Annual AZTwenty20 organized by Metro Stars Cricket Club, Arizona, was launched last weekend in Phoenix with as many as 16 teams (2 more than the previous edition) divided equally into 4 groups participating into it. After a break of almost a month and a half, the valley cricketers seemed to be hungry for cricket despite the mercury level touching the peak of madness. A team from the software solution provider, Cognizant, with the name CTS, another team called Arizona Warriors whose players are mostly of Bangladeshi origin have been new entrants to the tournament. While Oceans Blue thought to rest for this event, Taverners Cricket Club was back for the summer. The excitement and the results of the first weekend games are enough to prove that the valley cricketers have been touched by the new Phenomenon of Twenty20 in the world cricket.

I would bring the weekly update from this tournament until the champions are discovered who would claim the coveted AZTwenty20 Trophy. For the detailed schedule and Results of the games, please visit the official website of AZTwenty20.

Brief Scorecards from Week-1 Games: Please click on the links for detailed information.

Game of the WEEK:

Cavaliers Vs CTS @ Washington (E) has to be the best game of the first weekend as it not only turned out to be a very close game but also saw one over being hit for 32 runs. CTS won the toss and decided to field first. CAVs put a decent total of 160/6 in 20 overs thanks to valuable contributions from the opener Dhananjay (28), Ketan Panchal (37) and Amar Dhamdhere (38).

Chasing the target, CTS lost ways during the initial overs, but with the support of middle order batsmen, Sudhir (15), Pavan Igoor (16) and Ravikanth (17), a confident Swaroop Ramakrishna Pogalur took CTS almost to the winning stage as he blasted 42 runs in no times including 32 runs in one over of Mitesh patel. However once he was out, Cavaliers made a come back and won the game by 6 runs.

Batsman of the Week: Gopi Chand Boinepally from Intraedge Kings for his belligerent 73 off only 30 balls which included 5 fours and 7 sixes.

Bowler of the Week: Paul Ambruster from PCC cosmos for his 4/18 against ACC will share this honor with Sridhar Chandrashekhran from Kings for his 4/19 against the Metrochamps.

Trivia:

1. A total of 4 half centuries were scored in the first week.
2. A total of 2051 runs were scored with an average of 256 runs per game.
3. 3 Teams won the games chasing the target while 5 won batting first.

Please click here to see the points table and the positions of the teams in the respective group.