Shawn Beckford and Hensworth Wallace, two of Team USA T20 specialists, continued their team’s unbeaten record in the 9th Annual Maq T20 Lauderhill International Night Cricket Tournament, last Saturday at the Lauderhill Sports Complex.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Team USA defeated Barbados by 61 runs. Beckford and Wallace provided the early thrills with a brutal batting display against the hapless Barbados bowlers. Wallace 62 (4 x 4 and 5 x6), led the charge with several strikes over the off side boundary, including four monstrous sixes over midwicket.

Wallace was slower to get going but equally powerful when he did and struck five fours and five sixes, stepping back deep into his crease to allow himself to lift the ball around the Lauderhill Sports Complex. Anil Bhawani provided some late fireworks for Team USA scoring 36 with three fours and 2 sixes.

In reply, after getting some good starts, none of the Barbados top order batsmen built a big score, with Ryan Brown (32), John Willoughby (34), Justin Holder (28) and Richard Louis (17).

India outplayed Sri Lanka, defeating them by 7 wickets when the two squared off in the second match.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat with the only significant contribution coming from Shabbir Chaudhry who scored 70, including eight fours and three sixes. Bowling for India, Sandeep Desai took 3 for 9 from two overs, while Pranay Tigga and Vamseedar Kalam took 2 for 20 and 2 for 22 respectively.

In reply, after losing the first wicket with no runs on the board, Harsha Bodepalli and Captain Vaibhav Nayar restored the India innings with a second wicket partnership of 114 runs. Bodepalli scored 61 including seven fours and two sixes, while Nayar scored 37.

Competition continues next Saturday, February 27, 2010, with Jamaica v. Leeward Islands at 5:00pm and Guyana v. Lauderhill at 8:00pm.