CCC Canada Wins 8th Series vs ACC USA in Toronto !
GAME 1 – a night game.
Sagar Patel NJIT, captaining USA won the toss and chose to bat on a Pitch that promised a smorgasbord of runs, verified by the scores from 2 years ago when the Series was last played at Go Green – 2 centuries then by USA and 2 scores of 99 by Canadian batsmen.
A 69 run partnership in just 6.4 overs by Siddarth 38, and Tej Patel who went on to score 75. Neel Patel NJIT in an incredible 18 balls smashed 62 with 8 sixes and 2 fours – the bowlers could do nothing to stop him until he was out.At one point his SR was 457. One of his sixes went over the school building, though Sagar later hit one further. Sagar also played 2 of the best cover drives off the backfoot you’ll ever see- shades of Rohan Kanhai. Kevin Shah NJIT made 28 and Sagar 20* and USA amassed 247 for 4 in 20 overs.
Canada’s response started off good runrate wise but they lost 3 wickets until Anees Ahmad (Ryerson) 65 and Jean Paul Rocke (Ryerson) 68 came together for a 106 run partnership. Rocke smashed 5 sixes, but that was not enough to get the mammoth USA total and Canada ended at 199 for 8. Sagar took 2 key wickets of Rohan Kundlass and Rocke, ending with 3 for 33. Kevin Shah took 2/33. USA won by 48 runs
GAME 2 –
After another good opening partnership, of 42, USA kept losing wickets steadily, if not quickly, and it kept their batsmen from firing like in the first game. Canada of course was even more focused on not letting another high score happen, that was until Neel Patel struck 7 sixes until he mishit and they got him caught for 53. Captain Sagar made 40 as USA was restricted to 164 for 6. Rocke had a great spell of 2 for 11, whilst Captain Hassan Khan got the 2 openers, 2 for 41.
This total was below par for the high scoring pitch and Canada seemed set for a victory, especially after Hassan 17 and Kundlass 88 got them off to a fast start but the USA bowling tightened up, especially Krinesh Patel (Virginia Tech) 1 for 11 off 3. Canada struggled to stay with the Required Scoring rate, and it came down to the last overe. A coupld of key dropped catches stopped USA from putting away the game, and Canada won with 1 ball to spare.
GAME 3
Canada won the toss for the 1st time, and not surprisingly chose to bat. An early wicket of Hassan was the only success the USA bowlers were to have as the next 5 Canadians scored well. Abhishek Aora smashed 8 sixes and 5 fours 84 in just 30 balls. JP Rocke made 62 with 6 sixes and 4 fours. Canada piled up 262/7 as the USA bowling weakness was revealed. Tej Patel took 2 for 40.
Amazingly Tej and Sid 31 rocketed to a 100 partnership in 7.4 before Tej was out for 51, 4 fours and 4 sixes. USA kept scoring fast and looked liek winning, Neel 28, Kevin 48 but when Shah fell at 202 for 5, the last of the batsmen, it turned Canada’s way and USA ended at 219 for 9 for Canada to win the deciding game, and the Series.
ALL the STATS and SCORECARDS can be seen here
https://cricclubs.com/CanadianCollegeCricket/listMatches.do?league=50&clubId=4118
Jean Paul Rocke (Ryerson) topped the Batting 151 runs, 2 NO , 2 50s and an aver of 88.5. JP took the most wickets.
Neel Patel NJIT also had 2 50s, scored 143 runs for an aver of 47.7. His SR was the highest, 255. Neel also had the most catches, 5.
