The 11th edition of US Open T-20 Cricket Tournament was a spectacular affair as a total of 28 teams participated in the tournament. Playing the opening game, Afghan Zwanan Cricket Club started their campaign in a dominant fashion winning by 7 wickets against Punjab CC; winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Punjab CC scored 96 runs in 10 overs at a run rate of 9.60. In reply, Afghan Zwanan CC reached the target of 97 runs in 8.2 overs at a run-rate of 11.64.
In the second match, Afghan Zwanan CC won the toss and chose to field first. They restricted Global Sports to 95 runs with the loss of 7 wickets in 10 overs. For Global Sports Divyaprakash Kumar scored 20 runs off just 16 deliveries, Vijay Gangaiah added 10 off 7 balls, Sai Anurag Kara played an effective cameo role by scoring 19 off 10 balls whereas Santhosh Ramasamy added 11 off 19 balls. From the lower order, Adithya Aithal added 12 off 5 balls.
For Afghan Zwanan CC, Noor scored 29 runs off 20 balls with 6 fours, Hashmat Shahidi added 30 off just 10 deliveries with 3 fours and 3 sixes whereas Khalid Atrafi added 15 off 7 and Nawaz Khan supported with 9 off 6 deliveries. With a run-rate of 12.13, Afghan Zwanan CC chased the target in 8 overs with the loss of 4 wickets.
However, just when they seemed to gain the momentum, their winning streak was broken by Florida Spartans in the third match. Florida Spartans won the toss and chose to bat first setting up a target of 118 runs with the loss of 5 wickets in 10 overs with a run-rate of 11.70. The openers: Masood Mohammed and Gudakesh motie got the show running for Florida Spartans with knocks of 48 runs off just 13 balls consisting of 1 four and 7 solid sixes scored by Masood who managed an unbelievable strike rate of 369.23. Gudakesh scored 38 off just 9 deliveries and had a mind gobbling strike rate of 422.22 as his knock consisted of 6 massive sixes. From the lower order, Tanvir Mahmud added 18 off 18 balls with 2 sixes. As the pressure of the target got to the Afghan team, their openers collapsed early in the inning and Simeon Pierre only managed to carry on the innings with some stability as he scored 14 off 12 balls but could not convert his innings to a higher score. Unfortunately, the middle order did not click for Afghan Zwanan and the pressure transferred to the lower order. Afsar Zazai (35 runs off 25 balls – 3 fours and 1 six) and Noor (11 off 15 balls) managed to get the board ticking at the later stage of the match but it was too late as Afghan Zwanan CC lost the match with a difference of 48 runs.
