The Final of the 2019 Ontario Under-16 Regional Championship on Tuesday (July 2) brings together the snow of the North and the Sun of the South, although the sun is likely to make a strong appearance from the south through the west, given the 12.30pm scheduled start.
The last series of round-robin games on Friday ended with strong winds then rain. The top-scorer in each game were both out in the last few balls or overs before play ended. Sahil Badin scored 50 from 92 balls for West U16s v North U16s on the east ground (Ground B). Siddh Lad (South U16s) chipped the ball to a cover fielder and was caught of the bowling of Ethan Gibson for 61 as the wind howled and branches on the trees waved on the far side of the west ground. The game continued for one more ball to complete the 33rd over, which proved to be the end of the game. Ethan Gibson took 3 wickets for 17 runs from 5 overs.
West U16s lost two early wickets, the ball moved around in the air at least one of the North’s opening bowlers. The first four bowlers used by North U16s each took one wicket and conceded between 9 and 15 runs from 4 to 6 overs. This game began slightly earlier than the other, the first couple of wickets fell when I was watching the start of the other game.
The top scorer in each of the two games was the only batter to score a boundary. Sahil Badin struck 3 fours and 1 six on the east ground, which is underneath some pathways of hydro wires in the former City of Etobicoke. The two stands in the West innings were 26 for the 3rd wicket from 10 overs (Saiwan Patel 7) and 21 for the 4th wicket in 4.2 overs (Brandon da Costa 6). Badin was out in the 28th over, which proved to be the last of that game. West U19s 76/6 from 27.4 overs. The highest stand in the South U16 innings was 45 for the 5th wicket, with Saad Khurram making 9 runs before falling lbw to Ethan Gibson.
The cricketing community at Centennial Park migrated for lunch to nearby Qasra Sports. Some favoured a return to the ground and resumption of play when the sun burst through but it began to rain again. By that time I think we may have lost a couple of players and some other important people who support junior cricket in several ways.
So the Final on Tuesday (July 2, 2019) is North (Won 1, Lost 0, No Result 1) against South (W 1, L 1, NR 1) and is due to be played on Ground A (the west ground). West ( W 1, L 1, NR 1) will play East (W 0, L 2, NR 1) on Ground B (the east ground).