Cavaliers 259 for 10 in 40 overs (Anup 97, Sunny 43, Dhananjay 41, Mahesh Nair 3-42) beat Kings 163 (Anand 46, Mitul 26, Sunny 2-21)

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After claiming the Divisional Trophy for a record 6^th time this season, Cavaliers the most consistent team of Arizona in the 2009 season, fittingly claimed the knockout playoffs too by beating Kings, the second most consistent team of the league, by a decisive margin of 96 runs. This was a record 7^th time; Cavaliers claimed the playoff title in the history of Arizona Cricket Association.

Cavaliers, a team sponsored by the Indian Restaurant Dhaba in Tempe, AZ, made to the finals by beating Kingfishers Veerans, Arizona Friends and Oceans blue respectively in the knockout rounds while Kings, a team sponsored by another Indian Restaurant, India Delight in Gilbert, AZ, reached finals after beating Cavaliers Blue, Metro Stars (Last year’s playoff Champs) and Taverners (Last year’s finalist). The decisive modes, in which Cavaliers and Kings had won the previous games, meant that an exciting final was on the cards.

Valley’s weather seemed to welcome and witness the playoff finals as mercury fell to a pleasant level when both teams excitingly took charge on Snedigar Sportsplex Cricket Ground on Saturday morning. Cavaliers won the toss and decided to bat first as the openers Dhananjay (41) and Mitesh (37) started cautiously setting up a solid platform for Cavaliers. Even though Cavaliers lost 4 wickets in quick succession in the middle overs and Kings seemed to make some in roads, a blistering and timely knock by Cavaliers captain Anupam Menghal (97 off 58 balls) well supported by Sunny Desai (43 off 22 balls) batted Kings almost out of the game as these batsmen added quick runs in no time. Cavaliers scored more than 90 runs in the last 10 overs and that proved to be decisive at the end. Mahesh Nair (3/42) and Chirag Vyas (2/44) were the best bowlers from Kings.

Chasing a huge target of 260 in 40 overs, Kings needed a flying start but the opening bowling pair of Sharat and Anil from Cavaliers bowled well to restrict Kings for 3/40 in 6 overs including the prized wicket of dangerous Gopi Boinepally. Kings Captain Anand (46) and the all rounder Mitul Patel (26) tried to resurrect the Kings inning, but once Rehan Kazmi bowled a beauty to remove Mitul Patel, the other gate was opened and with the captain departing soon there after, Kings soon collapsed for 163. The veteran Sharat Kanaka (2/34) and Sunny Desai (2/21) were best bowlers from Cavaliers.

This was an outstanding way to finish the cricketing season in Arizona as the two competitive and consistent teams made it to the finals of playoffs. The final was played with great sporting spirit from both sides and the umpire Sai Niranjan from Oceans did a great job on the field as an official. At the end of the match, both teams acknowledged each other for being the top 2 teams of Arizona this season as they now wait for Arizona Cricket Association’s Award ceremony to be organized next weekend in Phoenix.

All Star AZTwenty20:

The following day, an all star Twenty20 game was also organized by Arizona Cricket Association on the same Snedigar Ground. The all star AZ Red team captained by Yousuf Kamran Khamisani of Arizona Friends won against the all star AZ Blue team captained by Anup Menghal from Cavaliers by 35 runs. Winning the toss, AZ Red team batted first and raced to a murderous 89/0 inside the first 6 overs under the field restrictions. Red openers Md. Adnan from Arizona Friends (42) and Dhananjay Vidwans from Cavaliers (73) provided the 20-20 punch to take their super star team to a undefeatable 208/7 in 20 overs. Sai Niranjan of Oceans Blue claimed 4 wickets for the Blue team. Despite Ketan Panchal of Cavaliers (54) providing a good platform, the Blue team could only score 172/9 in 20 overs. Rehan Kazmi of Cavaliers and Ravi Jassal of Metro Stars claimed 2 wickets each for the Red team. This game was officiated by Anil Cheruvu from Arizona Cricket Club.