USA Cricketer : South East Region cricket

Atlanta Georgia Cricket Conference wins the SER Regional Tournament for the first time

openingbat — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:28:00 GMT

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[Conroy Reid and Lada Bedi contributed to this report. For earlier report, click here.]

Japen Patel, Atlanta-Georgia Cricket Conference’s (AGCC) two time player-of-the-year, and one of the most dynamic young players in the country, turned in a strong all-round performance – 8 wickets and 184 runs in three games – to lead AGCC to the 2011 SER tournament title in the games played in Orlando this past week-end.

Pic (right): Japen Patel's fine performances with bat and ball earned him the tournament MVP award.

The fine performance earned Japen Patel the MVP and Best Bowler honors for the tournament. The former national under 19, and member of the SER team for the last four years, continued his strong season run from league competition where he has racked up two consecutive undefeated centuries, complimented with two consecutive five wickets haul.

Japen was supported by a very young and talented squad consisting of few former SE national players such as Jibran Gul, Anand Tummala and Hammad Choudry. AGCC played some exciting cricket under the newly appointed captain Jibran Gul to take the title. Middle order batsman Anand Tummala scored three impressive half centuries to accumulate 199 runs.

AGCC completed the tournament with a 2-0-1 record – defeating South Florida (SFCA), then tying defending champions Central Florida in the tournament’s most exciting game, before crushing Florida Southeast (FSCL) by over 100 runs. Georgia Supreme (2-1) lost in their bid for a second hold on the title by falling to the defending champions CFCA, after defeating both FSCL and SFCA. Mid Atlantic did not field a team.

In its first match against SFCA led by Timmy Surajbali, AGCC won the toss and elected to bat first putting 208 on the board on a good batting surface yet with a very sluggish outfield. Japen Patel provided a stable start scoring 38 runs and Anand Tumala high scored with 81* to stabilize the innings. In reply, SFCA scored 159 all out in 34.3 overs with Steven Taylor scoring a hard earned 53. The pick of the bowlers was the smart and talented left arm spinner Nimir Desai getting 5 wickets for 34 runs in his allotted 10 overs and Japen Patel with 2 wickets.

For AGCC, its encounter with CFCA was a nail-biter. The CFCA captain Christopher Chung won the toss and chose to bat as his side finished with 253 all out. The top scorer was Bhim George with 95*, the recipient of the Best Batsman award for the tournament. Japen Patel bowled an excellent first spell and ended with 3 wickets while former SE National player Hammad Choudry took 3 in 7.1 over to wrap up the innings.

Pic (Right): AGCC captain Jibran Gul

AGCC started their chase with Japen Patel scoring 78 well supported by Anand Tumala 52, Jibran Gul 27 and Nimir Desai 30. The match had many twist and turns. In the end, AGCC needed 3 runs to win and ended up with a tie. It was an amazing game of cricket and both teams showed their sportsmanship.

AGCC's third match was against the strong FSCL side with former USA players such as Nasir Javed and Muazzam Imtiaz. On the South field on Sunday, AGGC won the toss and opted to bat. Keyur Patel (12) and Jibran Gul (4) were removed early, before Japen (68) and Tummala (66) shared an 81-run third wicket partnership to lay the foundation for a formidable score. Sunju Patel (39) and Suhail Sangoi, 33 not out added the finishing surge to propel the score to 239 for 5 off the allotted 50 overs.

With the ball, AGCC used a confident and aggressive strategy as Jibran Gul opened with a spinner who struck in the very first over and followed up with a second wicket soon after . The choke-hold tightened with every over owing to aggressive field placement and consistent bowling. The middle order provided some resistance with the help of Muazzam Imtiaz who seemed to have settled well and scoring at will until his crucial dismissal by in swinging delivery by the captain Jibran Gul.

From that point forward AGCC were in complete control and destroyed FSCL in 26.5 overs for a tournament-low score of 105 all out. The top bowler for AGCC was Japen Patel with figures of 7-0-29-3. He received ample support from Grover (2 for 11) and Jaideep Desai (2 for 39). The FSCL batsmen showed poor judgement of the moving ball as AGCC keeper Nitin Sanam had a dream day behind the stumps grabbing 7 catches, some through spectacular effort. Overall, it was just an unbelievable team performance on the field by AGCC.

Meanwhile, the center field was the venue of the highly anticipated match-up between the last two title holders, CFCA and GSCL. At stake was the tournament title, where a win for the GSCL would give them their second hold. Central Florida won the toss and took first strike. Even though the opening batsmen fell cheaply, and the score was soon 20 for 3 off just four overs, GSCL failed to make any further inroads as the number four batsman, Bhim George, the tournament’s Best Batsman, chalked up the only century (114) of the tournament. George, when on 53, snicked one into the keeper’s gloves but stood his ground while the close-in fieldsmen and bowler celebrated in the middle of the pitch. The umpire though was unmoved, and celebration quickly turned to dismay and a short lived disruption.

Ed Lewis (47) and Chris Chung (42) chipped in with significant scores to take the total to 260 off the allotted 50 overs. Pick of the GSCL bowlers were Jowayne Powell (4 for 50) and Evroy Dyer (3 for 54), as both finished in a three way tie for most wickets in the tournament. McFarlane failed to pick-up a wicket but had the mean figures of 10-3-23-0.

GSCL’s reply was stymied by some accurate bowling from the Central Florida’s pacemen, and the opening batsmen failed to negotiate the deliveries that pitched on off stump and moved away. Runs were nowhere to be had, and the first 10 overs yielded just twenty-five. After Powell drove one hard to mid-off, and Tulloch prodded inside the line of an off-break, the score reached a mediocre 63 for 4, and the required run rate had escalated to nearly seven per over.

But hope was restored by an exciting partnership between Parchment and McFarlane, and at the second break – 31 overs – 128 runs were required with still six wickets in hand. The inning had been revived, and with Lindo and Dyer still to come GSCL seemed set.

It turned out not to be. With the score at 153, McFarlane (56) was foolishly run out – taking off on a suicidal run to a ball collected by the wicketkeeper standing back - to end a 90 run partnership. Parchment (52) and Lindo were given out LBW, only to be followed by Dyer on another suicidal run, as GSCL batsmen lost their way, and hopes for a second title evaporated. The inning closed at 198 off 41 overs.

“Our goal was to come out here and play team cricket, no one player is too valuable to the team, it had to be a complete team effort if we were to succeed. I am happy that all the players responded well to my captainship and we really gelled together on and off the field. AGCC has finally made a mark in Cricket in USA and have proved they have taken plenty of strides towards the right direction," AGCC Captain Jibran Gul said, adding, "AGCC is a team to team to watch out for in the years to come.”

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PostScript: The South East region owes much to the untiring efforts of Barney Jones (CFCL's president) and his team who worked hard to repair the damage to the pitches as some individuals tried to sabotage the entire event by vandalizing the synthetic turf wickets.

USA Cricket: USACA cancels 2010 Junior Nationals; South East squad members injured in car wreck

openingbat — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:23:00 GMT

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USACA Media Release

New York - December 28, 2010: The National Under-19 tournament scheduled for Woodley Park in California this week was called off earlier today. Sheikh Manaf Mohamed, USACA's VP and Director of Cricket Operations said, "As a result of full teams from New York and the South East Region being unable to get flights out to California due to the snow storm that blanketed the northeastern United States, we have had to cancel the tournament."

The New York Region squad has been stranded in New York since yesterday, resulting in the team being unable to arrive in time for today’s start of the tournament. However of greater concern at this time is the condition of three of the South East Region’s players Ryan Ramnarine, Zachary Sattaur and Steven Taylor, along with Ryan’s sister Neisha and their father Wayne Ramnarine, who were all hurt when the vehicle in which they were traveling from Ft. Lauderdale’s airport, following their flight cancellation, ran off the I95 turning over several times in the process.

Recent reports from the region’s Secretary Ivor Henry confirmed that Wayne Ramnarine and USA national player Steven Taylor were released from Hollywood Memorial Hospital with minor scrapes and bruises. Remaining hospitalized were Zachary with a broken bone, which is causing pressure to his spine, Ryan with a deep gash on his hand, and the most seriously hurt the driver 20-year old Neisha Ramnarine who is in Intensive Care with multiple fractures. Ryan Ramnarine is expected to be released later today from the hospital.

Image: Five people, including three South East U-19 squad members, made it out this car alive after an accident in which the car flipping over multiple times. [Courtesy: Wayne Ramnarine]

Our collective thoughts and prayers are with the injured youths and their families. We hope everyone has a full and speedy recovery.

With almost one third of the South East Region’s squad involved in the accident and the New York Region’s team stranded in the Big Apple, USACA has called off the tournament. However, every opportunity is being made to engage those players in California along with the North West and South West Regional teams, in practice matches under the watchful eyes of the national selectors, Meanwhile in New York, Krish Prasad, USACA’s Cricketing Committee chairman said that a New York indoor camp is tentatively being organized for the weekend of January 8-9, 2011 for the New York, North East and Atlantic Region players. A select group of those players will then be short-listed to join a group from this week’s California scrubby matches in a national camp of 24 players, and including players scouted in the other regions. The camp will be held sometime in mid-January in Florida. The selectors will then pick the final squad to represent the USA at the ICC Americas Under-19 tournament scheduled for February 6-13, 2011 in Florida.

SFCA-2 wins Lawrence Rowe Classic

openingbat — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:55:00 GMT

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By Ricardo Inniss

The South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) staged their annual all star cricket match featuring SFCA-1 vs. SFCA-2 on September 26th in honor of Lawrence George Rowe, who on his debut for West Indies against New Zealand, back in 1972, at Sabina Park in his native Jamaica, elegantly stroked a double century and a century, to become the only test player to score hundreds in both innings of a test, on debut.

The match which SFCA-2 won, produced some exciting cricket, with Joey Pierre stealing the spotlight, and was watched by a fairly large crowd of SFCA cricket fans.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, SFCA-1 knocked up 197 all out off 32.5 of the arranged 40 overs. Leading the way, Rytan Brown counted 5 fours and 2 sixes in a quick-fire top score of 41, off only 24 balls. Getting into the action, Skipper Mark Johnson and Steven Taylor, featured in a sixth wicket partnership worth 40 runs, with Johnson smashing 3 sixes in a 39 ball 41, and Taylor 26 including 2 fours, off 28 balls.

SFCA -2 with Lawrence "Yagga" Rowe (sitting, third from right) [Courtesy - Trevor Harris]

Batting at number 8 Keyonie Gayle, hit an enterprising 37 off 41 balls that included 3 sixes and a four. The best bowlers for SFCA-2, were Timothy Surjubally who captured 2 for 26, Jameel Douglas 2 for 59, while Charves Bucknor, Glen Anglin , Andre Forbes and Nicholas Thomas, each picked up a wicket for 17, 18, 30 and 36 respectively.

In a positive and bold reply, SFCA-2 reached 199 for 5 to inflict a decisive 5 wicket victory after 38. 2 overs. The dynamic Joey Pierre, carried his bat for a superb 73, spiced with 6 fours and 2 sixes off 92 balls, ably supported by the buoyant Surjubally, who smacked 4 fours and 3 sixes in a 69 ball 53. The pair shared a 35 run second wicket partnership. Other useful contributions came from, Stephen Lewis and Clarence Salmon with 14 each, and Nigel Lue who remained unbeaten on 11. Lewis and Pierre featured in a third wicket stand worth 63 runs. Bowling for SFCA-1 Ryan Ramnarine, Earl Stephen, Brown, Gaston Walker and Gayle, each took a wicket for 9, 13,19, 27 and 28 respectively. Joey Pierre was named Man-of-the Match. Mark Johnson, Timothy

Surjubally and Ryan Ramnarine also received batting and bowling awards, while members of both teams took home medallions.

After the match, DreamCricket.com spoke with Rowe, familiarly known as “ Yagga” who was the essence of elegance during his career which was cut short by injuries.

“This match came off quite well, the turn-out was good, and the cricket was of a fairly high standard. But next year we will be looking to improve on things by having Central Florida down here to compete," Rowe said.

"Plus I’m hoping that come around this time next year, I will be inviting some of the older, as well as the up and coming players in West Indies cricket here in South Florida, to partake in the all star classic.”

USA Cricket: Junior & Senior Nationals set for November

openingbat — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:25:00 GMT

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By Peter Della Penna

A USACA press release has announced that this year’s Junior and Senior Nationals will take place on back to back weekends in Florida in November. The U-19 Tournament is scheduled for November 12-14 in Fort Lauderdale while the Men’s Tournament will happen from November 19-21 in Fort Lauderdale.

The U-19 Tournament will be contested by four teams. The North West and South West each qualified by finishing in first and second place at the U-19 Western Conference Tournament in Los Angeles last August. New York and South East finished first and second at the Eastern Conference in Connecticut over the same weekend to book their places in Florida.

The tournament will be used to help identify a 14-man squad to compete in the ICC Americas U-19 World Cup Qualifier. USA will take on Canada, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas and Argentina in the Americas Qualifier. The top two teams at this event will go on to play in the ICC U-19 World Cup Global Qualifier, with a date and location yet to be announced. USA finished second at the ICC Americas U-19 World Cup Qualifier last July behind Canada before finishing fifth at the Global Qualifier to clinch the country’s second ever berth at a World Cup event.

Six teams have already qualified for the ICC U-19 World Cup Global Qualifier for the 2012 ICC U-19 World Cup. They are Hong Kong and Afghanistan from Asia, Namibia and Kenya from Africa, and Scotland and Ireland from Europe. In addition to the two teams that will qualify out of the Americas, two more teams will qualify from the East Asia-Pacific Region to make up the 10 team field for the Global Qualifier. The dates and locations for the 2012 ICC U-19 World Cup as well as the Global Qualifier are yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, the four teams to compete in the Men’s Tournament will be New York and Atlantic, who advanced out of the Eastern Conference played in Atlanta, along with South West and North West, who qualified from the Western Conference that took place in Los Angeles. This tournament will be one more chance for many players to make an impression on selectors before a squad is selected to travel to Hong Kong for the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 due to take place from January 22-29, 2011.

USA will take on Denmark, Italy, Oman, Papua New Guinea as well as the hosts in an attempt to advance into WCL Division 2, which will be played in April in the UAE. Division 2 currently includes the UAE, Bermuda, Namibia and Uganda.

Sportsman dethrones International to take SFCA Premier League title

openingbat — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:28:00 GMT

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By Ricardo Inniss

Before a large crowd of South Florida cricket fans, Sportsman, after trying four times previously without success, prevailed in their fifth attempt, when they thoroughly outplayed reigning champions International, thus, dethroning them to take the South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) Premier League 45 overs title. All the action took place at the North Dade Elementary School, on Sunday September 19.

Standing L to R: Masood Mohamed, Ryan Ramna rine, Ayaz Mohamed, Vickramoutar, Basil Forbes. Seated L to R: Imran Sadick, Mustaq Mohamed, Riad Mohamed (Capt.), Moien Mohamed & Shameer Khan. Courtesy: Ivor Henry (Family Photoplus Inc)

Asked to occupy the crease first after losing the toss, Sportsman after a resolute opening stand of 70 between the left-handed Moien Mohamed and the twenty year-old elegant right-handed Ryan Ramnarine, reached a defendable total of 176 all out, off 41.1 overs of the allotted 45.

Moien in fine nick, smashed 4 fours and 2 sixes in a well measured topscore of 49. The young and talented Ramnarine, fashioned an attractive knock in which he banged 5 fours and a six in an enterprising 42. Helping to boost the total, Vickram Ramoutar hit 28 (1 four & 2 sixes), Mustaq Mohamed got 22 not out (1 six) and Shahan Razak 20 (2 fours).

Reeling at one stage on a 109 for 7, Sportsman fought back through a 9th wicket partnership worth 39 invaluable runs, shared by Mustaq and Razak. Bowling for International, medium-pacer Tazmool Hassain captured 4 for 45 from 9 overs, Skipper Baliram Nayaik took 2 for 8 in 2.1 and Zachary Sattuar, 2 for 26 in 9.

With two of their leading batsmen Timothy Surujbally and Steven Taylor away in Atlanta, representing the South East in the 2010 USA Cricket Eastern Conference, International in reply, was pinned down by some very steady and tight bowling from opening bowlers Faizal Sherif and Mustaq, conceding only 39 runs after 15 overs, as the scoreboard read 39 for 3. Soon after staggering on 44 for 4, the 2009 champions never recovered and were finally dismissed for 137 after 41 .5 overs, leaving Sportsman the victors by a decisive 39 runs.

Luke Quemina cracked 3 fours whilst scoring 24, Skipper Nayaik compiled 23, Gaston Walker was undefeated on 22 (1 four & a six), Doane Ranger got 16 (1 four & a six), while Azad Alrashid and Joey Pierre got 10 each. Bowling Sportsman to their first ever Premier League 45 overs triumph, Skipper and off-spinner Riad Mohamed, prised out 4 for 28 from 8 overs, the medium-pace of Mustaq ripped out 3 for 26 from 9, Vickram Ramoutar snared 2 for 21 in 6.5 and Sherif 1 for 21 in 9.

Soon after the match, Skipper Riad Mohamed speaking to DreamCricket.com had this to say, “(We were) pulled back from 109 for 7 by Mustaq and Razak, and then restrict(ed) them to 39 for 3 off 15 overs and just a little later 44 for 4, (that) put us in control and set up the 39 run victory. If they claim they were without two of their leading batsmen, last week with them in the team we bowled them out for 199.”

The following is what International’s skipper Baliram Nayaikk had to say after losing the final to Sportsman, “with my two leading batsmen away on duty in Atlanta, I was depending on players like Johnson, Pierre and Alrashid along with myself to carry the batting, but this did not happen as all of them failed and after a collision in the field, I was hurt but tried my best. At one stage we had them on the ropes, but let them off. Anyway, on the day, they played the better cricket, and deserved to win.”

The next SFCA Competition will be a Twenty 20, set to get underway on Sunday October 17.

Central Florida Cricket Association wins USA SER Championship

openingbat — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:41:00 GMT

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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.

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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]

South East sweeps matches against MCC

openingbat — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:50:00 GMT

By Peter Della Penna

A dogged defense of 91 in a Friday night Twenty20 encounter was backed up by a methodical chase of 198 on Saturday afternoon as the USACA South East Region squad made it two for two coming out on top of the touring Marylebone Cricket Club squad at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Fla.

Post Match Interview with MCC Captain Michael Foster from Peter Della Penna on Vimeo.

On Friday night, South East won the toss and batted first against the MCC squad. South East got off to a superb start as Timothy Surujbally charged full speed ahead for 27 runs opening the innings and combined with Saisitaram Ramesh to put on 46 runs for the second wicket. Ramesh was bowled by Ajaz Akhtar with the score on 52 in the 6th over and that sparked a dramatic collapse.

Surujbally was out to Tom Bartram in the next over, the first of Bartram’s five wickets as he then set about dismantling the middle order with steady medium pace bowling. Bartram was on a hat trick after taking the wickets of Steven Taylor and Robert Cresser with the score on 77 in the 9th over. South East’s last nine wickets fell for 39 runs as they were all out for 91 in 13.3 overs.

It looked like MCC would get there with plenty of overs to spare, but South East came out fired up and keen to defend their meager total. Ken Singh set the tone for South East, opening the bowling by completing two maidens in his four over spell. Anand Tummala also built pressure of his own with a maiden and two more overs for only six runs. After the halfway point in the innings, MCC was 24 for 5.

Captain Michael Foster came in at the fall of the fifth wicket and tried to galvanize his team, scoring 38 off 29 balls. With the score at 80 for 7 and 12 needed to win off the final over, MCC was boosted after a no ball was called on the second delivery to make it nine needed from five balls. Foster then scored a two and a single off the next two deliveries, but was stranded at the non-striker’s end with six needed to win in three balls. Robert Cresser bowled a dot ball, then bowled Ajaz Akhtar before Bartram hit a single off the last ball as South East managed to hold on for victory.

“I thought we had bowled and fielded really well and probably had a number that we could chase down,” said Foster after the loss on Friday night. “But as we’ve seen all around the country here, a lot of spirit in the field… and unfortunately we fell a couple short.”

In Saturday’s contest, MCC won the toss and batted first. Once again, their innings got off to a very slow start as Singh and Tummala didn’t offer anything loose. Shani Kamalia hit MCC’s first boundary with the last ball of the 12th over to make the score 42 for 0. Two balls later, Singh claimed the first wicket for South East as he bowled Simon Montgomery. In the next over, Jibran Gul replaced Tummala and Kamalia started to open up, hitting another boundary off the fourth ball, but got carried away and on his next delivery, tried to pull a short ball and mistimed it straight to Tummala at midwicket in the circle to make it 48 for 2.

After Singh’s spell was finished, Hussain Haider came on and continued to apply pressure with some crafty right arm spin bowling as he mixed in off spin with leg spin. He finished with 2 for 27, claiming the wickets of Paul Bryson and Karl Pearson.

When Pearson fell to make it 88 for 5 in the 26th over, Foster was joined by Paul Davidge at the wicket and the two grinded out 97 runs for the 6th wicket. Foster took on an aggressive role while Davidge blocked his way through the first half of his innings, making sure to stay at the wicket to keep the tail from being exposed. At one point, Davidge was on 10 off 47 balls. Foster, a former Sheffield Shield player for Victoria in Australia’s first class competition, played some classy strokes to keep the scoreboard moving and brought up his 50 with an elegant cover drive. He was finally caught in the 47th over on the boundary by Cresser off Surujbally’s off spin for 66 in 67 balls with eight fours in his knock. The only other boundaries in the innings were the two hit by Kamalia. MCC finished 198 for 8 in their 50 overs.

South East had a rocky start to their innings when both openers, Surujbally and Taylor, were dismissed cheaply to make the score 17 for 2. After seeing off the rest of Bartram’s opening spell, Sunju Patel and Japen Patel then constructed a solid 82-run partnership for the third wicket to get things back on track. Japen Patel was caught behind trying to defend a Pearson delivery to make it 99 for 3, but Sunju Patel moved along, playing mostly through the air as he reached 50 in 70 balls. However, he was dismissed LBW one ball later to Rupert Swetman’s medium pace to make the score 117 for 4 in the 29th over.

Tummala and Syed Hassan inched their way comfortably towards the target as South East looked set for an easy win, but when Bartram reentered late for a second spell, he nabbed both men, with a run out sandwiched between the dismissals, to swing things back MCC’s way making the score 174 for 7. Will Hodson got Cresser pinned on the crease to be given LBW for 3 making it 190 for 8 in the 44th over and it looked like MCC just might steal the match.

Anthony Sahadeo joined Moazzam Imtiaz at the wicket and the two calmly negotiated their way through the pressure of the situation to tick off the last nine runs, sealing the victory by two wickets.

Pic (Right): MCC player Paul Davidge (left, with sunglasses) observes FCA player Faraz Jaferi bowling his left arm spin in a clinic put on by the MCC touring squad on Friday afternoon. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna]

Over the entire tour by MCC, the US teams dominated most matches as the squad from London was caught off guard by the quality of players they were facing.

“We just sort of jumped off the plane in LA thinking this is gonna be a wonderful holiday and we’ll get challenged a few times playing cricket and maybe we’ll have the better of the games and how wrong we were,” said Foster. “What has just stunned me all the way around the country is just the spirit with which the game is played. I expected some talent because this is the US after all and the US is very good at getting their act together with skills but just the spirit for the game and the little things that the sides have been doing. They’ve been fielding really well and putting energy in the field and a lot of voice and managing to put pressure on us. We’re experienced cricketers and they managed to put pressure on us, which is what we should be doing to them.”

Prior to the first match on Friday, the MCC squad conducted a coaching session outside on the satellite fields at Central Broward Regional Park with some teenage players from the Florida Cricket Academy. The MCC squad also conducted clinics in California and all the MCC players were very impressed with the young talent. Foster believes there is definitely something to look forward to down the road for cricket in America.

“I think the talent is terrific,” said Foster. “I’ve been to a lot of developing countries, sort of the lower tier cricketing nations if you like and seen a lot of players going around. The talent here is second to none.”

MCC vs. South East Region T20 Scorecard
South East won by 4 runs
South East won the toss and batted

South East Batting	Balls	Runs	4s	6s	Dismissal
T Surujbally		27	21	3	0	ct Kamalia b Bartram
A Sahadeo		1	2	0	0	ct Pearson b Friedlander
S Ramesh		16	12	2	0	b Akhtar
A Tummala		3	6	0	0	b Bartram
S Taylor+		10	7	0	1	ct Friedlander b Bartram
R Nayar		        1	2	0	0	LBW Bartram
R Cresser		0	1	0	0	b Bartram
K Singh*		1	2	0	0	runout (Kamalia)
S Hassan		10	17	2	0	not out
M Imtiaz		1	5	0	0	ct & b Terry
J Patel			1	6	0	0	b Terry
Total Extras		20 (0 no balls, 5 byes, 1 leg bye, 14 wides)
Team Total 		91 all out in 13.3 overs

Fall of wicket: 6/1 (Sahadeo), 52/2 (Ramesh), 54/3 (Surujbally), 
56/4 (Tummala), 75/5 (Nayar), 77/6 (Taylor), 77/7 (Cresser), 
83/8 (Singh), 84/9 (Imtiaz), 91/10 (Patel). 

MCC Bowling		Overs-Maidens-Runs-Wickets
M Friedlander		2-0-18-1
W Hodson		3-0-18-0
T Bartram 		4-0-17-5
A Akhtar		2-0-24-1
P Terry		        2.3-1-8-2

MCC Batting 		Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Dismissal
S Montgomery	        5	5	1	0	ct Imtiaz b Cresser
M Friedlander		6	10	1	0	LBW Singh
K Pearson		21	43	1	0	ct Tummala b Cresser
P Davidge+		0	4	0	0	ct Imtiaz b Tummala
S Kamalia		2	11	0	0	LBW Tummala
R Swetman		2	11	0	0	runout (Ramesh/Taylor+)
M Foster*		38	29	4	0	not out
W Hodson		0	2	0	0	LBW Ramesh
A Akhtar		2	4	0	0	st Taylor+ b Cresser
T Bartram		1	1	0	0	not out
Total Extras		10 (1 no ball, 0 byes, 1 leg bye, 9 wides)
Team Total		87 for 8 in 20 overs

Did not bat: P Terry

Fall of wicket: 16/1 (Montgomery), 16/2 (Friedlander), 17/3 (Davidge), 
21/4 (Kamalia), 24/5 (Swetman), 68/6 (Pearson), 
72/7 (Hodson), 86/8 (Akhtar).

South East Bowling	Overs-Maidens-Runs-Wickets
K Singh		4-2-7-1
R Cresser		4-0-32-3
A Tummala		3-0-6-2
J Gul			4-1-0-16
T Surujbally		3-0-9-0
R Nayar		1-0-8-0
S Ramesh		1-0-8-1


MCC vs. South East Region 50 over match Scorecard
South East won by two wickets
MCC won the toss and batted

MCC Batting
Batsman		Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Dismissal
S Montgomery	9	32	0	0	b Singh
S Kamalia		28	47	2	0	ct Tummala b Gul
P Bryson		11	35	0	0	b Haider
R Swetman		4	21	0	0	b Cresser
K Pearson		7	12	0	0	b Haider
M Foster*		66	67	8	0	ct Cresser b Surujbally
P Davidge+		31	74	0	0	ct & b Surujbally
M Friedlander		2	5	0	0	st Sahadeo+ b Surujbally
P Terry		2	3	0	0	not out
W Hodson		5	6	0	0	not out
Total Extras		33 (2 no balls, 11 byes, 8 leg byes, 12 wides)
Team Total 		198 for 8 in 50 overs

Did not bat: T Bartram

Fall of wicket: 42/1 (Montgomery), 48/2 (Kamalia), 64/3 (Swetman), 
75/4 (Pearson), 88/5 (Bryson), 185/6 (Foster), 
189/7 (Davidge), 190/8 (Friedlander). 

South East Bowling	Overs-Maidens-Runs-Wickets
K Singh		       10-2-23-1
A Tummala		7-1-34-0
J Gul			6-2-19-1
H Haider		10-3-27-2
R Cresser		5-0-22-1
T Surujbally		7-0-32-3
M Imtiaz		3-0-14-0
S Hassan		2-0-8-0

South East Batting
Batsman		      Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Dismissal
T Surujbally		2	16	0	0	ct Kamalia b Bartram
S Taylor		11	20	2	0	LBW Hodson
S Patel			50	71	4	0	LBW Swetman
J Patel			30	57	2	0	ct Davidge+ b Pearson
S Hassan		32	47	2	0	b Bartram
A Tummala		14	20	0	0	ct Davidge+ b Bartram
J Gul			9	14	0	0	runout (Kamalia)
M Imtiaz		11	18	2	0	not out
R Cresser		3	7	0	0	LBW Hodson
A Sahadeo+		4	14	0	0	not out
Total Extras		35 (3 no balls, 0 byes, 6 leg byes, 26 wides)
Team Total		201 for 8 in 46.5 overs

Did not bat: K Singh*

Fall of wicket: 15/1 (Surujbally), 17/2 (Taylor), 99/3 (J Patel), 
117/4 (S Patel), 157/5 (Tummala), 174/6 (Gul), 
174/7 (Hassan), 190/8 (Cresser).

MCC Bowling		Overs-Maidens-Runs-Wickets
T Bartram		10-3-24-3
W Hodson		9-2-39-2
K Pearson		8.5-0-38-1
M Friedlander		7-0-33-0
P Terry		        4-0-24-0
R Swetman		5-0-21-1
S Montgomery	        3-0-16-0

Sai Sitaram Ramesh cracks 3rd big ton in 2010 SFCA Simms Cup.

openingbat — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:29:00 GMT

By Ricardo Inniss

Sai Sitaram Ramesh is used to getting massive scores. A former India U-19 player, he played TNCA Division 1 for Sanmar Chemplast and has also represented India Delhi at the U-16 level and was South Zone University Captain in India.

Pic (Right): Sai Sitaram Ramesh smashed a third ton of the season!

No surprises then that as the 2010 Annual South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) Simms Cup Classic Cricket Competition moved into the 7th round, Sai Sitaram Ramesh cracked his third big ton. But it was to no avail, as at the end his team, India, lost to Jamaica on Sunday March 13.

In other matches, Guyana defeated Team USA, Combined Islands trounced Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago (T & T) got a victory over Pakistan by default. The SFCA U-23 Team had a bye.

Jamaica vs. India at North Dade Middle School:

Asked to bat first after calling the wrong side of the coin, India led by a scintillating knock of 153 from the bat of Sai Sitaram Ramesh, reached 298 for 8 off the allotted 40 overs. The gifted 23 year- old Ramesh, with an array of delightful shots, on both sides of the wicket, elegantly stroked, 14 fours and 8 sixes, whilst scoring his third ton in the competition. Sandeep Desai who hit 30(2 fours & a six), Vamseedhar Kalam with a useful 24 (1 four & a six) and Sunil Nair 23 (3 fours), helped to boost the total.

Ramesh put on 89 with Nair for the second wicket, and 85 with Kalam for fourth wicket. Bowling for Jamaica, Neville Dawkins took 3 for 58 from 8 overs,Ricardo Wilson 1 for 34 from 5, Owen Roper 1 for 40 from 7 and Sunil Mittoo 1 for 46 from 3.

In search of 299 for victory, Jamaica in a bold reply, knocked up 300 for 7 to chalk up a very important 7 wicket victory. The in form and consistent Steven Taylor, led the victory hunt smashing 4 fours and 5 sixes in a sterling innings of 69, Fredrick Redwood banged 2 fours and 4 sixes in a well-played supporting knock of 6, Mark Johnson slashed 3 fours and a six in his 37 and Kenroy Wright 27(1 four & a six). Taylor and Johnson put 119 for the third wicket, and Redwood and Wright 75 for the fifth wicket. Bowling for India, Ramesh took 2 for 31 from 8 overs, Kalam 2 for 35 from 8 and Naliniknath Jammula 2 for 61 from 6.

Team USA vs. Guyana at Myrtle Grove Elementary School:

Taking to the crease first after winning the toss, Team USA was dismissed for 210 after 37 of the arranged 40 overs. Sheldon Irving slammed 7 fours and 4 sixes in a topscore of 70, Andrew Carey hit 33 including 2 fours and 2 sixes, Micton Wallace had 3 fours and a 5 in a plucky 29, Anil Bhawani chipped in with 24 (2 fours & a six) and Rhaines Boothe got 23 (3 fours). Bowling for Guyana, Imran Saddick bagged 3 for 29 from 8 overs, Masood Mohamed 3 for 39 from 5, and Riad Mohamed 2 for 2 from 1.

Looking for 211 for victory, Guyana rattled up 212 for 7 to secure a 3 wicket triumph. Leading the way, Nazim Ali in tip-top form, cracked 9 fours and 2 sixes in a match-winning innings of 86, Earl Stephens got 34 (4 fours & 1 six), Masood Mohamed 23 not out (3 fours & a six) and Vickram Kumar 18 (1 four & a six).

Bowling for Team USA, Cedrick Davis ripped 4 for 39 from 8 overs, Rhaines Boothe 1 for 30 and Oneil Walker 1 for 39.

Combined Islands vs. Barbados at Miramar Regional Park South:

Barbados won the toss and electing to bat first, posted 212 for 8 off a reduced 38 overs. The very consistent, husky 6’ 5” 20 year-old Justin Holder, fresh from a whirlwind ton last week, pummeled 4 fours and 5 massive sixes in a blazing 71, Kenny Smith hit 42 (6 fours & a six), while Jamiko Marshall got 40 (5 fours & a six). Bowling for Combined Islands, Antoine Charlery snared 4 for 27 from 7 overs, Jarvis Francis 2 for 45 from 8 and Rene Toussant 1 for 37 from 4.

Pic (Left): Justin Holder smashed a blazing 71!

In reply, Combined Islands hustled to 213 for 5 in 32 overs to inflict a decisive 5 wicket victory. The hard-hitting Ashton Dennis, slammed 5 fours and 2 sixes whilst compiling an undefeated 60, Bert Davis knocked up 47 (4 fours & 3 sixes) and Toussant got 33 (5 fours & a six). Bowling for Barbados, Dave Brathwaite captured 3 for 40 from 8 overs, Smith 1 for 42 from 6 and Holder 1 for 20 from 4.

Four South Florida teams locked at top of Simms Cup standings

openingbat — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:47:00 GMT

By Ricardo Inniss

What was formerly called the SFCA Keith Graham Memorial Classic, is now 2010 Annual South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) Simms Cup Cricket Classic Competition, or in its shortened form - the Simms Cup!

At the end of round six in the hunt for the Simms Cup, four teams are locked on 20 points each at the top of the standings. Each team has had a bye in 6 rounds of matches played.

The teams are: Reigning Champions Team USA, last year’s second place India, Jamaica and Guyana. Next is Trinidad & Tobago (T & T), with 10 points from their 5 matches played. And, all tied at the bottom with 5 points each from 6 matches are: Barbados, SFCA Under 23 Team and Combined Islands.

Meanwhile, so far 13 centuries have been recorded, and those hitting centuries so far are as follows: Sheldon Irving, Dave Wallace and Shawn Beckford of Team USA (3), Fredrick Redwood, Jermaine Thompson and Mark Johnson of Jamaica (3), Sai Ramesh (2) of India, Justin Holder and Raymond Denny of Barbados (2), Ashton Dennis of Combined Islands (1), Earl Stephens of Guyana (1) and Clarence Salmon of the Under 23 Team (1).

Last week’s sixth round action produced some exciting cricket, as Barbados’ Jason Holder and Raymond Denny banged tons, to steal the spotlight. The victors were Barbados, India, Trinidad & Tobago (T & T) and Jamaica, with victories over Pakistan, SFCA Under 23 Team, Team USA and Guyana respectively.

Barbados vs. Pakistan at Lauderhill Sports Park:

Batting first after winning the toss, Barbados rattled up an imposing 310 for 5 off the arranged 40 overs. Leading the way Justin Holder, Counted 6 fours and 13 massive sixes in an unbeaten scintillating 115, former USA wicket-keeper batsman Raymond Denny, also unbeaten, blasted 15 fours and 2 sixes in a stroke-filled 105 and Anton Alleyne chipped in with 19. Bowling for Pakistan, Adil Bhatti bagged 2 for 21, Salim Saddique 2 for 22 and Shawn Qureshi 1 for 17. In reply, Pakistan was dismissed for 186. Irfan Khan cracked 9 fours and 3 sixes in brisk 59, Rizwan Ahmed hit 48, Saddique got 31 and Azfal Qureshi 17. Bowling for Barbados, Michael Springer took 3 for 26, Tony Reid 2 for 25, Holder 2 for 73 and Robert Hinds 1 for 34.

India vs. SFCA Under 23 Team at BRCC/Delray Beach:

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, India reached 216 for 6 from the regulated 40 overs. Vaibhav Nayar, banged 3 fours in an enterprising topscore of 58, skipper Nalinikanth Jammula slammed 4 fours and a six in his 55, Sunil Nair got 25 (2 fours) and Prabhakar Dixit 22 (1 four). Bowling for the SFCA Under 23 Team, Joseph Smith was the best of the bowlers with 2 for 28 from 6 overs. In reply, the SFCA Under 23 Team, could only manage 154 all out after 33.2 overs.

The most resistance came from, Jamell Douglas who got 34 and Ensworth Wallace with 31. Bowling India to a convincing 62 run victory, medium pacer Jammula, returned with the ball, to top off a fine allround performance by ripping out 5 for 35 from 8 overs, ably assisted by Sai Sitaram Ramesh, who snared 3 for 26 also from 8.

Team USA vs. T & T at Myrtle Grove Elementary School

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, reigning Champions Team USA knocked up a fairly respectable 234 all out off 39 of the allotted 40 overs. The run-hungry Shawn Beckford, was in tip-top form smashing 6 fours and 7 sixes in a sparkling 82, Rhaines Boothe hit 46 spiced with 4 fours and 2 sixes, Mark Simpson hit 29 (4 fours) and Andre Forbes got 20 (1 four & a six).

Bowling for T & T, Ken Singh captured 3 for 18, Baliram Nayaik 3 for 20, Ravi Ramlal 1 for 31, Timothy Surujbally 1 for 45 and J. Lee 1 for 56. In reply, T & T cruising to an emphatic 5 wicket victory, was led by a sizzling 89 from Surujbally, who lashed 9 fours and 6 sixes, Singh in a fine allround performance hitting 3 fours and 4 sixes in an exact 50, Nayaik also in a good allround show, smacked 5 fours whilst carrying his bat for a well played 46 and Asad Alrashid got 22 (1 four). Bowling for Team USA, Simpson took 2 for 35, Boothe 1 for 29, “Romeo” Ahmed 1 for 42 and Dave Wallace 1 for 65.

Guyana vs. Jamaica at lake Stevens Middle School:

Asked to occupy the crease first after losing the toss, Guyana reached a not so competitive 177 all out after 33.2 of the allotted 40 overs. Nazim Ali stroked 8 fours and 2 sixes in a topscore of 71, Earl Stephen got 28 (3 fours & a six), Fazal Sheriff (1 four) and Kaiume Mohmed (2 fours) got 16 each. Bowling for Jamaica, Neville Dawkins and Fredrick Redwood captured 3 for 24 each and skipper Ricardo Wilson 3 for 35. In a bold and positive reply, Jamaica hustled to 181 for 2 to inflict a decisive 8 wicket victory.

Young Steven Taylor, the USA U-19 up and coming batsman, cracked 8 fours and 3 sixes in an superb undefeated 82, Sunil Mittoo had 7 sweetly timed fours in an exciting knock of 43 and Mark Johnson carried his bat for 23 (1 four & a six). Taylor and Johnson put on 94 runs in an unbroken third wicket partnership. Bowling for Guyana, Kaiune Mohamed took 1 for 23 and Vickram Ramoutar 1 for 31.

Leg-Spinner Main "Romeo" Ahmed Voted 2009 SFCA's Cricketer of the year

openingbat — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:54:00 GMT

By Ricardo Inniss

The highlight of the South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) Presentation of Awards
Dinner and Dance, held on Saturday evening December 05, was Lauderhill United’s ace Leg-Spinner Main U. “Romeo” Ahmed, voted as the 2009 Cricketer of the year. “ Romeo” who can produce a cleverly disguised googly at will, created history, by capturing 41 wickets during the 50 overs competition, the most ever by a bowler in the over 30 years-old SFCA.

Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh on December 30, 1986, “Romeo” as he is familiarly known by his peers, arrived in the United States of America in 2006, having only played tape-ball cricket in the land of his birth. In South Florida, he first played for Florida International, In the Florida Southeast Cricket League (FSCL). Soon after that, with prodigious turn, nippy bounce and deadly accuracy, the crafty leg-spinner was mesmerizing batsmen throughout the SFCA.

He first started to play in the SFCA in 2007, where he has turned out for Pakistan, taking 30 wickets in 2007 and repeated it in 2008, playing for the U S
Academy. “Romeo” represented the SFCA Youth Team in the 2008 Classic, in 2009 he turned out for current Classic champions Team USA, and bagged 23 wickets the most by any bowler in the competition. Playing for Lauderhill United in the recently completed 50 overs competition (Premier Zone), following is a look at how he took his record- breaking 41 wickets:

His best bowling performance was against Myrtle Grove, when he snared 7 for 30, from 5.4 overs. He had three 5 wicket hauls, 5 for 14 from 7.3 overs (including a hat-trick) against Sportsman, 5 for 18 off 5.4 against Osswald Park 1 and 5 for 27 from 8 against Parkway. One 4 wicket haul, 4 for 35 off 10 against International. There were four 3 wicket hauls, 3 for 5 from 4 overs against West Indies Alliance, 3 for 11 off 6 against Palm Beach, 3 for 22 from 9 against Parkway and 3 for 22 off 6 against Palm Beach. 2 for 52 from 9 overs against Myrtle Grove and 1 for 27 off 10 against Osswald Park 1, completes the 41 wickets haul at an average of 6.41, after bowling 80.83 overs, 8 maidens, for 263 runs.

Standing at 5’ 10” the slenderly built, cunning, and very determined leg-spinner, is aspiring to represent the USA, but says if a chance comes his way to play league cricket in England, he will grab it with both hands. After cricket, “Romeo” likes playing golf and watching movies.

During the SFCA Awards Presentation, Dinner and Dance, Long standing President Jeff Miller, announced his resignation (more to come on this later). Former Vice President Melton Taylor is now the President.