'Most Extensive' Cricket Tournament Comes To Bolingbrook Saturday

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Twenty-seven cricket teams, 24 matches, 8 cities. Bolingbrook is one of the host sites for the United States Minor League Cricket tournament, kicking off Saturday.

The Chicago Blasters will be facing the St. Louis Americans at Indian Boundary Park, 990 W. Boughton Road, 10 a.m. Saturday.

This weekend's tournament is the "most extensive cricket competition to ever take place in the United States," according to Major League Cricket. The 27 teams will compete in more than 218 matches spanning 10 weekends — and $250,000 in prize money is up for grabs. Finals weekend will be held Oct. 2-3.

"The opening weekend of Minor League Cricket, with games featuring 27 teams taking place across six different states, will showcase the growth of cricket infrastructure nationwide thanks to the commitment and investment of so many in the American cricket community," Justin Geale, tournament director for Major League Cricket, said in a statement. "All 27 teams feature both experienced and emerging talent who will battle it out to become the first champion of Minor League Cricket, in what is a truly historic development for the sport of cricket in the United States."

Fifteen of the players this year have represented their teams internationally, including Amila Aponso from Sri Lanka, Corey Anderson from New Zealand, Narsingh Deonarine from the West Indies, Sami Aslam from Pakistan, and Dane Piedt from South Africa.

The full season schedule and final rosters can be found on the minor league's website. Miami, Atlanta and San Diego are among the other cities hosting tournaments. The matches can be live-streamed on YouTube and Willow.TV.

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