoring rate slowed once he got out, but not enough to give Midwest any hope of chasing SCCA’s eventual total of 193 for 8. Former Ranji Trophy player Amit Sood scored 35 off 23 balls before he was run out on the second to last ball of the innings.

In reply, Midwest lost wickets in clumps of two on 20, 65 and 99 to be 99 for 7 in 13 overs. Off-spinner Clayon Graham ended the 13th with two wickets in two balls to be on a hat-trick, but bizarrely never got a chance to bowl a hat-trick ball as SCCA captain Mehul Dave made use of nine bowlers in the innings. Former USA U-19 bowlers Hammad Shahid and Shayan Abdulghani each took two wickets as well. Midwest eventually finished on 149 for 9 in 20.

All eight teams in the event will play twice on day two of the event on Sunday at Woodley. Four matches are scheduled to be played at 10 a.m. PST while the second four-match set of the Twenty20 slate is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. PST. DreamCricket.com will have live coverage throughout the day’s play.