TT spinners, Gayle lead Atlanta to US T20 win

TT spinners Akeal Hosein and Khary Pierre, along with a patient innings from Chris Gayle, led Atlanta Param Veers to a six-wicket victory on the opening day of the 12th edition of the US Open Cricket T20 tournament at Central Broward Regional Park in Florida, USA, on Tuesday.

Batting first, 22 Yards Sultan scored 111 in 18.5 overs with Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford scoring 33 in 44 deliveries with three fours. Ahad Malek pitched in with 21 to help boost the team’s total.

Bowling for Param Veers, South African pacer Wayne Parnell took 3/29 and the pair of Hosein and Pierre ended with identical figures of 2/19 in four overs.

In response, Param Veers scored 114/4 in 19.4 overs to wrap up the victory. Steven Taylor cracked 46 not out off 47deliveries with three fours and two sixes.

Gayle did not play in his usual attacking style as he struck 39 off 41 balls.

Dane Piedt picked up 2/17 in four overs.

The TT pair of Mark Deyal and Leonardo Julien lined up for Brampton Pacers in the opening match of the tournament.

Deyal had a decent all round match grabbing 2/16 in four overs and scoring 15 to help Pacers to a four-wicket win over Afghan Zwanan. Julien contributed 14.

Zwanan posted 133/9 in 20 overs batting first with Zia Shahzad scoring 39 and Syed Abdullah hitting 23.

Salman Nazar was the best bowler for Pacers with 3/26 and Junaid Siddiqui took 2/25.

In reply, Pacers got to 135/6 in 18.5 overs with Ranveer Singh cracking 31 and Asad Zaidi belting 27 not out.

Guyanese fast bowler Ronsford Beaton was the chief destroyer for Zwanan taking 2/27 in 3.5 overs.

After press time last night Group A began with a match between Somerset Cavaliers and SAMP Army.

The teams have been split into two groups of four with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semifinals.

The preliminary phase ends on Friday, the semifinals will be played on Saturday and final bowls off on Sunday.

Group A will feature Somerset Cavaliers, SAMP Army, US All Stars and Punjab Blues. In Group B the teams battling for a place in the semifinals are Brampton Pacers, Afghan Zwanan, Atlanta Param Veers and 22 Yards Sultan.

SUMMARISED SCORES

22 YARDS 111 (18.5 overs) (Sherfane Rutherford 33, Ahad Malek 21; Wayne Parnell 3/29, Akeal Hosein 2/19, Khary Pierre 2/19) vs ATLANTA PARAM VEERS 114/4 (19.4 overs) (Steven Taylor 46 not out, Chris Gayle 39; Dane Piedt 2/17) Param Veers won by six wickets

AFGHAN ZWANAN 133/9 (Zia Shahzad 39, Syed Abdullah 23; Salman Nazar 3/26, Mark Deyal 2/16, Junaid Siddiqui 2/25) vs BRAMPTON PACERS 135/6 (18.5 overs) (Ranveer Singh 31, Asad Zaidi 27 not out; Ronsford Beaton 2/27) Pacers won by four wickets

WEDNESDAY FIXTURES

Atlanta Param Veers vs Brampton Pacers, 11 am

US All Stars vs Punjab Blues, 2.30 pm

22 Yards Sultan CC vs Afghan Zwanan CC, 6 pm