| PSAL Twenty/20 Tournament VAN BUREN AND NEWCOMERS IN A TIE VB won Bowlout by Sam Sooppersaud May, 2010 Move over IPL, PSAL Twenty/20 is on the block! Cricket fans who think that it is not worth the time and effort to go and watch a PSAL Twenty/20 game, should have been at Baisley Pond Park - The Cage - to witness an exciting game of cricket when two high schools clashed in in the PSAL 2010 tournament. It was Thursday, May 6th. The sun shone brightly. The temperature was in the lower 70's, a vast improvement from the cold and wintry weather we experienced just a few days ago. The pitch at The Cage was smoothe and appeared hard and compact. However, the outfield grass needed some manicuring. A small crowd was initially on hand to watch the game. By the time the game had ended, the crowd had grown to over 150 screaming fans lending their support to their favorite team. This was the second meeting between the two teams for this present season. In their first clash, Martin Van Buren totally anihilated The Newcomers Lions, who were completely outplayed. Newcomers were the PSAL champions for both, 2008 and 2009, the two years that this exciting program have been in place. Newcomers batted first and were skittled out for a paltry 75 runs. Van Buren knocked off the required runs in 10 overs while losing only 1 wicket in the space of 10 overs. The Newcomers guys came into the second meeting wanting to avenge their loss to VB, in their first match. But this was not to be. Both sides played very good cricket and ensured that it was worth the spectators' "time and effort:" to come out and watch a PSAL sponsored high school cricket game. However, a few suspected umpiring decisions put a bit of a damper on which was, otherwise, an exciting cricket match. Spectators vocife-rously expressed their dismay. (I will address the umpiring indiscretions in another article, soon to follow). Van Buren won the toss and predictably chose to take first knock. In the third over of the innings one of the opening batsmen was bowled moving out of his crease and attempting to pull a full toss to the on side. The ruling umpire thereby signalled and called a "no-ball. I was standing on the fence along with two spectators (one plays in the Eastern American League, the other in the Garden State League, NJ). Their immediate reaction was, " what, how can that be a no-ball, it hit the wicket. Dah was below the waiste" Moments later, the square leg umpire disallowed an appeal for a "run out", when it was vividly clear that the runner's bat was still in the air; nearly a foot away from the batting crease. The sparse crown was loud in their protest to the umpire. They accused the umpire of reprisal, getting even- with the Newcomers' coach who had questioned the no-ball decision. (Like I said above, I will address this in another article). To continue on a more positive note..... the first Van Buren wicket fell with the score on 29, that of USA Under-15 opening batsman, Amar Persaud. He made 15 runs. By the end of the 12th over Van Buren was 54 runs with 5 wickets down. At this stage it appears that Newcomers had the upperhand and they pressed on to tighten their stranglehold. But a sixth wicket partnership once gain put Van Buren in the driver's seat. They were helped by the Newcomers' fielders who put down a possible four catches. Dave Seegobin and Sanjay Singh saw the VB score to 98 runs before the partnership was broken. With 6 wickets down, 98 runs on the scoreboard, and 2 overs left, the game once again pendulumed in Newcomers' favor. Some lusty hitting by Sanjay added an invaluable 18 runs to the score. The innings ended at 116 run, and considering the heavy outfield, this gave the Van Buren's bowlers something that they could defend. Newcomers started their reply disastrously loosing a wicket in the fourth ball of the innings and with 2 runs on the books. Skipper Saiful Islam joined the other opener, Rayhan Ahmed, and together they resorted to damage control. With the score on 40 runs and 7 overs bowled, Saiful was adjudged LBW, having scored 28 runs. With 76 runs to get in 78 balls, in the context of Twenty/20 cricket, the game was tilted in Newcomers' favor. By the end of the 11th over the score was 57 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Van Buren had once again seized the initiative. It is now the the end of the 18th over, 103 runs on the board, 3 wickets in hand; 14 runs to win in 12 balls. Still a winning formula for any batting side in 20/20 cricket. The crescendo of noise from the crowd, which by this time had swelled to over 150 excited spectators, and the players themselves, had been raised a few decibles. How about 5 runs to win in 6 balls! The batting side, a virtual winner! Not os fast! Not a foregone conclusion! 2 dot balls. 5 runs needed in 4 balls. A single. 4 runs in 3 balls. A double and a batter run out attempting a third run. 2 runs needed, 2 balls to go. A dot ball. A single. 2 runs needed, last ball. The crowd shouting, " tie, tie, tie". Sure enough the score was tied as the batsmen were only able to get a single in the last ball. What excitement! In a Twenty/20 game of cricket where there is a tie, the two teams get in to a "bowl-out". In a bowl-out, each team nominates 5 bowlers. Each bowler bowls a delivery, alternating from one team to the next. The team with the most hits in the end gets the points for the game. At the end of the bowl-out, Van Buren had 2 hits , Newcomers 0. Pandemonium broke out from the players and supporters from Van Buren, in celebration. The Newcomers players and their supporters were dejected. But everyone agreed that it was an exciting finish. |
fielding comprising largely of Freshmen and Sophomores. They are at the rebuilding stage at this time. Other schools, I am sure, are also under- going these changes. We are witnessing some very excirting cricket so far this season. | | Season in Full Swing By Sam Sooppersaud May 6, 2010 The Psal 2010 cricket season is in full gear, but not without game results that gives further proof to the fact that " cricket is a game of great uncertainty" more so Twenty/20 format of the game. Yes cricket fans, a team may be a dominant victor on one day, the very next day, it suffers a humiliating defeat. This was the case with the PSAL 2008 and 2009 champions, the. Newcomers Lions during the past week. On Thursday, April 28, Newcomers met William Bryant in a regular scheduled game, at Baisely Park South, in Queens, New York. Newcomers racked up 159 runs for the loss of only 5 wickets in their 20 overs. Bryant was bowled out for 89 runs in 15 0vers. The next day, Friday, April 29, Newcomers met Van Buren at the same venue. It was as if Newcomers had a completely different batting side. They were akittled out for a paltry 75 runs 17 overs. Van Buren knocked off the required runs in 10 overs while loosing only 1 wicket. A convincing victory over the defending champ. Let's look for a moment and see how the two finalists for the 2009 season are fearing. Presently Newcomers are batting 500, having won 2 games while loosing 2 games. The other 2009 finalist, John Adams has a 2 wins and 4 loss record. Many are wondering why these two powerhouse teams are languishing. The answer we are getting is that both schools have lost a significant number players through graduation, and are fielding comprising largely of Freshmen and Sophomores. They are at the rebuilding stage at this time. Other schools, I am sure, are also under- going these changes. We are witnessing some very excirting cricket so far this season.
NYC Public School Cricket Program 2010
April 10, 2010 Report submitted by Paul DeSilva April 12, 2010 is opening day and boys and girls of New York City Public Schools will spring into action once again when the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) 2010 Cricket Season gets underway. Two time defending champions, Newcomers HS, coached by Sam Sooppersaud opens their season April 16, 2010 versus Martin van Buren HS @ Flushing Meadow Park. PSAL and USA Cricket Association (USACA) officials are excited about the program and its successes to date. They are onto something very special. The program has grown from 14 schools in 2008 (its inaugural season) to 28 schools in 2010. For the USACA to be successful at the international level in years to come this is where it has to begin -- highly structured cricket at the grassroots level. A better script could not have been written for cricket development in the United States of America. The organization and level of success of this cricket program has is second to none in the United States and it will soon become the envy of the cricket world. Here are a few good reasons why the PSAL Cricket Program is second to none. · The PSAL cricket program is for both boys and girls. · Games are of 20/20format and are played every day of the week, except Sundays. · Games are never rained-out. In the event of rain, games have to be rescheduled. · Each teacher-coach must hold current certifications in PSAL First Aid, CPR and AED. · All umpires and officials involved with and/or associated with the PSAL program are required to be vetted via finger printing and background checks etc. · All coaches in the program are teachers and/or officials of the NYC Board of Education system and were vetted prior to their employment. Student Scholastic Eligibility: (Rule #9)
9.1. The 4+1 Rule-A student must pass four credit bearing subjects (not four credits) and physical education, if taken, in the most recent final marking period (January or June).
9.4. At least two of the four subjects passed must be major subjects (English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Foreign Language or Science). · All coaches must electronically submit a Team Roster to www.psal.org prior to the first scheduled game of the season (league or non-league). No PSAL team is permitted to compete unless an approved team roster is posted on the web site. · Following each PSAL league game, coaches are required to complete and submit box scores within 24 hours to www.psal.org. The structure of the PSAL Cricket Program is expected to become the "de facto" standard for cricket development in the USA. The PSAL has the template for success. Over the years, many methods and programs have been tried with little or no success, however, the PSAL officials has got it right from the onset. PSAL officials are very good at what they do. They are experts in sports development and management. Adding cricket to their list of sports program is a dream come through for many students. It is predicted that the next generation of USA cricketers will be mostly born and bred Americans that comes through a structured school's system and the PSAL is already in the forefront. In a couple of years, the PSAL cricket program will expand to Junior and Middle schools and the USACA stands to benefit the most from this program. If you are in New York City, get a hold of the 2010 PSAL schedule and checkout a few games.
PSAL Schedule - April 12, 2010 Hillcrest High School vs. Franklin K. Lane Campus @ Baisley Cage - 4:00pm Herbert H. Lehman vs. Prospect Heights Campus @ Ferry Point Park - 4:00pm The entire 2010 PSAL Cricket schedule can be found @ www.psal.org | | 
Brooklyn reigns supreme Brooklyn won the Mayor's Cup and the PSAL's InterBoro Championship more
Bryant and Richmond Hill in finals >Twenty20 Playoffs- The heat's on NYC Public School Cricket 2010 Two-time defending champs, Newcomers, coached by Sam Sooppersaud opens on April 16 more Winning Coach Sooppersaud looks to 2010 season Coach of defending champs, Newcomers HS says: "We're starting to rebuild and have a ‘new’ team.” more | |