A GREAT SUCCESS! The Garden State Cricket Association became the 2011 New Jersey T20 Cricket Champions when they convincingly defeated the US Tigers by 9 wickets in the finals held today at Warinanco Park, Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The victorious Garden State Cricket Association team.
Each day hundreds of enthusiastic spectators were entertained to nail-biting matches played by some of the best cricketers in the Atlantic Region representing the following teams: Indoor Cricket USA, New Jersey Cricket Association, Millenuim Cricket League, Virginia Warriors, Newcastle Delaware, Warriors CC (Cricket League of New Jersey), Garden State Cricket League and US Tigers.
Just within miles of some of the flood areas left by Hurricane Irene, cricket fans throughout the Elizabeth/Roselle had the opportunity to enjoy an electrifying three days of exciting and entertaining cricket during the Second Annual New Jersey T20 Cricket Tournament, sponsored by Cricket Council USA (CCUSA), a sports and entertainment management company and Crickethappens. At the end of two grueling days of round robin matches highlighted with explosive offenses and stingy defenses, the Championship Match pitted the “hometown team”, Garden State Cricket Association, led by former Guyana and West Indies player Neil McGarrell against the US Tigers.
Winning the toss and deciding to field in front of screaming supporters, the Garden State Cricket Association restricted the US Tigers to 97-7 in the allotted 20 overs. Captain Sanju Patel was the leading batsman with 36 runs (4×4), while M. Desai and R. Rimbawala scored 16 and 14 respectively. Bowling for Garden State Cricket Association, S. Stanislaus grabbed (2 for 11). Other useful bowling performance came from K. Patel (1 for 14), B. Murphy (1 for 20), D. Morgan (1 for 22) and N. McGarrell (1 for 27).
In reply, Garden State Cricket Association, led by former Jamaica and USA National player Carl Wright, entertained the large and screening supporters with some delightful and powerful hitting around the Warinanco Park. Wright dominated the US Tiger’s bowling attack, stroking 59 not out with five fours and two sixes. Wright shared a second innings partner of 68 runs with D. Sangster, who scored 23 not out with five fours. Garden State Cricket Association ended on 101 for two in 13.2 overs to capture the Championship Trophy and an invitation to represent the Atlantic Region at the 2011 US Cricket Open.
Just like the “OPEN” format of major U.S. Golf and Tennis Opens, the U.S. Cricket Open will have thirty two teams converging in beautiful South Florida to leave their mark in American sports history. The players, coaches and managers will have their names indelibly etched into the record books for competing in the 3rd Edition – U.S. Cricket Open.
The tournament will be held on December 1 – 4, 2011 at the beautiful Central Broward Regional Park Cricket Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida and will be a fun-filled four day extravaganza that will be the richest and largest T20 cricket tournament to be played in North America.
Once again, Cricket was supreme in New Jersey this Labor Day Weekend. Just think, within an hour’s drive of baseball’s revered Yankee Stadium, hundreds of fans cheered their favorite players for three glorious days – celebrating the beautiful sport of cricket.
Vice-President of Operation of Cricket Council USA, Mr. Jeff Miller thank the Atlantic Cricket Region, sponsors, volunteers, spectators and the host for their support in making the New Jersey T20 Cricket Tournament a great success.
