New York Reigns Supreme In The East

By Dyon Ravello
(Read and Leave Comments Below)
July 22nd, 2009
After an opening day defeat to South East, New York rebounded to win their final two games emphatically to take the East Conference title and advance to the Finals of the USACA regional championships to be held in Texas, a prelude to USA's journey to the UAE where they will battle for a chance to play at the 20/20 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean in 2010. 

The only centurions of the tournament were Glen Hall (top), of the New York Region and Azrudeen Mohamed (below) of the Director's XI.

Linden Fraser, coach of the triumphant Big Apple squad, outlined the team’s journey to the top, noting the New Yorkers left the Big Apple for Maryland at 6 am on Friday 17th July arriving  at 11:00 am, due to financial constraints within US cricket, overnight accommodation was not made available for Thursday evening. Fraser stated, "Our late arrival is not enough reason to blame our dismal performance against the Southerners, but it did indeed have an effect." After the 11 am arrival New York won the toss and batted first thirty minutes later. The decision to bat was taken considering the physical and mental state of the players who had just completed a five hour trek down the I-95, and who all thought it would be worse to field first. 

New York stumbled along to 119 all out after 31 overs, with US and New York Captain, Steve Massiah with the only significant contribution of 26 runs. US seamer Tim Allen did most of the damage for South East. "The shot selection was poor when we batted and questionable decisions by the umpire, complemented our tardiness," stated Fraser on New York's paltry total. Lennox Cush and Kevin Darlington were both given leg before with bat on ball and all-rounder Dennison Thomas was adjudged caught and bowled off a ball that the hit the carpet before reaching Allen’s grasping hands. 

In the field New York could not change their direction, even as Darlington ran through the South East top order, to leave the score at 33 for 5. Sloppy fielding and drop catches were no help to the already dire position in which New York found themselves. Former US youth player Andre Kirton effected a run out, with a direct hit leaving Tummala out of his crease. Fraser noted, "Kirton was excellent in the field he is one of the best all-rounders  in the New York region, he is a complete cricketer, a batsman who can bat in any situation, outstanding fieldsman, and a very deceptive left arm orthodox bowler." Nevertheless South East was able to rub the salt deep into the wounds as they took first day honors, defeating the perennial giants.

Day two rendered new hope for the defending champs as they met the youthful Director's XI. However it was not all smooth sailings as Azurudeen Mohammed lead his team scoring the first century of the tournament, a well-deserved 112, taking advantage of the very placid pitch. The Director's XI scored 242 all out with New York again very sloppy in the field with dropped catches. Barrington Bartley was superb with the ball picking up 2 for 23 off his 10 overs, Kevin Darlington was again in the hunt with three scalps, and Karan Ganesh snared two.

New York's strategy was to accomplish the win within 32 overs to boost their run rate in the quest for the pinnacle position on Sunday, but could only achieve victory after 40 overs. Hall led the way with an exquisitely constructed unbeaten ton, his knock of 123 was well supported by the captain Massiah 88, that saw New York winning comprehensively by 9 wickets. Linden Fraser made special mention about Keon Lake, whom he thought contributed to New York's delay in achieving its first victory of 2009, with an outstanding second spell to slow the run flow. "Lake is an outstanding fieldsman, and very knowledgeable bowler, as well as his knowledge of the game is commonly found in someone more senior. He however, has to maintain his focus by sticking to the basics and pushing for the next level," commended Fraser.

After restoring some normalcy, the New York players were given the Saturday evening off, by foregoing any team meetings. However both Manager Linden Dodson and Coach Fraser deliberated in calculating the run rate to estimate the margin need for victory against the undefeated Atlantic Region, in an effort to grasp the top spot. Atlantic region were set a target of 150 by the Big Apple strategists. On Sunday morning prior to the final showdown against their archrivals, Manager Dodson led the team with an inspiring speech, which include several motivational quotes. Understanding the task at hand, set by the management trio of Fraser, Linden Dodson and skipper Massiah, the New York squad was pumped to show why New York is the best cricket location in the East.

Atlantic won the toss and batted, only to have Darlington breathe fire, scalping three to tally 10 in the tournament. In the field Glen Hall and Barrington Bartley both effected run outs. As George Adams and Bartley had two wickets each, restricting the second day leaders to 88 all out, well within the range which was planned by the Big Apple strategists.
Glen Hall was again rearing to go with the bat as he took 13 of the first over of US seamer Irfan Awan. The umpires contributed to both events on the final day, with Hall playing on off a chest high full toss from club mate Adrian Gordon. The square leg umpire signaled no-ball, but was overturned by the presiding umpire.

Massiah rounded of the tournament as he started with an unbeaten 38, supported by Dennis Evans 22, as New York again won with 9 wickets in hand in 9.3 overs.
 
Fraser gave praise to "Bedessee Sporting Goods for sponsoring the team’s uniforms, Jeffery Morrishaw, the New York Cricket Region’s Director and the New York league presidents for the financial support for the team’s travel and boarding.” He also had kudos for Manager Linden Dodson, for his valuable articulation to the team. Fraser identified Massiah, the national captain, Hall, Darlington, Bartley, Akeem Dodson, who can contribute as a wicketkeeper batsman or even just with the bat only, and Rashard Marshall, as players whom he thought can contribute to the USA's fortunes in the UAE in the Fall,. He also mentioned Carl Wright, providing the latter appears in the Finals.

Under-19 stalwarts Gregory Sewdial and Azurudeen Mohammed were also high on his list of possible selections, as they are both currently US youth players who have shown the tenacity to succeed at the next level. Fraser cited, "Sewdial should reassess his game and should push for ton at high profile tournaments such as the ICC-Americas Under-19 qualifiers and the regional conferences."

Congratulations to the triumphant New York senior team. All New York cricket enthusiasts, officials, players and fans wish you the best of luck in Texas later this year. However, from a development perspective, a program can be implemented for this group to grow, by playing with each other on a regular basis. Probably once every two weeks and twice a week for the two weeks preceding the Finals. We can utilize the indoor net facilities, as well as the outdoor facilities available, to accommodate the working team members. This group should include the current selectees of Steve Massiah, Dennis Evans, Glen Hall, Lennox Cush, Rashard Marshal, Akeem Dodson, Dennison Thomas, Karan Ganesh, Barrington Bartley, George Adams, Kevin Darlington, Andre Kirton, and Carl Wright. Another 6-8 players can contribute to maintaining a high level of competitiveness in the team, such as Azurudeen Mohammed, Gregory Sewdial, Dominic Audain, Adrian Gordon, Kumar Nandalall, Damien Lewis, Keon Lake, and Fahad Mughal.

In a bizarre twist of events on the final day of the tournament, the Director's XI was penalized for the use of profanity on the field of play by their wicketkeeper, costing them five penalty runs in a keenly contested match against the South East, who would eventually win the match by two wickets and finish ahead of the tournament’s front-runner Atlantic Region.
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Comments
coach fraiser is one of the best coach right now...good works for the young youths asurdeen muhammed
By Fahad, July 24th, 2009

Come on guys. There is no need to express negativity about Linden Frazer. He has pushed out for the best talent in new york. There is no question that Domanic is one of the best bowlers in new york. He is not the only one in the new york that didn't represent new york, there are other batsman and bowlers in the league. Coach know all players very well and sometime he himself have pressure on him to decided the final 14. So give him a break...Look at the bright side, new york brought the title home...Keep up the good work coach...
By Fahad, July 24th, 2009

On the issue with regards to NY coach Linden Fraser, this is the guy who tried to get A. Mohamed out of the NY Youth team. 'Andy' fortunately made the N. East region side then on to the US Natonal team - then onto the seniors where he scored the first century of the competition. Not forgeting performing very well in Canada. Good coaches are able to spot talent quickly, but Fraser it seems is blinded by many things, perhaps the ethnicity of one's background. In otherwords if Fraser had his way, Andy Mohamed would have never been on his way as a career young player for US cricket. Our cricket continues to be worst than 'bush' cricket with a director that has done absolutely nothing for NY cricket, and who is Linden Dodson. God save US cricket!

What are you people talking about Dominic Audain, we are not only looking for young cricketers we are looking for disciplined players no one is bigger than the game, currently in cricket in the New York Region, there are more Chiefs than Indians that is why things are the way they are. It is all about cliques.
By Brigette Brown, July 23rd, 2009

I agree with the previous comment about Linden Fraser, he is a terrible coach. For someone who has been around cricket I would like to see young players included in the USA Senior Team. There are young players in CA & NY who performed exceedingly well that should be given a chance. We are under the impression the selectors pick a team based on performance and not favoritism.
By Cricket Supporter, July 23rd, 2009

Yeah Linden Fraser is only concern about all the young Guyana players, Keon Lake and Andre Kirten. What about Dominic Audain who player Under 19 World Cup and was the best USA player, currently has 30 Wickets in BCL this season, the fastest bowler around and has been allways overlooked. That's why cricket will never reach anywhere in the USA. They bring the same attitude from the West Indies here. They allways looking out for the players from their island. This is sad, Dennison Thomas at 42 years old, where is he going, and I can name alot more. RIP to USA cricket.
By Bernard Providence, July 22, 2009

NY coach is the worst coach u ever seen where ever hes going to be there nobody could play good cricket we dont need coachs like him thanks ...
By Jhon, July 22, 2009