Spirited Effort Highlight One-Day Series With CricMax Academy

by Dyon Ravello,

Following a spirited display at the NATA Under-13 Tournament over the Labor Day Weekend Cricket Let’s Play USA (CLPUSA) hosted CricMax Academy (NJ) in Queens, New York. In a match-up of America’s future! CricMax “broke first sweat” at Baisley Pond Park as they won the toss and took first strike.

CLPUSA began be constricting the run flow with new ball partners, M. Khan and R. Bhatia leading the charge with a mere eight (8) runs off the first four (4) overs. It was J. Hinds who broke the opening stand bowling C Parwal 47/1. Another partnership between S. Mukkamalla (28) and A Khangura yielded 29 runs before Mukkamalla was run out through a combination between A. Hakeem and wicketkeeper N. Kisto. J. Hinds had Gunatilaka bowled and caught 89/3.

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CricMax got past the hundred mark with Khangura carrying his team. F. Yasin and M. Khan combine to find M. Patade short of his crease 102/4. Khan dismissed Khangura (22) run out, completing a throw from S. Ramsaran. Khan was not done yet as he scalped N. Bachu with timber-music, 102/6. A. Sharma was run out by a Yasin/Bhatia combination 103/7 as the inning retarded rather then accelerated at the end. CricMax U-13 closed at 111/7 in 2o overs. Bowling for CLPUSA:- Khan 4-0-17-1, Bhatia 4-0-9-0, Yasin 4-0-22-0, and Hinds 3-0-22-2.

CLPUSA needing 112 at 5.60 runs per over off 20 overs got off to a slow start as K. Sahabir who had batted 10 overs on debut only lasted two deliveries bowled Khangura 0/1. Khangura seemed to be always in the game as he accounted for T. Persaud caught Bachu 2/2 in the third over. K. Edwin and Hinds conjured a promising partnership with the latter as the aggressor and the former as the anchor.

Edwin’s stay ended via the run out route with Khangura in the mix, with an accurate throw, completed by Gunatilaka to end the 26 run stand, 28/3. Hinds who belted the only sixes at the NATA U-13 tournament also hit the first boundary ending with four in total (4×4’s) . Hinds was eventual deceived by a flighted delivery from K. Elamurugan, bowled for 21, 35/4. J. Samuels showed his tenacity at the crease before he too was bowled S. Grover, 47/5.

Khan and Yasin in tandem, ensured there would be no further loss as they took the game to CricMax. Khan (14) and Yasin (9) remained unbeaten in a 25 run partnership as they were retired. With two overs left only academics mattered as the CLPUSA Coaching Staff took the opportunity to get a look and other talents. S. Hussain and R. Mangru paired for the final two overs, did not disappoint as they both remained unbeaten too. CLPUSA U-13 ended on 72/5, the least number of wickets lost in the first four matches played. A marked improvement from CricMax 163/4 versus CLPUSA 53 all out. Bowling for CricMax, Khangura 3-0-9-2, Bachu 3-1-2-0, N Elamurugan 3-1-6-0, and S. Grover 2-0-7-1.

A. Khangura (CricMax) and M. Khan (CLPUSA) were the respective MVP’s. CricMax copped the winners trophy sponsored by Millat Sports. This event was presented by the VelloCricket Journal, with contributions from CLPUSA Parents, Queens United C.C., Melbourne NY Alliance, Darbar’s Restaurant, Farrouq Trucking, Arizona Beverages, Crichq and Bedessee Sports.