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By Ricardo Inniss

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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.