Texas Cricket Academy took home a second National Youth Cricket League (NYCL) trophy for the year in Minneapolis, this time in the U16 category, following up on their U18 championship victory in Houston.  In the U12 category, DreamCricket Academy were the champions among the 10 teams in that age group.

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By Venu Palaparthi

Texas Cricket Academy took home a second National Youth Cricket League (NYCL) trophy for the year in Minneapolis, this time in the U16 category, following up on their U18 championship victory in Houston.  In the U12 category, DreamCricket Academy were the champions among the 10 teams in that age group.

TCA U16 convincingly defeated the two-time winners and defending champions, DreamCricket Academy Colts U16, in the very first game.  In what might have been the most significant game of the tournament, DreamCricket failed to attain escape velocity despite a steady launch provided by its top order batsmen - Raymond Ramrattan (33), Rohan Arvindh (17), and Nitish Mahesh (14).  

TCA bowlers bowled miserly spells with Karthik Lappathi (2 for 13 from 4 overs) leading the pack.  In the end, DreamCricket put up a sub-par 83.  Playing defense, DreamCricket's hopes were lifted just slightly when Aditya Billur took three wickets in one over, but the momentum was already with the Lone Star State as they cruised to victory. 

For TCA, Majjid Zubair was the highest scorer with 23, as he started the run-machine which only shifted to higher gears through the course of the tournament.  With one century and one half-century in four appearances, he was the tournament's highest scorer.  He was successful as a wicket-taker, an all-round enterprise that won him the tournament's MVP award.

In a replay of last year's final, DreamCricket defeated Triangle Cricket League in their second game and followed that up with an easy victory against Missouri Youth Cricket Association.   After finishing second in their group, DreamCricket ended up playing Bolingbrook Premier League for third spot in what turned out to be a nerve-racking edge-of-the-seat win (video below).  

Having eliminating DreamCricket Colts from the race, TCA sailed past MYCA and TCL to set up a championship match against CricMax.  In its preliminary games, CricMax scored an easy win over Minnesota, then defeated DYCL and lost a nail-biter to Bolingbrook but still earned a spot in the final after edging out Bolingbrook in the NRR column.  

Batting first in the final, TCA's Majjid, now at his peak form, scored a masterly 119 not out.  He was supported ably by Jan Schuler (41) and nine CricMax bowlers were taken to the cleaners as TCA finished 202 for 2.  Batting for CricMax, only Rohan Shirupalli (19) reached double digits in the chase as CricMax collapsed in a heap inside of 15 overs, helping TCA take the trophy. 

In the U12 category, four teams - DreamCricket Academy's U13 Warriors, CAUSA, East Bay Youth Cricket Association and Triangle Cricket League - finished undefeated in the preliminary rounds.  Of these, DreamCricket Warriors had victories with the greatest margins giving them the NRR lead.  EYCA edged up to second spot with CAUSA slipped to third following a judicial committee ruling involving the age cut-off rule.  

In the run up to the final, DreamCricket Warriors defeated Missouri by eight wickets in the first game.  DreamCricket bowlers bowled a tight line.  Captain Arjun Vajjalla (3 wickets for 7 runs from his 4 overs) and Rohan Avula (3 wickets for 13 runs) led the way as Missouri were all out for 66 at the start of the 19th over.  In the chase, Arjun (19 not out) an Omkar Zope (11) put DreamCricket on the winning path as the side reached their target in the 11th over.

Playing against TCCL of Houston in their second game, DreamCricket's recent loss against the same team in the U14 category weighed on the young players' minds.  But DreamCricket Warriors looked forward to the challenge and, batting first, Arjun Vajjalla (45 not out) and Omkar Zope (11) put DreamCricket on a steady footing.  The team eventually reached 107 for 3, a competent score on an outfield that had some rough spots.  In the chase, TCCL struggled at the top.  Even though Rishab Patil (18 with four boundaries) and Arir Ali (11) were promising, their departures left DreamCricket in the winning seat.  Bowling for DreamCricket, Arjun Vajjalla and Anirudh Immanuel took two wickets apiece and no bowler finished wicketless.  

DreamCricket Warriors carried their form into the match against Minnesota.  Batting first, Arjun Vajjalla (40) and Rohan Avula (19) helped take their team to an above-par score of 115.  In the chase, Minnesota struggled from the start.  Only Abid Nazari (30) showed intent as the remaining batsmen struggled against the varied attack.  Bowling for DreamCricket, Omkar Zope and Anirudh Immanuel took 3 wickets each.  Arjun Vajjalla and Rohan Avula followed up on their earlier batting performances with bowling essays that produced 2 wickets each.  

The other finalist, EYCA, scored a strong win against Future Stars in their first match.  Bowling first, Devansh Trivedi and Shriyan Gote took three wickets each to bring Future Stars down in the 19th over for 86 runs.  In the chase, Darsh Trevedi (24 not out), Rishi Rames (17) and Sahil Garg (21) helped reach their target of 87 in the 17th over.  EYCA (112 for 8) scored a one-sided win against Minnesota (66 all out) in the second game and a strong batting performance by Darsh Trevedi (45 not out) and Rishi Rames (24) helped them defeat TCCL in their third game in the preliminary rounds.

In the final, DreamCricket Warriors batted first.  DreamCricket captain and tournament MVP Arjun Vajjalla (52 not out) and Rohan Avula (21) saw their side to 114, which was a par score given EYCA's batting abilities, especially the EYCA's successful top order.  In the chase, Darsh and Rishi fell early but Josh Saripella (22 not out) had other plans and provided some much needed stability along with Arjun Vaidya (16).  Wickets started to fall at one end, and the required run rate climbed up as the match began to slip away.  Much credit should go to some tight bowling by DreamCricket Warriors who mostly stuck to a plan and kept the economy below 4 runs an over.  

Devansh Trivedi (15) fought valiantly alongside Josh as EYCA sputtered to 92 after 20 overs as DreamCricket danced off to their dugout as the DJ blared the wildly popular Champions number.

In the prize ceremony that followed, trophies were presented to the first and second place teams.  MVP awards, sponsored by SG Cricket, Bedessee Sporting Goods and DreamCricket, were presented to Majjid Zubair (U16) and Arjun Vajjalla (U12).  Parth Patel of CricMax received the Best Bowler Award for U16 and, following some post-tournament statistical corrections, Aditya Billur of DreamCricket also shared the honors while Simeon Johannes was the Best Batsman in U16.  Abhiram Bolisetty (TCL) was the Best Batsman and Anirudh Immanuel (DreamCricket) took the Best Bowler awards in the U12 category.  All participants received participation awards and certificates sponsored by New Inning Foundation.