Wright-Less USA Trounce Mozambique

By Orin Davidson
May 23rd, 2008
Without key batsman, Carl Wright, the United States disposed of Mozambique by nine wickets in their opening match of the World Cricket League’s Division five series yesterday in Jersey island.

Carl Wright

Wright, the attacking opening batsman, did not make the trip to Europe on Wednesday, opting out at the last minute due to work commitments.

He was replaced by Rakesh “Juicy” Ramnarine of New Jersey, but the dashing Jamaican was not needed yesterday as the U.S. cruised to a nine wicket victory against one of the minnows in the 11- team series.

New vice captain Sushil Nadkarnie topscored made full use of the soft opposition, hitting an undefeated 70 and had good support from Orlando Baker who made 37 in the U.S’s 150 runs for one wicket score. They were replying to Mozambique’s 147-7 in their allotted 50 overs.
With the U.S. Will having to compete against the likes of others minnows including Afghanistan, Bahamas, Botswana, Germany, Japan, Jersey, Nepal, Norway, Singapore and Vanuatu, they should enjoy easy sailing for the remainder of the series from which the top two teams will advance to the Division Four playoffs.

From that stage the winners will move on to Group 3 from which the new winners will play to qualify for the 2011 World Cup to be staged in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Initial money issues were resolved for the U.S. team for the current Division One series, when the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to release $110,000 in funding, that was denied during this country’s worldwide ban, slapped on by the world ruling body.

Sixty thousand dollars is being used to cover the expenses to compete in the current series in Jersey, an island just off England.

The full USA squad is Steve Massiah (capt), Imran Awan, Orlando Baker, Lennox Cush, Rahul Kukreti, Rashard Marshall, Mohamed Masood, Sushil Nadkarni, Steve Pitter, Niraj Shah, Kwawaja Shuja, Wahab Syed, Aditya Thyagarajan and Rakesh Ramnarine.
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