CONNECTICUT – Imagine a sunny and crisp Memorial Day afternoon with the mouth-watering barbeques, exhilarating rock and “island” music and the buzz of a huge cheering section.
Welcome, New England, to the fastest-growing sport in America! T20 CRICKET!
The 2009 New England T20 Cricket Tournament ushered in an historically new era of highly competitive cricket that will continue to be contested on a national level.
Cricket Council USA (CCUSA) and Bizder are sponsoring the regional matches across the United States. Next up on the schedule is the highly anticipated 2009 Philadelphia T20 over the July 4th weekend.
After two days of nail-biting matches among the teams representing the all-star leagues of Massachusetts, Southern Connecticut, Connecticut Cricket and sam’s Food Stores, the Championship Match of the New England T20 pitted the “hometown team”, Southern Connecticut Cricket Association, against the resourceful Massachusetts State Cricket League. Batting first in front of hundreds of screaming supporters, Southern Connecticut managed only 133 runs.
Mahmood Sial was their leading batsman with 38 runs, while Brian Murphy and P. Ramaswamy contributed 30 and 25, respectively.
Massachusetts State was fully confident that their powerful lineup could top Southern Connecticut’s 133 runs; however, they had never faced the formidable bowlers of Southern Connecticut.
Through the skills of power, speed and movement on the ball, Southern Connecticut’s bowlers sliced through the batting line-up of Massachusetts State one after another. Bowlers Mahmood Sial and P. Ramaswamy masterfully took 3 wickets each for 14 and 16 runs a piece. Krisha Vasist was also overwhelming by taking 2 wickets for 11 runs. Massachusetts State was held to only 72 runs in 18.2 overs!
The Championship Trophy and $5000 First Prize was awarded to the Southern Connecticut Cricket League.
By winning the 2009 New England T20 Cricket Tournament, co-sponsored by Sam Food Stores and hosted by Bridgeport Cricket Club, Southern Connecticut qualifies to represent the New England region in national cricket competition sponsored by Cricket Council USA later this year.
Massachusetts State Cricket League was congratulated with the second place trophy and a prize check for $2000.
Tournament MVP honors went to Everton Nelson from the Connecticut Cricket League, who accounted for both the most runs and wickets throughout the weekend. The MVP of the Championship Match was the dual-threat, Mahmood Sial, who excelled as batsman and bowler!
Cricket was King in Bridgeport, Connecticut, this Memorial Day Weekend. Just think, within an hour’s drive of baseball’s revered Yankee Stadium, thousands of fans cheered their favorite players for three glorious days – celebrating the beautiful sport of cricket.
