Community cricket series thrills yet again

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Sikh Youth Sports Club register early victories, by Sanjiv Dubey

A record 18 teams are participating in this year’s edition of community 20/20 cricket series which got underway recently.
The 2013 Cumberland Ford 20/20 Parramatta Cup cricket tournament, supported by Indian Link, Parramatta Park Trust and Bundu Khan, started with a note of unbelievable enthusiasm and zeal.
The series has in past years attracted cricket tragics from the subcontinent community as well as from the wider Australian community. Each winter they commit their Sundays to the tournament. Pass by the historic Parramatta Park and you will be amazed by their zeal and their energy, which is no less than that of players who represent their country. Indeed, representing their respective communities, they portray the same spirit as those that play for their country. Well known teams like Sydney Lankans and NSW Afghanistan Lions are once again part of this year’s competition.
The teams in Group A are: String Hoppers XI,  Black Warriors,  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Super XI Cheetahs, Super XI Leopards, Champions X1, Knights XI and Singhs XI.
The teams in Group B are: NSW Afghanistan Lions, Cheetahs, Knights X1, Hyderabad Titans, Singhs XI, Mount Druitt, Super X1 Jaguars and Kings XI.
The top four teams from each group play a knock-out against each other.
This year again, some players are already strutting their stuff in style. Harshal Shitoot, an ex-Ranji Trophy player representing a Blacktown side named Kings XI has already demonstrated his ability to win matches in Round 1 with an all-round performance, scoring 60 valuable runs and scalping 2 wickets for his team.
Teams of the week were Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sikh Youth Sports Club.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is named in honour of champion cricketer turned politician Imran Khan’s political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. PTI team have so far registered 2 wins out of 2 games. Azeem from PTI has shone brilliantly, scoring 117 of 50 balls including 14 sixes and 3 fours.
Sikh Youth Sports Club, last year’s winners, have also registered 2 wins out of 2 games. The team members come from all parts of India such as Punjab, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, playing regular cricket in the summer either in grade or shire cricket and have been doing well representing their nominated clubs.
Players of the week
Aziz Naibkhil from NSW Afghanistan scored the first century, followed by Taimoor Shah of Super XI Jaguars and Azeem from PTI.
We all understand that 20/20 is more of a batsman’s game but the game between Sikh Warriors and Sydney Lankans ended in a tie. Both teams had to bowl an over to get the eventful winner and Vineetha Rajakaruna from Sydney Lankan was able to hit the stump to win a jackpot-like victory for his team against Sikh Warriors who couldn’t hit the stump in the stipulated over bowled by their bowlers.
This year’s event is aptly being managed by Sports Foundation Australia who is a leader in providing coaching and sports consultancy programs for next gen sportsmen.