Newcomers High School Crowned Inaugural PSAL Cricket Champion

June 2, 2008
The Public School Athletic League (PSAL) of New York City concludes its Inaugural Cricket Program in grand style Sunday, June 1, 2008 with its championship match at the picturesque Gateway Park, Brooklyn, New York. (Photo Gallery)

The inaugural season concluded the way it had started with Newcomers High School victorious over John Adams High School. However, this time it was for the championship.

The PSAL Cricket Program, a dream that came true for many in this part of the world, could not have asked for a better inaugural championship match. The live ball-by-ball commentary throughout the match was simply awesome.

On a glorious day for cricket, John Adams High School won the toss and sent in Newcomers High School to bat first.
Newcomers HS was of to a flying start -- scoring more than 10 runs per over after the first seven overs of their inning.

Opening batsman Git Das, particularly, punished the John Adams HS opening bowlers with some attacking shots.
Captain Thakur Singh of John Adams HS introduced himself into the bowling attack and in his second over cleaned bowled Git Das for a well played 37 runs.

Some clever spin bowling by Captain Thakur Singh, Hugh Craig and Kamaljit Singh held the Newcomers HS batsmen in check in the middle overs.

Newcomers HS found runs hard to come by and lost wickets at a regular interval.
Azmain Hossain was brilliantly run out without scoring – from a direct hit to the stumps. Robin Das was trapped LBW by Kamaljit Singh for 1 run.

It would take some timely hitting by Newcomers HS Captain Dominic Gomes to restore normalcy to the Newcomers HS inning.

After being dropped twice early in his inning, Dominic went on to score a quick-fire 30.
The Newcomers HS inning came to a close at 149 for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
For Newcomers, Git Das topped scored with 37 runs, followed by Nurus Salam with 34 runs and Dominic Gomes with 30 runs not out.

John Adams HS facing a challenging total of 150 runs for victory knew it was going to be a difficult task.
Newcomers HS Captain, Dominic Gomes, introducing his spin bowlers early into the match paid dividends immediately.

John Adams HS lost some wickets quickly and was in deep trouble early in their inning.
Sensible batting by Thakur Singh (15) and Randy Nurse (15) restore some confidence into the John Adams HS inning and run chase.

However, John Adams would suffer yet another setback when they lost their Captain Thakur Singh for 15 runs.
At this point of the match it seems like Newcomers would win easily and John Adams will not make 100 runs.
However John Adams HS implemented a plan it had drawn up for the Newcomers HS bowling attack.

They intentionally dropped Kamaljit Singh down in the batting order so that he can go after the Newcomers HS quick bowlers – Saiful M Islam and Dominic Gomes.

And Kamaljit Singh did not disappoint. He entertained the crowd with some timely hitting.

He brought the crowd to its feet when hammered pace-man Saiful M Islam straight back over his head for a massive six out of the ground and then cuts him for four in consecutive deliveries.

Saiful was generating some lively pace and was actually running from the boundary when he was bowling.

Kamaljit Singh gave John Adams hope and saw his team get past a hundred runs.
However, with the score on 111 Kamaljit was out – run out for 30 runs.
John Adams HS was eventually all out for 124 runs with 1 over to spare.
Newcomers won the match by 25 runs and in doing so became the Inaugural PSAL Cricket Champions -2008.

At the conclusion of the match the Executive Director for PSAL, Mr. Donald Douglas, congratulated both finalists and warned that it will be more difficult to get to the final next year because more schools will be participating in the program. (Fourteen High Schools participated in the program in 2008)

During the award ceremony Mr. Donald Douglas thanked and praised Ms. Lorna Austin "the PSAL Cricket Coordinator and the driving force behind the cricket program” for making High School Cricket a reality in the New York City Public Schools and the United States of America.

He also had kind words for the Commissioner of Cricket (Mr. Basset Thompson) and the Assistant Commissioner (Mr. Ricky Kissoon) who cooperative effort has made the program a tremendous success.

USACA president, Mr. Gladstone Dainty, congratulated the PSAL administrators and participating schools for a job well done.

Following are the recipient of awards for the Inaugural Championship Match:
Awards:
Champion: Newcomers High School
Runner-up: John Adams High School
MVP: Git Das – Newcomers High School
Best Batsman: Kamaljit Singh – John Adams HS
Best Bowler: Hugh Craig – John Adams HS