‘MEN IN RED’ WIN CHICAGO CUP 2017

  • July 5, 2017

‘MEN IN RED’ WIN CHICAGO CUP 2017
By Aloysius Michael

Cricketers in Chicago wouldn’t ask for any better weather for the eight teams (seven drafted team and one non-drafted Chicago United) to compete for Chicago Cup at Washington Park, Chicago. One location, four cricket grounds packed with electrifying cricket. Several players gave their best performances against Chicago’s iconic Chicago United. This was the very purpose for Chicago United (CU) to compete in Chicago Cup to align with its vision of ‘better cricket – TOGETHER’. Chicago United players demonstrated discipline, fitness, dependency, strategy – execution and sportsmanship to cricketers in Chicagoarea at the Chicago Cup 2017. Several progressive and cricket minded personalities in Chicago’s cricket fraternity applauded CU’s contribution to the cricket community.
In an online poll, Chicago United (CU) was rated at the bottom of the 8 teams. However won the title undefeated! This included 3 round robin, semifinals and finals. Having won the first two matches against star studded X-Men and League of Shadows, CU relaxed it’s stances in their 3rd match against Guardians and risked it with a narrow win chasing 149 with four wickets in the 19.5th over These matches extracted the best from some opponent players – Hassan Khan, Shahmeer Khaliqdina and Shayan Ali. While other players experienced quality batting, bowling and fielding against CU.
CU’s true attack was commissioned in the SF against Justice League, #1 rated team in an online poll. CU chased a low score of 85 in the 13th over for a loss of two wickets. Meanwhile Chicago Cup’s favorites ‘League of Shadows’ had an exciting SF against Avengers. Hilal Khankashi’s willow work led ’League of the Shadows’ to a 3 balls and 4 wickets win.
In the finals against ‘League of shadows’, CU elected to field. Due to lighting conditions, the Championship match (Finals) was reduced to 15 overs a side. Going into bat, ‘League of Shadows’ batsmen put 72 runs on the board. They faced some intense bowling and fielding by CU players. Brilliant bowling and fielding strategically executed. Simply exemplary! CU’s openers Yaseen and Odain took charge right away until the talented Odain got runout . At this point the weather conditions changed. Strange tornado type winds blew across the wicket while Yaseen showered 41 runs in 20 balls (4×2 and 4×6) supported by Horrace Miller 20 runs in 15 balls got CU the Championship in the 6th over and 9 wickets victory!
The following CU players picked up awards:
Yaseen Bahamid – Man of the Match
Ahmed Askari – Man of the Match
Sami Khan – Man of the Match
Odain McCatty – SF, Man of the Match
Niraj Patel – Finals, Man of the Match
Horace Miller – Best Batsmen
Chicago United thanks all the members of the Midwest cricket fraternity and management for an exciting Chicago Cup 2017. Special thanks to all the Chicago Cup sponsors, notably Midwest Cricket Council and USA Cricket Council.
Lets play better cricket – TOGETHER!