The hard work put in by Pubudu Dassanayeke and USA players in the past couple of weeks paid rich dividends on 10th Feb 2018, as they registered their first win the Cricket West Indies Super50 regional tournament at Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua by defeating Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 59 runs.
USA openers Sunny Sohal (50 off 90) and Jaskaran Malhotra (38 off 73) provided the best possible start to USA, notching up their first 50-runs partnership in the tournament and took the score to 81 in the 24th over, when Jaskaran fell to Justin Athaneze. Sohal also departed after reaching his half-century as he got taken out by Akeal Hosein.
USA had a major batting collapse as they lost 3 more quick wickets to get stranded on 114/5 in the 36th over. Some late-order runs by Timil Patel (22 off 27), Elmore Hutchinson (16 off 19) and Adil Bhatti (14 n.o off 12), before they eventually got bowled out for 193 in 50 overs.
Terance Ward (3/34) & Akeal Hosein (2/20) were the pick of the bowlers while there were solitary wickets for Javon Searles, Justin Athaneze, Nino Henry & Sheno Berridge.
Hutchinson started USA response in a brilliant manner by picking up both Devon Thomas and Keacy Carty in the 3rd over. Roy Silva then made a important breakthrough when he got Montcin Hodge (22 off 61) and Saurabh Netravalkar got rid of Share Burton (15 off 40) & Akeal Hosein in the same over to reduce Leeward Islands to 41/5 in the 18th over.
This is where Nosthush Kenjige took over the proceedings wrecking up the middle and late-order batting order by sending four Leeward Islands batters back to the hut as they slid to 93/9 in the 33rd over.
Justin Athaneze (47 n.o off 51) took on the USA bowlers in an enterprising knock to wage a lone battle with wickets falling around him and eventually was left stranded as Timil Patel picked up the final Leeward Islands wicket to unleash a barrage of celebrations for the USA team, who have struggled so far with their batting in the competition, while their bowlers have produced good spells throughout the 1st round of group matches to give them chances, which were not taken by their batsmen.
Kenjige finished with 4/38 while Hutchinson (2/11) & Netravalkar (2/17) combined well with the new ball earlier in the Leeward Islands Hurricanes innings.
