Rain ruins first set of games at USACA Nationals

Central East Region was the big winner after lightning and rain caused the first set of games at the USACA T20 National Championship to end with no result. Central East was sent in to bat by the South East in the first game played on the main stadium wicket. They were reduced to 40 for 7 at the 13 over mark when lightning interrupted play. Legspinner Camilus Alexander had figures of 3 for 10 in three overs to put his side on a sure path to victory before they were thwarted by the weather as the teams split points.

North East Region got off to an impressive start against pre-tournament favorites New York before their match was interrupted in the 12th over. Aditya Mishra and Akil Husbands put on a 79-run stand for the first wicket. Mishra came out on top of an intriguing battle with former West Indies paceman Adam Sanford, hooking him for six on one occasion. He finished with 35 off 19 before he was stumped overbalancing on a sweep attempt against the offspin of Karan Ganesh. Husbands finished with 54 off 29, including six sixes, before falling to Rashard Marshall shortly before play stopped.

Central West rocked South West early on behind early strikes from pace bowlers Usman Shuja and Jasdeep Singh to remove both openers without scoring. Ravi Timbawala and Nisarg Patel added 68 for the third wicket to steady the South West cause. Nisarg was unbeaten on 54 off 29 balls including six sixes when the players cleared off the field with one ball to go in the 10th over. The players waited patiently after leaving the field in dry conditions following a siren alert from the lightning alarm system installed at the Central Broward Regional Park, but after 90 minutes a torrential downpour commenced and play was eventually called off for the first round of matches.

Rain and lightning continued on and off into the evening, causing the second round of matches to be postponed. They will now be played beginning at 9:30 am on Friday, with the third round starting at 1:30 pm followed by an evening slate of matches.