Photo Gallery: New York Steelers vs MC Eagle
Lauderhill Stadium: The preliminary rounds of 2011 US Open Cricket got off to a flying start, with matches being played on 7 different ovals in the Lauderhill, Florida area yesterday. The 32 teams competing for the $50,000 first prize in this historic event are split into 8 groups of 4 teams. At the end of the first day’s group action, the pack leaders are beginning to emerge.
Rajesh Vayal during his knock of 48 against New York Steelers. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
Group 1 is being led by New York’s United Chargers, who sit on 7 points, scoring a 134 run win over the Blue Angels. Carl Wright of the Chargers was the standout, scoring 91. Second place in the group is held by the Boom Boom Giants, with six competition points coming from their 2 wicket win over the Midwest Bears. The games top score was a 79, stroked by Boom Boom Duane Nathaniel.
Group 2 is headed up by the NW Moose and the NY Destroyers, both sitting on 6 tournament points on wins against the Memphis Super Kings and the Virginia Warriors respectively .
Group 3 leaders Cool Tech are sitting on 7 points after besting Dulles CC by 7 wickets. Cool Tech’s Keith Hibbert led the scoring with a dominating 53. North Atlanta sit just one point behind on 6 after a 9 run win over the Orlando Thunder.
Group 4 sees Northern California’s Fooglies sitting neck and neck on 6 points with the MC Eagles. The Fooglies points were delivered by a 76 run belting of the US All Stars. Arjun Thygarajan’s 54 was the top score of the match. The MC Eagles posted a 32 run victory over the NY Steelers, with a 48 from Rajesh Vayal the standout.
Group 5 saw a bit of fireworks, with a 7 point haul for the San Francisco Blasters setting the tournament pace. The blasters notched up a 30 run win over the Metropolitan Giants, with a 70 from Prasad Krishna the top score. The Florida Destroyers are just one point behind on 7 after a convincing 134 run victory over the DC Knight Riders. Kenroy Wright belted a magnificent 105 to seal the victory.
Group 6 Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Legions are tied with touring professionals the US Tigers at 7 points each. T&T Legions secured their points with a 56 win over the Connecticut Huskies, while the Tigers mauled the Urbana Panthers by 8 wickets, the match batting standouts were Adrian Ali with a 51 and 28 from Tiger Ricky Singh.
Group 7 is led by jointly by the US Masters and the Washington Tigers, both on 5 points. The Masters scored a convincing 5 wicket victory over the UK’s Sixersports, while the Tigers notched up a 9 wicket victory over BPL. Top Scores were Ahmed Proverbs with a 44 and Akeem Dobson with 43 runs.
Group 8 Saw team MJ secure 5 points with a 40 run win over Camelot CC.
