30/30 series set for great finale

SANJIV reports on the ongoing community cricket series

The players in the community cricket tournament GCA Macquarie Bicentennial Cup will get an opportunity to test their skills on a first class international cricket wicket when the two best teams in the tournament (Mantra Ryde Chandigarh and Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat) play the finals on the famous Old Kings Oval on 29 November.

It has been said that regardless of whether you play at the international, national, or just at the community level, the passion remains the same –this is certainly true in the current series too.

Three tournaments were designed by the New Australians’ Sport Association for players from the subcontinent community here. The first was an 8-a-side Indian Link Cup which was won by Nando’s Srilankan Lions; the second and currently ongoing contest is the 30/30 GCA Macquarie Bicentennial Cup; and the third, to commence on 29 Nov, is the 20/20 MIT Sydney Cup.

Most of the players are international students. The teams enjoy the backing of local businesses whose names they proudly bear, and the matches are played in the Parramatta region.

It is a well known fact that great players like Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, and Steve Waugh were all products of community-based cricket. The ongoing cricket series has already engaged and facilitated more than 400 players in its first year. Not only have they been given an opportunity to showcase their talent to cricket authorities, they have also helped promote multiculturalism in the wider community by raising awareness of cultural diversity and harmony through the medium of sports.

At the semi final stage of the 30/30 GCA Macquarie Bicentennial Cup, the two teams that have emerged victorious are Mantra Ryde Chandigarh and Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat. They played Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls and Group Colleges Australia respectively

Haryana Bulls not only won their must-win encounter against Hyderabad Travels in their last group match by 32 runs to advance to semifinal round, but also set a mouth watering clash with Chandigarh. Vinod Rehan’s (Ladi) 7/24 against Hyderabad Travels has been the best performance so far with the ball by any player in the tournament.

Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat convincingly won their last match against Chandigarh by 8 wickets to book their place in the semis. Chandigarh was unbeaten until their last round. Fritz of Gujarat scored a match winning 77 runs to steer his team to the knock out stage.

After failing to win the 8-a-side Indian Link Cup, both teams have set their sights on 30/30 GCA Macquarie Bicentennial Cup. The Manager of Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls Vipen told Indian Link, “Obviously, we were extremely disappointed after losing in the semi finals to GCA in the Indian Link Cup. But we have regrouped and have made it a priority to finish strongly in the 30/30 and 20/20 Tournaments.”

Suleman Syed of the Hyderabad Travels team (who has played for the Indian state of Hyderabad at the under-19 level), scored the first century in the ongoing cricket tournament. Meanwhile, Jay Poria who has played for NSW under-19 has yet to fire up for Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls.

In the new series to begin on 29 Nov, Mayank from MIT who has represented Baroda in the Ranji Trophy in India, must assist MIT team’s progress in the 20/20 MIT Cup.

Nepal’s Shashi Shrestha who played for Nepal under-19s in the World Cup will play a major role in the success of the Nepalese team in the 20/20 series – they couldn’t make the semis of 30/30.

30/30 GCA Macquarie

Bicentennial Cup

Semi Final Teams

Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls

Vinod Rehan, Jay Poria, Zeeshan Karim, Ritesh, Varun Khanna, Sukhjinder Dhaiya, Mohamad Ofee, Usman, Deepak Poria, Tarunjeet Singh, Yashpal, Tony Wilson.

Mantra Ryde Chandigarh

Rohit, Raman, Gagandeep, Gaurav, Ashmit, Pardeep, Navdeep, Sandeep, Dhaval, Sukhi, Ranjit, Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat

Samir, Fritz, Ubaid Khan, Dhruv, Sankalp, Jignesh, Arpan, Mahendra, Markand, Dwarkesh, Bhavin, Brad William.

Group College Australia

Shegoon, Binit, Hiren, Hardik, Harshit, Pranav, Hunain, Rakesh, Dev, Suhag, Husam

Round 4 Results

MIT Red (144 for 9) defeated Gujarat (143 all out)

Man of the Match: Perry (MIT Red)

Hyderabad (235 all out) defeated Nepal (156/6)

Man of the Match: Suleman Syed (Hyderabad) 103

Chandigarh (8 for 174) beat MIT Yellow (54 all out)

Man of the Match: Gagandeep (Chandigarh) 50

Round 5 Results

Ford Gujarat (171 for 2) defeated Chandigarh (6/170)

Man of the Match: Fritz (Gujarat) 77, 40, 3 for 24

Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls (154 all out) defeated Hyderabad Travels Sydney Deccan Chargers (122 all out)

Man of the Match: Vinod Rehan (Haryana) 7 for 24.

Limra (9 for 207) defeated MIT Red (9 for 205)

Man of the Match: Jahangir (Limra) 52

Semi Finals

Semi final 1

Mantra Ryde Chandigarh defeated Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls

Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls 133 all out (Ritesh 41, Zeeshan 36, Jay 19. Bowlers: Dhaval 4 wickets for 9 runs)

Mantra Ryde’s Chandigarh’s Innings Raman 22, Gagan 21, Dhaval 28

Man of the Match Dhaval

Semi final 2

Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat defeated Group College Australia

Vibrant Gujarat Shailendra 24 Ubaid Khan 63. Bowlers Dev 2/26, Rakesh 2/10

GCA Innings: Benith 20, Suhag 20 Bowlers

Sankalp 3/13 Arun 2/ 17

Man of the Match Ubaid Khan

Finals

Mantra Ryde Chandigarh Vs Ford Pro Vibrant

Gujarat

Venue: Old Kings Oval

Date 29/11/09

The 20/20 MIT Sydney Cup starts on 29th November where more than 16 teams are expected to play. For details ring Sanjiv Dubey on 0433 669 334.