USA wins 4th Series vs Canada to even Rivalry for 1844 Jodah Trophy !

The American College Cricket USA Team Jan 2017, with Coach Amir Saddique & ACC Founder & President Lloyd Jodah

The 4th American College Cricket USA vs Canada Series took place in Houston Texas at Moosa Stadium Stadium on Jan 28 & 29. Players representing universities in Canada played vs players representing universities in America. Canada was leading the 2-1, having won at Home, and losing in California last year. USA needed to win this won to even the Rivalry.

GAME 1 :

USA Captain Saurabh Netravalkar Cornell & India Under 19 World Cup, chose to bat first on a chilly day but lost an early wicket of top batsman Vignesh, But USF’s Sai Ramesh smashed 70 in 34 balls with effortless shots in a 101 runs partnership with Naseer Khan USF, who went on to make 76 in 48 balls.
Hassan Khan bowling fast, took 3 wickets for 24 runs as USA piled up 210 runs.

Netravalkar took a wicket in the first over but former Canadian U 19 came in and started stroking the bat well. He benefited from some dropped chances but, under pressure made a magnificent century before being out at 18.5 overs. Canada needed 23 in 1 over but Netravalkar had saved the last over for himself and he sealed the win for USA with a wicket !

GAME 2 :

Again USA batted first and lost an early wicket but Nasser Khan (6 ), Sai Ramesh 29, Netravalkar 48 (6 fours 2 sixes) and Abd Sheik 38 ensured USA got to 195 for 6 !
Once again CCC Canada’s top batsman Hassan Mirza fell for 18 due to a magnificent juggling, one handed catch by Vikrant Tirumalachetty of U of Washington, first game centurion Yug Rao only made 7. However consistant scoring by Canada’s lower order led by Shivam Joshi, to them close and once again they needed 23 off the last over bowled by Netravalkar who sealed the win for USA,with just 8 runs coming off the over. American College Cricket USA won the 1844 Jodah Trophy t0 even the Rivalry, 2-2.

GAME 3:

For game 3 Canada won the toss and chose to bat, looking for a change of fortune. but Mirza went for 19 to Thushant Pillai (Syracuse) whilst Netravalkar quickly sent back Yug Rao & Canada U 19 Mriraj for 1 each. Waterloo’s Subrama nian, under pressure, made a fighting 49, aided by Hassan Khan before Tirumalachetty, in a gorgeous sequence of leg spin bowled him. Shivam Joshi was not out 26 as Canadian College Cricket fought to 140 for 6.

USA changed their batting order to give some other batsmen the opportunity to bat, and it and at 36 for 3 in 7.3 overs it began to look questionable. The ball kept low a few times, together with a swing across the line and there were 3 lbws . Canada turned the screws on, fighting for the victory until, with 4 runs needed in the last over, Naseer Khan flicked a 6 over square leg to give USA the Series 3-0 !

It was some amazing cricket in the 3 USA vs Canada matches, as well as the ACC South West All Stars vs USA match. The talent on display was exceptional, and impressed anyone who was there. Though USA won all 3 matches, you’ll probably never see a Series that was so close in each match !
The USA Team was coached with just the right touch by Amir Saddique, who demonstrated his grasp of cricket fundamentals and strategy as well as key fitness acumen.

The facilities provided by Sakhi Mohammad was First Class and great work was done by Curator Sam Plummer in getting the Stadium & Pitch ready once again for American College Cricket.The players were delighted to play at Moosa Stadium !