The first Semi Finals of the American College Cricket Spring Break Championship was shown on TV Asia Saturday evening to rave reviews.
York University's Jaiveer Chauhan said, " I made all my friends watch it ! and made like 8 people order the channel as well,
it was top stuff ! This will really take the game to another level in our countries. And you and Saad make a top class commentary panel.
Watching the bowlers running up from the front was cool, instead of seeing the boring batsmen waiting for the ball."
American College Cricket President explained, "I've always thought the fast bowlers should be filmed running in, close up from the front, instead of running away from the cameras - this helps convey the excitement of the bowler charging in - then cutting to the batsman, thereby simulating the split second the batsman had to react to a fast bowler !
International cricket misses a tremendous opportunity to show one of the most thrilling sights in the game by not filming it this way."
The match itself pitted 2 of the strongest teams historically in American College Cricket against each other - York University were Champions in 2010, whilst University of South Florida made the Finals in 2009, Semis in 2010 and Quarters in 2011.
Both had excellent opening pairs, Khushroo Wadia & Jai Patel for York U, and Sai Ramesh and Ashgar Sheikh for USF Bulls - the game would likely hinge on the opening pair for both sides.
USF captain Nirav Shah won the toss and elected to bat despite the damp dewy conditions. With Sai Ramesh hitting the ball arrogantly and well, USF was scoring at nearly 10 runs an over before Sheikh was caught by wicketkeeper Tristan Ali for 22 (23 balls 3 fours) off Tehseen Shah ending the partnership of 58 in 6.1 overs.
Ramesh slowed down a bit before he too went caught behind by Ali for 42 off Shah for 42 (27 balls 5 fours,1 six). Ramesh had delighted with flicks off the legs and cuts.
Leg spinner Jaiveer C, and pacer Arsalan Qadir also bowled well and Shah,Jaiveer and Qadir each ended with 2 wickets.
Ashgar Sheikh then struck a major blow by swinging one in, and bowling Jai Patel in the first over.
Wadia straight drove, on drove, and cover drove to the boundary without a fielder moving, whilst York U was losing wickets at the other end.
With his seeming awkward action Nirav Shah was troubling the York batsmen and when he got Khushroo to cut at one outside the offstump in the air, Prashant Pal took the catch to make York U Lions 51 for off 6.4 overs.
When Canada Under 19 player Tristan Ali was out at 91 for 8 in 14.5 overs it seemed all over for the Lions but fast bowler Zubair Zia 32* (22 balls,1 four 1 six) and Tehseen Shah 15 had a rearguard action which brought York U close and 17 runs were needed off the last over !
Ultimately the University of South Florida Bulls got the win by 10 runs.
Cricket in America and Canada got a huge win, by the first class production put on by TV Asia and the large crew it brought in, including Riverview Studios, which had done the games in New York last October.
American College Cricket has brought cricket in the US into the 21st century.
SCORECARD by Satish Hanumanthu
