At the conclusion of fast-paced T20 action across 5 days at Central Broward Regional Park stadium in Fort Lauderdale and other venues, California Bears franchise emerged victorious in the 2018 US Open T20 tournament, organised by Cricket Council USA (CCUSA).
In a tense thriller for the title match, California Bears edged past Somerset Cavaliers only by a thin margin of 2 runs. Somerset Cavaliers, having restricted California Bears for 145/9 in their 20 overs, were bowled out for 143 on the final delivery of the match.
Somerset Cavaliers defeat the other heavyweights, US All Stars, in an pulsating semis encounter which was highlighted by Andre Russell’s belligerent century, while California Bears had an much comfortable outing as they brushed past Atlanta Griffin without shedding much sweat.
The first three days of the competition saw 24 teams competing in 6 groups of 4 teams each in a round-robin format group stage. Following the end of the group stage, the Top 8 teams in terms of points and net run-rate advanced to the quarter-final stages of the event.
Brief Scores:
Final
California Bears 145/9 in 20 overs (Shazam Babwah 31, Javelle Glenn 19, Navin Stewart 15 n.o, Rusty Theron 2/26, Syed Najafshah 3/22, Muhammad Khalil 2/22, Andre Russell 1/19) beat Somerset Cavaliers 143 all out in 20 overs (Ashar Zaidi 37, Kennar Kewis 32, Gajanand Singh 23, Rusty Theron 17, Navin Stewart 5/15, Chris Wood 2/20, Sunil Narine 1/7) by 2 runs
Semi-Finals:
Somerset Cavaliers 181/6 in 15 overs (Andre Russell 108 n.o, Xavier Marshall 27, Samuel Badree 3/21) beat US All Stars 173/6 in 15 overs (Jaskaran Malhotra 97, Wayne Parnell 45, Ravinderpal Singh 18 n.o, Rusty Theron 3/15) by 8 runs
Atlanta Griffin 61 all out in 11.3 overs (Dean Morgan 26, Dasheel Owens 17, Shazam Babwah 3/15, Akeal Hosein 3/15, Navin Stewart 1/3) lost to California Bears 67/1 in 7.4 overs (Mark Deyal 28 n.o, Javelle Glenn 22 n.o, Andre Fletcher 11, Raymond Bynoe 1/17) by 9 overs
The 10th edition of the US Open T20, much like its predecessors, provided the semi-pro and amateur players playing their trade in domestic and local leagues in the United States to share the dressing rooms and play alongside some of the top International players from West Indies, South Africa, England, Scotland, Netherlands & Canada.
