22 Yards
For many players on the UMBC Cricket Club, the sport runs in their blood. That passion, combined with the team’s motivation and strength, has helped them achieve a ranking of third in the nation by American College Cricket.
“It feels great to know that the hard work we have put in as a group over the years has finally paid off,” said President Anand Patel ’10 M.S., mechanical engineering.
The UMBC Cricket Club, also known as 22 Yards, was formed by cricket enthusiasts in 2004 and now has nearly 150 members. The game, which first originated in southern England in the 16th century, is similar to baseball with each team consisting of 11 players using a bat-and-ball method. UMBC’s team was recognized by the Sports Club Council in 2005 and is now a member of the Washington Metropolitan Cricket Board (WMCB), an organized Cricket League that follows standards set by the Marylebone Cricket Club.
“The team took some time to build and has grown stronger every season,” said Vice President Chirag Vani ’10 M.S., computer science. “UMBC is now considered a strong team in the league and starts most of its matches as favorites to win the game.”
The team is currently placed in the Division I of the WMCB league. They won the 2008 Round Robin Championship for Division I, the 2009 Board of Directors T20 Championship and finished third in the 2010 All America College Cricket Championship organized by American College Cricket.
Many on the team credit this success to the group’s collaborative spirit.
“The guys on the team are passionate about the sport and are willing to go that extra mile,” said Vani. “It has always been a team effort. The team owes its ranking and success to team spirit and the respect each member has for his peers.”
Although each player on the team has different experiences with the sport, many have been playing since childhood.
“Being born and raised in India, Cricket runs in my blood. I grew up playing cricket almost everyday with friends and was a part of my high school’s cricket team,” said Patel.
The 2010 season for the Cricket Club is now underway, and the team is holding strong – defeating some of the strongest teams in the 2010 All American College Cricket Championship.
To learn more about the Cricket club, click here.
(7/3/10)
