August 16,2009

Bollywood and American cricket came together Saturday August 15 when American College Cricket Champions Montgomery came in from Maryland for the 17th Annual Sundar Memorial Event. That night the Team were honored at the Bollywood Divas Nite Show featuring movie stars from India, Koena Mitra, Tanushree Dutta, Preeti Jhiangiani, Rakhi Sawant and Mahalakhsmi Iyer. This was the first time in American Cricket that cricket and Bollywood had come together.

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It was a beautiful day at Baisley Pond, a gorgeous field near a small lake. Bordered by busy streets on 2 sides, it also exposes the public to cricket. Lots of space and trees provided the roughly 400 strong crowd ample space for picnicing.Notable was the large percentage of young men and women in the crowd. USACA CEO Don Lockerbie had sent a greeting for the cricketers wishing everyone “Good luck, and best wishes”.

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The preliminary game was betweeen the NY Under 17 and the CT Youth Team, managed by Mahadeo Adjodi, a role model of an American cricket Dad, and captained by Nirav Patel.The NY Under 17 was managed by Joe Siewharack and captained by Thakoor Singh, who had also captained the Runnersup, John Adams High School in the NYC Public High Schools (PSAL) Cricket Finals. NY made 135 for 4 in 20 overs,Thakoor Singh 35*(3 fours), Baksh 30 (3 fours, ,Sahid 29 (2 fours, 1 six). In response CT got to 113 for 6, Nirav Patel topscoring with 36 (3 fours ).

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New Under 19 Star Kavishwar Bridgepaul (a High School Senior) and Shaan Mehta (GWU) opened the bowling for the Sundar Allstars and showed real pace.The Zaheer Abbas-like strokeplayer Danish Ashgar was given out to one that was nowhere near his bat. Though Montgomery lost 2 wickets they had 56 funs in 7 overs and seemed set to get 200 runs with Adil Bhatti looking good.

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A couple of delightful cuts, and a Bhatti straight drive for 4, then one out of the park for 6. Bhatti then featured in the first of the 3 fielding higfhlights he was to be involved with.A powerfull cover drive high in the air which Under 19 All American Star Henry Wardley (McGill) tried to catch and took it in his face. Wardley had to leave the field to ice the eye whch later swelled shut.The smiling young man was later presented with a Thigh Guard to protect his eye in the future. Henry and his mother, father and sister had come in from NJ for the game.

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Then Bhatti ondrove powerfully for what seemed like 4, Bridgepaul dove far to his right to snatch onehanded a magnificent catch inches from the ground to send the strokeplaying Montgomery Captain back to the pavillion for 26,( 23 fours and 1 six).

The stocky Nadeem who had been flailing unsuccessfully at the fast bowlers suddenly found his touch and drove through square cover for 4.A couple of powerfully hit sixes and a four followed before he went for 31. Amir Chaudhury made 17.

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After this Montgomery crumbled like they were eager to field.The Sundar Allstars bowlers Andy Mohammed (TCI ) took 3 for 19, Greg Sewdial (Hofstra) 2 for 8, Regis Burton (SUNY) 2 for 22 and 16 year old Andrew Adjodi took 2 for 16. Burton had flown in the day before from Antigua for the match.Captain Sewdial (Hofstra) made judicious bowling changes and field placement and the fielding was tight and professional.

Andy Mohammed aka Aza and Shakoor Rehiumullah (a High School Senior) opened.Rehimullah had acquired a reputation as one of the most electrifying batsmen in the NYPD League,edged for a 4 then blasted 2 more fours in his 12. Aza looked imperturbable whilst Adil Latiwala came on with an exciting runup and action, he generated speed which quickly sent Greg Sewdial and Chad Munroe (UConn) aka Chris Gayle back to the pavilion, On a hattrick Latiwala was denied narrowly.The Montgomery players felt Bridgepaul hit the ball, caught by the wicketkeeper Ashgar, the Umpire did not.Then Bhatti took a tremendous running onehanded catch on the cover boundary.to dismiss Aza when Aza 25 (2 fours) seemed set to take the bowling apart.

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Without neutral officials no sport is immune to hometown officiating calls but even the commentary team was surprised by some today..Bridgepaul 54* survived a number of close calls ,including an appeal for a catch when he was on a duck. He went on to show his bighitting prowess by lfting a 6 over midon,pulling through midwicket for 4 and a clossal coverdrive for 6. A  4 brought up his 50 and another gave the Sundar XI victory with Brian Ajodi holding up the other end on 9*.

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As usual the generous Ray Sundar gave out countless awards, Cash and Trophies for everyone including the Sundar Trophy for the Sundar XI ,Match MVP for Kaveshwar Bridgepaul. As Chad Munroe told him “That cover six ! When did you get so mad strong ?…you entertained the crowd!”

Best bowlers were Andy Mohammed and Adil Latiwala, Best Fielder Adil Bhatti. The Legends of Port Mourant Trophy went to the NY Under 17 Team.

USACA Secretary John Aaron in his closing remarks praised the Sundar Memorial Event and Ray’s longterm promotion of cricket and noted the huge contribution American College Cricket was making to the game in a very short time. USACA Director Krish Persaud and USA Selecter Sew Shivnarine were also present.

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Following the game the College Champions were VIP Guests at a Show featuring Bollywood Stars, Koena Mitra, Tanushree Dutta, Preeti Jhiangiani, Rakhi Sawant and Mahalakhsmi Iyer.One player, Amir Chaudhary was pulled onstage to dance !

It had been a short time from when they couldn’t even find places to play to now when they were meeting stars but the Montgomery Team are a determined breed of cricketers doing their part for American cricket, even if it means travelling hundreds of miles.