South Florida Cricket Alliance Youth Team defeated last year’s champions Pakistan by four wickets in an exhibition opener of the 2008 Lauderhill International Cricket Cup, played at the Lauderhill Sports Complex last Saturday.

The contest which is played under lights and features 10 teams will compete for the Goldson Spine Rehabilitation Center trophy, as the company assumes the lead sponsorship role of the six-year competition.

Saturday’s action was highlighted by the opening ceremonies, which featured all ten teams in a uniform parade amongst spectators, sponsors, along with city and tournament officials.

After the festivities SFCA Youths who had earlier defeated a Lauderhill Invitational eleven to earn the right to play Pakistan, continued their winning ways when they upstaged the defending champions. Batting first, Pakistan made 141 for 6 wickets using 17 overs against some good bowling from Mainuddin Ahmed 4 for 23 off four overs.

But openers Timothy Surabally 33, and Sunil Mittoo 31, with a first wicket partnership of 58 runs, along with Masood Mohamed 32, responded well for the Youths to secure victory.

Participating teams in the twenty-20 contest are Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Guyana, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and the Lauderhill Team. The competition continues next on Saturday with Trinidad and Tobago playing Windward Islands in the first game at 5:00 pm and Jamaica taking on Guyana in the second at 8:00 pm.