After a wonderful opening ceremony for the Masters Cricket USA’s inaugural tournament and team pictures, it was time for the first game to get underway.  

It was played on the Balquees ground of the Musa stadium between central East and South.  Shahanawaz won the toss for the South and duly inserts Central East in on what initially seemed to be an under prepared wicket.  Amir bowling left arm over, gets the initial breakthrough in his very first over and the 2nd of the game by pinning Anthony lbw with a vicious in-swinger. Central East – 5 for 1.  4 balls later Shahanawaz gets the #3 Tilak out in exactly the same manner. Central East goes into a consolidation mode the next few overs to move to 38/2 at the end of 10 overs seeing out Shahanawaz and Amir and also the first few overs from Amer Sheikh’s left arm spin and Ramesh’s swing.   Mohammad Quereshi in particular was looking comfortable against all bowlers when in the 11th over he decides to attack Amer, gets a leading edge and Ramesh pedaling backwards at extra cover takes the catch.  39/3. Looking for wickets before the first break, Shahanawaz brings in Mohsin in the 14th.  Mid off and Extra cover arein the circle, and Raj tries to pick the gap, and Ramesh runs quickly to his left to take a blinder.  At the end of 15 overs East is 48/4.

In the 19th over, Willy Salmon gets Hammad Malik caught by Shahanawaz at point, and in the 21st there’s a tangle mid pitch between Milroy and Charlie – Munawar sends a sharp and accurate throw to catch Charlie short of the crease. From 72/6, East finishes at 94 all out with Shahanawaz taking 3 and Amir 1 wicket.Shahanawaz finished as the pick of the bowlers with 4/14 in 5.1 overs, with Amir 2/19 in 6. Mohsin, Amer and Willy get 1 a piece with 1 runout.  

Without enough runs on the board, Central East had to attack and pick up wickets.  They do get Amer early for 3, but a solid partnership between Mohsin and Satyapal(SP) ensues. Mohsin gets out for well made 24 of 36, but SP 45 of 59 and Suhas 16 of 24 see the South through in 22.5 overs without too much trouble.  SP eschewed the big shots early in his innings before unfurling a couple of slog sweeps including a maximum to seal the win

Man of the match was SP for his unbeaten 45 in a low scoring game.