A sterling cricket administrator -- Posted Monday, June 30 2008
Calvin Clarke, General Secretary of the Canadian Cricket Association, has won the ICC Americas Regional Award for lifetime services to cricket. It was Canada's only success in the 2007 ICC Development Awards. Canada had three regional winners, two of which went on to become Global winners in the 2006 awards.
Mr. Clarke hails from Trinidad and Tobago where his cricket playing and administrative career began. He moved to Canada in 1967. He is a past President of the Toronto and District Cricket Association (1982-5), past 1st Vice-President of the Ontario Cricket Association, has managed and assisted Canada on international tours, served as a qualified umpire and played for Civics Sports Club.
He has two periods as Secretary of the CCA. The first from 1976-8 and resumed in 2000 after retiring from work. He was a member of the organizing committee for the successful 1989 United Way Cricket Match at the SkyDome, which had the largest attendance at a match in the Americas. More recently he has played key roles in the organization of Canada's home international cricket matches.
Away from cricket he helped found the Ontario Netball Association and one of his past employment records includes the installation of the sound system at Wembley Stadium, London, England.
This award recognizes many years of devotion to cricket and Mr. Clarke sustains the true spirit of the game. Many would benefit by following his example of hard work behind the scenes. A key ingredient in the successful playing and administration of cricket as stated by former West Indies captain Ritchie Richardson during the public forum "Cricket: Reality, Respect, Reward" at Metro Hall, Toronto in April 2006.
This award brings 'reward' and a fourth 'r', 'recognition' to a fine gentleman and devoted servant of the game. His name goes forward to the ICC's Global Awards selection committee.
Article sourced from:-
http://www.thecricketer.ca
Dhaniram heroics in vain as Bermuda claim series -- Posted Monday, June 30 2008
Canada v Bermuda, 2nd ODI, King City
Bermuda 201 for 8 (Trott 48*, Outerbridge 42, Dhaniram 5-32) beat Canada 184 (Dhaniram 79, O'Brien 3-31) by 11 runs (D/L method)
Bermuda claimed a tense 11-run victory against Canada despite Sunil Dhaniram's all-round brilliance and won the three-ODI series 2-0 in King City. Canada were chasing a revised target of 196 because of a shower during the lunch break but were dismissed for 184, out of which Dhaniram struck 79 off 86 balls to follow up his 5 for 32 that helped restrict Bermuda to 201 for 8. It was the second time in two days that Canada lost a close game.
A 78-run stand between Dhaniram and Harvir Baidwan (33) revived Canada after they had collapsed to 61 for 6 against Bermuda's medium-pacers, George O'Brien and Ryan Steed. O'Brien, in particular, was in top form, running through the middle order to finish with 3 for 31.
Dhaniram, however, brought Canada to a position from which they could push for victory - they needed 24 off 18 balls with two wickets in hand. The debutant Sami Faridi edged Stephen Outerbridge for four, after which Dhaniram whipped one to the fine-leg boundary to bring the equation to a run a ball. However, Dhaniram was bowled by one that kept low from Outerbridge and Bermuda had an opening. An injured Umar Bhatti walked out to bat with his hand in a sling, and soon enough, Faridi was run out while trying to farm the strike, handing Bermuda victory.
Earlier, Bermuda stumbled to 89 for 5 after they were put in by Canada. Jonathan Trott (48) and Outerbridge (42) added 72 runs for the sixth wicket, after which Jekon Edness scored a 47-ball 35. The recovery, however, was cut short by Dhaniram, who after trapping Outerbridge lbw, bowled three batsmen to finish with career-best figures of 5 for 32.
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/canada/content/story/358739.html
Canada lose 2nd ODI by 11 runs -- Posted Sunday, June 29 2008
Bermuda wins ODI series despite Dhaniram and friends’ efforts
Bermuda celebrated on the field when Sami Faridi was run out to give the visitors an 11 run win under the Duckworth/Lewis system on Sunday at Maple Leaf Cricket Club. Bermuda, batting first, made 201 runs for 8 wickets in its 50 overs. The innings was based around Steven Outerbridge making 42 runs, many in partnership with vice-captain Rodney Trott for the 5th wicket. Trott went out to top score with 48 runs not out. Canadian slow-left arm bowler Sunil Dhaniram took 5 wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs. This is a career best, beating the 4 wickets for 10 runs in a rain-reduced match against Bermuda in early 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya.
A storm during the lunch interval delayed the resumption of play. Canada was left to make 196 runs in 47 overs. The early batting struggled against the pace of George O’Brien and Ryan Steede’s challenging movement of the ball. At 61 runs for 6, and Umar Bhatti with an injured shoulder, it looked grim for the hosts. But Dhaniram buckled down with crucial support from Harvir Baidwan. The pair played sensible cricket and the possibility of Canada getting back into the game become stronger. Baidwan was out for 33 runs to make it 139 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Henry Osinde was soon out, but debut-making Sami Faridi provided staunch support for Dhaniram. The prospect a reversal of fortunes, similar to how Bermuda battled back at the death in the opening game of this series, began to loom large. But Dhaniram perished, bowled by Outerbridge for an ODI-career best score of 79 runs. Umar Bhatti emerged with one arm in a sling and someone acting as a runner. But Bhatti never faced a ball. Faridi was run out with the total on 184 runs and the Bermudians whooped it up in the middle. Faridi made a gallant 16 runs in a tough situation.
The final game of the series at Maple Leaf Cricket Club is on Canada Day, Tuesday July 1st. But once again, it was a paltry crowd at the ground, boosted in the later stages by players from local teams whose club matches had either concluded or were continuing on adjacent playing areas.
CricInfo scorecard
Canada lose ODI against Bermuda -- Posted Saturday, June 28 2008
Edness' late blows hurt Canada
Eddie Norfolk
Wicketkeeper Jekon Edness produced two telling blows in the final over of a rain-reduced ODI on Saturday to give Bermuda a win by 3 wickets, with 3 balls to spare, over Canada. Needing 11 runs to win off the 36th and final over, a runless first ball was transformed as Edness towered a shot to the long-on boundary for six off Henry Osinde. A leg-side wide followed and then, with the field in close, Edness drove the winning four to the cover boundary. It was a sad end for Osinde who had taken two catches that had helped swing the game in Canada’s favour.
Opening bat Chris Foggo laid the foundation for his side’s success with an innings of 60 runs. He added 59 for the second wicket with Oronde Bascombe, who scored 19 runs before being magnificently caught at long-off by Osinde off the bowling of Qaiser Ali. Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine had an aggressive knock with 21 runs off 13 balls. But when he and Foggo departed in the space of 6 balls, it seemed the game would be Canada’s. But Edness and Ryan Steede made 25 runs in just over 2 overs, leaving the visitors in buoyant mood.
Canada had a solid second wicket stand, featuring Abdool Samad (26 runs) and Ashish Bagai (60 runs) that ended with a run-out for a quick single that was not quite there. Bagai was also a run out victim when Canada had reached 140 for 6 wickets in the 34th over. The innings closed after 36 overs on 155 for 9 wickets.
Slow-left arm bowler Dwayne Leverock conceded just 17 runs in his 8 overs, taking 1 wicket.
Canada’s Toronto-born captain Zubin Surkari was taken to hospital after dislocating a shoulder when trying to run out one of the Bermudian batsmen.
The outfield drained well as the day progressed at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City, after heavy overnight storms. The second match in this ODI series is at the same ground on Sunday at 10 am. The third game is at Maple Leaf CC on Tuesday, Canada day. The ground is at the north-east corner of the intersection of Dufferin Street and 15th Sideroad. Admission is free.
CricInfo scorecard
Surkari Canada's new captain -- Posted Friday, June 27 2008
Home-grown leader policy
Cricket Canada have announced their first born-in-Canada captain in many years with the appointment of Zubin Sarkari. Although he is the fourth captain in the space of 18 months, the board was keen to emphasise that several recent captains were unable to have day-to-day contact with the players owing to commitments in other countries.
John Davison was captain despite living in Australia; Ashish Bagai moved to London to pursue a financial career while in charge, while Sunil Dhaniram's leadership proved short-lived.
A spokesperson from Canada Cricket told Cricinfo: "The situation of four captains in a very short space of time is one more example of the challenges of organising top-flight Associate member cricket in a non-professional environment, where players (including captains) need to take account of job commitments. It is important that players in leadership positions have on-going, day-to-day contact with players in the national squad - at least as far as that is possible in a country as geographically spread as Canada."
Toronto-born Surkari certainly adheres to the criteria. He has represented Canada at all age levels and had been groomed previously as a captain. He would have played more matches but for battling with a debilitating disease of the auto-immune system over the last couple of years.
His appointment is line with the board's aim of pursuing "a policy of grooming Canadian-based players in leadership roles." Cricket Canada has been moving forward positively in recent months - persuading the government to add them to the list of sports eligible for funding being a major recent coup - and this step is yet another one in the right direction.
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/canada/content/story/358015.html
Cricket Across the Pond Launch sparks renewed hope for GTA Cricket -- Posted Wednesday, June 25 2008
Eddie Norfolk
Toronto Mayor David Miller underlined the City’s desire to support cricket no Tuesday when announcing the CIMA Toronto Mayor’s team to visit Chessington, Surrey, England in August. He also reminded those attending the launch of the CIMA Mayor’s Trophy that is at Sunnybrook Park, Toronto this Saturday, June 28 (9am to 6pm).
Miller paid tribute to the efforts of CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, for support and development of cricket through the CIMA Mayor’s Trophy. He added “Cricket Across the Pond gives Toronto’s youth an opportunity to participate in a sport that is becoming increasingly popular in Toronto, and to travel and gain new experience and knowledge that will be with them for a lifetime.”
Mayor Miller paid tribute to the work of the Access and Diversity Unit of Toronto Parks, Recreation, Forestry and Recreation, who in partnership with key sponsors, RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) and Air Transat have helped create this opportunity for mostly youngsters in some of Toronto’s underprivileged neighbourhoods.
Jennifer Tory, RBC’s Regional Vice-President for the Greater Toronto Area said “RBC is pleased to help connect cricket fans with their heritage and raise the profile of the game by bringing it to people across the country.” The country-wide aspect comes with the launch earlier this year of the RBC Wicket Cricket program that provides cricket equipment and a teacher’s manual to help schools introduce the sport to youngsters. (See www.rbc.com\cricket for details of how teachers and community coaches can apply for this equipment).
Cricket across the Pond has an initial three-year sponsorship from RBC. The Toronto Mayor’s side was announced. It comes after a series of trials for players, who were also required to demonstrate leadership skills and the ability to represent the City of Toronto in a positive light. This came via support from their school, a personal submission why they were interested in participating in the project and interviews.
Team captain Darious D’Souza gave a confident speech, thanking the sponsors and organizers for providing this golden opportunity. He is a CIMA nominee from the University of Toronto. CIMA also nominated one player from the Peel Region and one from Upper Canada College.
The Toronto District Schools Board now has both indoor and outdoor cricket championships for boys. Neighbouring Peel Region (includes Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon) has indoor championships for boys and girls, while the Mississauga Ramblers Club ran outdoor events for leading girls and boys schools this year.
There was far more promotional effort for cricket evidenced at this event than last Friday when Cricket Canada was announced as remaining eligible for Federal Government Funding in the new government fiscal year. A status secured in 2007 after efforts that began in 2005. The smiles were genuine ones of hope on Tuesday, not the wry smiles of something needs to be done to get Cricket Canada moving that most, but not some of the current official leaders, felt after an empty meeting.
Two media releases on Tuesday advised the names of the Cricket across the Pond squad. Nothing was available from Cricket Canada. One regular reporter on the Canadian scene told me the squad had not even been posted on the official website.
Mayor Miller also made reference to the national team having done well at Cricket World Cup 2007. He saw the national team as role models and in the background, on two large screens footage of Canada playing the Netherlands in an ODI (One-day international) at Toronto Cricket Club last summer.
The crowd at today’s Cricket across the Pond launch was more than turned out to see the Canadian national team in that match. But the then CCA never advised the start-time and do not spend money advertising the game. It took a lot of effort last week before Cricket Canada posted the actual dates of the upcoming ODIs with Bermuda. And overnight between Thursday and Friday, I received an email stating 10am as the start time.
Advertisements have been running for the CIMA Spirit of Cricket/City of Toronto’s Mayor’s Trophy. Various media sides will be playing at Sunnybrook Park on Saturday. There might be more Bermudian media at the ODI on Saturday than Canadian ones.
But there was a buzz from some key media folks who want to help next year's Cricket Across the Pond attact more trialists. And a couple of people learned a few things and admitted it. Education is an important thing. Mayor Miller re-iterated that today.
CIMA Toronto Mayor’s Team: Darious D’Souza (CIMA University of Toronto), Harsh Desai (Kipling Collegiate Institute), Taron Doodram (Weston C.I.), Lahiru Gallage (Cedarbrae C.I.), Owais Khurshid (Sir Wilfrid Laurier C.I.), Ishaan Kumar (CIMA Upper Canada College nominee), Lakshan Liyanage (CIMA Peel Region nominee), Salman Nazar (North Albion CI), Varun Shah (North Albion CI), Rajiv Sivanesan (Cederbrae CI) and Michael Walton (George Harvey CI).
Help Save Hugo Ray -- Posted Tuesday, June 24 2008
There is a current application to re-develop Hugo Ray Park, Vancouver, with an artificial/synthetic turf for field hockey use. This change would end cricket at Hugo Ray Park, one of the best cricket grounds in Canada.
Cricket lacks adequate training/playing facilities in Canada, and the proposed redevelopment of Hugo Ray Park will have a significant negative impact on the future of cricket.
We are asking our players and supporters to fill the City Hall today evening in support of the Cricket Club. The District of West Vancouver will be discussing (and possibly voting) on the future of Hugo Ray Park and we want to show the City that we are willing to fight to save the premier field for cricket. Please make very effort to attend the meeting and show that you care!
The City Hall address is 750 - 17th Street (take the 15th Street exit off Hwy #1 - just west of the Taylor and head south to it Esquimalt Road and then turn right). The plan is meet at the City Hall at 6 pm and ensure that we all get seating and the speakers will need to register.
Cricketers across Canada are asked to support their confrere on the wset coast of Canada. (JH)
Six associates face off -- Posted Monday, June 23 2008
Ireland to host inaugural World Twenty20 qualifiers
June 12, 2008
Ireland will host the inaugural World Twenty20 Qualifiers between August 2 and 4, with the top six Associates vying for the two places available to them in next year's ICC World Twenty20 in England.
The hosts are the No.1 seeds and have been placed in Group A, which also includes Scotland and Bermuda. Group B comprises Kenya, Netherlands and Canada. The seedings were decided according to how the teams stood in the one-day rankings on February 2.
The tournament will be the first time that Ireland, Bermuda, Netherlands, and Canada have played international Twenty20s. Kenya and Scotland had their first experience of the format when they took part in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa last year.
There will be three matches a day, all hosted at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. The opening game will be between Kenya and Netherlands.
Fixtures
ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, 2008
August 2008
Sat 2
09:30 local, 08:30 GMT Group B - Kenya v Netherlands
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Sat 2
13:00 local, 12:00 GMT Group A - Ireland v Scotland
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Sat 2
16:30 local, 15:30 GMT Group B - Canada v Netherlands
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Sun 3
09:30 local, 08:30 GMT Group A - Bermuda v Scotland
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Sun 3
13:00 local, 12:00 GMT Group B - Canada v Kenya
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Sun 3
16:30 local, 15:30 GMT Group A - Bermuda v Ireland
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Mon 4
09:30 local, 08:30 GMT 1st Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Group A winner v Group B runner-up
Mon 4
13:00 local, 12:00 GMT 2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Group A runner-up v Group B winner
Mon 4
16:30 local, 15:30 GMT Final - TBC v TBC
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Article sorced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/cicc/content/story/354462.html
Etobicoke U-25’s and Toronto & District U25’s win in Ontario Championships -- Posted Monday, June 23 2008
Summary Scores: Group Matches – 2nd of 3 rounds
Ottawa Valley Under-25s 108 all out (44 overs; Kasun Perera 47, Soham Anjaria 4 wickets for 25 runs) lost to Toronto & District Under-25’s 64 runs for 4 wickets
Ottawa Valley 127 all out (Karandeep Singh 41, Rochak Mehta 22 not out, Vivek Patel wickets for 39 runs) lost to Etobicoke & District Under-25 114 for 6 wickets (37.4 overs; Nandit Beri 19 not out, Vivek Patel 18 not out, Rochak Mehta 3 wickets for 14 runs)
In both matches, the target score was reduced under the Duckworth/Lewis system due to rain interruptions.
Standings:
Group A: Group B
P W L Pts P W L Pts
Etobicoke & District U-25 1 1 0 6 Etobicoke & District 1 1 0 6
Ottawa Valley 2 1 1 6 Toronto & Dist. U-25 1 1 0 6
Hamilton & District 1 0 1 0 Ottawa Valley U-25 2 0 2 0
June 28: Hamilton & District v Etobicoke & District Under-25 (Iceland Cricket Oval, Mississauga); Etobicoke & District v Toronto & District Under-25 (Centennial Park, Etobicoke).
July 5 Semi-finals: Toronto & District v Group A winner; Southern Ontario v Group B winner (Both matches at Centennial Park, Etobicoke, 12 noon start)
July 6 Final (Centennial Park, Etobicoke, 12 noon start)
Elsewhere Hamilton & District wins Under-19 inter-league match
Hamilton & District’s Under-19 side made 167 runs for 8 wickets in 43 overs, then bowled out Ottawa Valley Under-19’s for 119 runs on Sunday in an inter-league game. Satsimransit Dhindsa top-scored with 55 runs not out for the H & D side.
Match played at the Mississauga Ramblers Avebury ground on Sunday.
E Norfolk
Cricket gets official recognition -- Posted Sunday, June 22 2008
The federal government is poised to let cricketers dip into the Canadian taxpayers' funding purse as the feds broaden the scope of sport support to include the game of white uniforms, fast bowlers, googlies and willow bats.
Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Sport, said in Toronto Friday that the government has approved Cricket Canada as meeting the accountability criteria.
Cricket Canada will get more than subsistence money. The organization is receiving $77,000 this year, the minister said, but no funding ceiling has been established for the growing sport fuelled by immigration.
Cricket is extremely popular with arrivals from Commonwealth countries in South Asia and the Caribbean, and from Australia, New Zealand and Britain. It has more than 40,000 registered players across the country and perhaps 50,000 more who are not registered in any league, according to Cricket Canada.
Matches have been documented in Canada dating back 150 years and Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, once declared it a national sport. The Canadian Cricket Association, forerunner to Cricket Canada, dates back to 1892.
In Ontario, while high insurance costs have caused football to wither at the high-school level, cricket has taken off. Toronto district schools now feature cricket as a varsity sport, with about 150 schools playing in the Greater Toronto Area.
Toronto Mayor David Miller lends his name to an annual cricket tournament sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Management Accountants.
Cricket Canada will line up with 53 individual sports at the federal pay window for 2008-2009 allotments.
The Department of Canadian Heritage will analyze the Cricket Canada request. The grant likely will be more than $100,000.
“It's a tremendous day for cricket,” Ben Sennik, president of Cricket Canada, told The Canadian Press. “We need every dollar, the way we are developing. In the past, we have been scraping through.”
According to Sport Canada's 2006-07 list of contributions to sport organizations, winter sports occupy five of the first six places in line with handouts ranging from $3.26-million (hockey) down to $2.37-million (freestyle skiing).
“We are proud of the association's achievements and we look forward to supporting future initiatives,” Ms. Guergis said in a statement.
Cricket has become a hot growth sport in multicultural Canada. In April, Scotiabank unveiled a three-year sponsorship of Cricket Canada with a view to becoming more visible in the South Asian community.
On Friday, Zubin Surkari was announced as the new Canadian national side captain. Canada will play a series of one-day exhibitions against Bermuda on June 28, June 29 and July 1 in King City, Ont.
JAMES CHRISTIE
Globe and Mail
June 21, 2008
Article sourced from:-
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080621.wcricket21/BNStory/National/
Canada recognises cricket at last -- Posted Sunday, June 22 2008
Cricket eligible for huge funding
Cricket Canada took a big leap forward on Friday when cricket became officially recognised by the government, leaving the sport eligible to potentially receive huge amounts of funding. Up until now, funding has come largely from the ICC, although the government did provide $77,000 last year.
Now the sport could receive much more but for the moment Atul Ahuja, Cricket Canada's chief executive, was delighted to have cricket recognised in the first place. "Canada has broken a psychological barrier," Ahuja said. "The amount does not matter. It is the government's recognition that matters. Cricket is now set for exponential growth our country.
"The money coming from the government will be allocated to Cricket Canada' high-performance and long-term athlete development programmes for promotion of cricket.".
The Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) confirmed the move. "We are proud of the association's achievements," she said, "and we look forward to supporting future initiatives." Guergis, who was speaking at the Sports Alliance Centre, Toronto, said it was "an exciting day for Cricket Canada as a national sports organisation to have the opportunity to be recognised by the federal government."
Cricket Canada is in the process of completing a strategic plan which the Ministry will then review and assess funding for the year.
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/canada/content/story/355609.htmln
Ontario Senior Championship 2008; Wins for Ottawa & Etobicoke Senior teams -- Posted Sunday, June 22 2008
Summary Scores: Group Matches – 1st of 3 rounds
Etobicoke & District 187 runs for 9 wkts (50 overs; Ahmed Panchbhaya 48 runs not out; Nasrat Rahim 4 wickets for 30 runs) beat Ottawa Valley Under-25s 72 all out (21.1 overs; Vishal Uppal 4 wickets for 31 runs, Nadeem Khan 4 wickets for 32 runs) by 115 runs
Ottawa Valley 214 all out (43 overs; Thirundu Nanayakara 51 runs, Mohammad Ali 5 wickets for 39 runs) beat Hamilton & District 134 all out (33.5 overs; Mohammad Ali 53 runs, Dennis Fernandez 5 wickets for 24 runs) by 80 runs – match reduced to 43 overs per side
Short version of scores:
Etobicoke & District 187 for 9 (50 ov) beat Ottawa Valley U25 72 a/o (21.1 ov) by 115 runs
Ottawa Valley 214 a/o (43 ov) beat Hamilton & District 134 a/o (33.5 ) by 80 runs
Sunday June 22: Group Matches (12 noon start, 50 overs per side, free admission); Toronto & District U25 v Ottawa Valley U25 (Iceland Oval, Mississauga ); Etobicoke & District U25 v Ottawa Valley ( Centennial Park , Etobicoke)
Brief report
The senior teams from the Etobicoke & District Cricket League and the Ottawa Valley Cricket Council won their opening matches in the Ontario Senior Championship on Saturday (June 21). Etobicoke & District beat Ottawa Valley ’s Under-25 side by 115 runs at Centennial Park , Etobicoke. The senior Ottawa Valley side beat the Hamilton & District Cricket League by 80 runs at the Iceland Oval, Mississauga , in a match reduced to 43-overs per side.
Veteran Ahmed Panchbhaya bolstered Etobicoke with 48 runs not out. Nasrat Rahhim took 4 wickets for 30 runs for Ottawa U25’s but a couple early catches let Etobicoke off the hook. The Ottawa Under-25 side was soon under the gun when batting against the opening attack of Nadeem Khan and Vishal Uppal. Khan took 4 wickets for 32 runs and Uppal 4 wickets for 31 runs as the Ottawa side was bowled out for 72 runs.
A few kilometres along Eglinton Avenue into Mississauga , Ottawa Valley ’s senior side beat Hamilton & District in a match reduced to 43-overs per side. A fine fifty from Thirundu Nanayakara, who made 51 runs, lead Ottawa to 214 runs all out. Hamilton & District’s Mohammad Ali proved useful taking 5 wickets for 39 runs, but seven other bowlers had been used before he was used. Ali then made 52 runs, but his side was bowled out for 134 runs. Ottawa ’s Dennis Fernandez took 5 wickets for 24 runs.
On Sunday (June 22) the senior Ottawa Valley side faces Toronto & District Under-25’s at the Iceland cricket ground, Mississauga . A win would put Ottawa into the semi-finals. Harvir Baidwan, named in Canada's ODI squad to face Bermuda next weekend, is due to play for the T & D Under-25 side. The Ottawa Valley Under-25’s return to Centennial Park for a match with the Etobicoke and District Under-25 team.
The Toronto & District senior side and the Southern Ontario CA enter this competition at the semi-final stage on July 5th. The Final is at Centennial Park , Etobicoke on Sunday July 6th. Matches are scheduled to start at 12 noon. Admission is free.
Eddie Norfolk
Cricket festival bowls over in Scarborough -- Posted Saturday, June 21 2008
It's time for the second annual Vradenburg Cricket Festival.
There will be six elementary school teams competing on two fields.
Pipes and drums will lead the players onto the field.
Spectators are welcome. Besides cricket games, there will be a DJ, music and refreshments.
Melvin John is one of the organizers of the event and said cricket is gaining popularity.
"It's a game for everyone," he said, adding it's great getting elementary age students involved.
"They love it," he said.
The Cricket Festival runs from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Vradenburg Junior Public School, 50 Vradenburg Dr., at Warden and Finch avenues.
Six elementary schools from the Toronto area participated in the second annual Vrandenburg junior Public School Cricket Festival round robin tournament in Scarborough. It was sponsored by the Royal Bang through the Wicket Cricket Program, and also in part sponsored by Versitility Promotions.
Article sourced from:-
http://www.insidetoronto.com/Sports/Scarborough/article/49780
Ontario Senior Championship 2008 - schedule and squads -- Posted Saturday, June 21 2008
Matches are being played at Iceland Oval, Mississauga and Centennial Park , Etobicoke. Matches start at 12 noon.
Group Matches Schedule
Saturday, June 21
Ottawa Valley Seniors v Hamilton & District (Pool A, Iceland )
Etobicoke & District v Ottawa Valley U-25 (Pool B, Centennial)
Sunday, June 22
Toronto & District CA U-25 v Ottawa Valley U-25 (Pool B, Iceland )
Etobicoke & District CL U-25 v Ottawa Valley Senior (Pool A, Centennial)
Saturday, June 28
Hamilton & District v Etobicoke & District U-25 (Pool A, Iceland )
Etobicoke & District Senior v Toronto & District U-25 (Pool B, Centennial)
Semi-Final Schedule
Saturday July 5
Toronto and District Senior v Group A winner ( Iceland )
Southern Ontario CA v Group B winner (Centennial)
FINAL - Sunday July 6
Semi-Final winners
Ontario Senior Championship 2008 - Squads
Squad information as known on June 20, 2008.
Group A
Hamilton and District Cricket League Squad: John Kierstien (Oakville), Shoaib Mohammed (Crescent), Tawab Ikram (Crescent), Mohammad Ali (Crescent), Elyas Karim (Crescent) , Ayaaz Ali (Hamilton), Nauman Chugtai (Hamilton), Saad Azim (Hamilton), Robert White (Hamilton), Khizar Bilal (Brantford), Qasim Yaqoob (Crescent), Murtaza Malik (Brantford), Usman Ali (Hamilton), Arbab Amjad (Hamilton) and Sandeep Jyoti (Mississauga Ramblers)
Ottawa Valley Cricket Council Senior Squad: Rajiv Bhatia (Captain), Rochak Mehta (Vice Captain). Tauseef Shahid, Dennis Fernandez, Aneel Nauth, Akber Hussain, Anshul Singh, Karandeep Singh, Varun Harish, Nawabullah Nawabi, Thriundu Nanayakara, Andrew Dixon, Nava Navaratnam, Ahmed Shah
Team Manager: Akhter Mufti
Etobicoke and District Cricket League Under-25 Squad: Reyaz Prahalad, Zaheer Allard, Tony Mohabir, Varish Shaikh, Taresh Beri, Chirag Patel, Lalit Summan, Vivek Patel, Keval Patel, Nandit Beri, Jonathan Mohabir, Krishnakant Patel, Hardik Kholwadwala and Nirmal Summan.
Team Official: Gokal Kamat
Group B
Etobicoke and District Cricket League Senior Squad (Selection from): Premier Div : Eddie Williams (Heartlake), Christian Drawin (Heartlake), Arthur John (Heartlake), Gilmore Stapleton (Heartlake), Ganesh Badrie (GT Sports), Nadeem Khan (United), Vishal Uppal (Calypso), Alaska James (Calypso), Ainsworth Mattrasingh (Elmbank), Anthony Charles (York Central), Preetinder Johal (Brampton United), Ranjwinder Randhawa (United), Ahmed Panchbhaya (United), Naveed Tariq (Malton Sports), Wilfred Mohabir (BSCC), James Mohabir (BSCC) ;
Div 1 :Iqbal Kassamali (Melbourne), Rahim Hassan (Melbourne), Aftab Quaiser (Melbourne), Raman Kumar Sharma (Golden Tigers), Joshua Verma (Golden Tigers); Div 2 : Naveed Sehrai (Halton Stars); Div 3: Shahid Mughal (Asian Boys); Kuldeep Patel (CLPSS); Div 4: Dipakbhai Patel (Krishna), Umang Patel (Yuva), Thusitha Sirisena (Lankans), Saman Wickramasingha (Lankans)
Ottawa Valley Cricket Council Under-25 Squad: Kasun Perera (Captain),Sanjay Manhas (Vice Captain.), Amit Sawh, Mustafa Popalzai, Zeeshan Khurshid, Nasrat Rahimi, Lohit Jalemu, Shezab Khan, Usama Khalid, Suranjan Arasaratnam, Danushka Nanayakara, Lakmal Jayawardene, Nimeesh Kaushal, Angad Singh.
Team Manager: Sudershan Manhas
Toronto and District Cricket Association Under-25 Squad: To be advised.
Teams Entering at Semi-Final Stage
Southern Ontario Cricket Association: Squad to be named later.
Toronto and District Cricket Association Senior Squad: Squad to be named later.
Federal Funding Eligibility Continues for Cricket Canada; Squad Announced for Bermuda ODIs -- Posted Saturday, June 21 2008
The Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) confirmed Cricket Canada’s continued eligibility “to receive Government of Canada Funding. We are proud of the association’s achievements and we look forward to supporting future initiatives.”
The Minister confirmed Cricket Canada had received $77,000 in the previous year. This includes an initial $40,000 in March 2007 around the time of Cricket World Cup 2007. The Minister spoke of the Government’s desire to support physical activity, including the disabled. She highlighted how “in 2008 Canadian sport is due to receive more than $164 million. An all time high.”
Cricket Canada is in the process of completing a strategic plan which the Ministry will then review and assess funding for the year. The Minister spoke at a Media Conference at the Sports Alliance Centre, Toronto.
Zubin Surkari was announced as the new Canadian captain. It was good last year to see his return after injury. On the Victoria Day weekend (mid-May), he captained the victorious Ontario B team in the inaugural Scotiabank National T20 Cricket Championship 2008.
The rest of the Canadian squad for the ODI series with Bermuda at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City, Ontario, was announced as:
Qaiser Ali (vice-captain), Ashish Bagai (wicketkeeper), Umar Bhatti, Geoff Barnett, Ian Billcliff, Harvir Baidwan, Eion Katchay, Sunil Dhaniram, Henry Osinde, Sammy Afridi, Abdool Samad, Trevin Bastiampillai and Steve Welsh.
The matches are on June 28, June 29 and July 1 (Canada Day) with a scheduled start of 10 a.m.
The Canada Cup Under-19 Championship will be contested later in the year, according to Rania Llewellyn, Vice-President of Multi-Cultural Banking at Scotiabank, Cricket Canada’s official Bank. Scotiabank is celebrating 10 years as the Official Bank of West Indies Cricket and was an official sponsor of Cricket World Cup 2007.
Leading Cricket Canada officials, seemed delighted with the news, but other observers were left waiting to hear about major financial developments for the sport in this country.
At a St Lucia celebration dinner in the fall of 2006, former Ontario Minister Mike Colle had spoken of the need for the Federal Government to provide “20 times” the $1 million that the Ontario Government had given the Ontario Cricket Association. An amount that became famous as a result of the Ontario Auditor General’s Special Review on Year End Funding at the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. An original request from the then Canadian Cricket Association for $150,000 had been upped to $1 million with the OCA as recipient.
The ex-Minister will not have plucked the $1 million and $20 million figures from out of thin air. Someone will have produced some draft or ball-park figures behind the scenes on cricket’s infrastructure and support needs across the country.
But for today, it was time for smiles on the faces of Cricket Canada President Ben Sennik and CEO Atul Ahuja. It was not the day for asking about the lack of coverage on the official Cricket Canada website of the first Canadian Women’s cricket tour to Trinidad and Tobago in April. Especially not with two distinguished female guests, who needed to be treated well by the Canadian cricket family.
And thanks should go to the hosting Trinidad & Tobago Women’s Cricket Board of Control, as well as to the Federal and Ontario governments, Scotiabank and the work of the ICC Americas office.
Cricket Canada meetings continue over the next couple of days, according to one source.
How the new ODI shirts (West Indian tinges with a gray/grey body base) compare with the green and yellow trim on the white sweaters used by Canada in the ICC Intercontinental Cup Final can be left for another day. Hopefully the strategic plan looks vastly better, when complete.
Eddie Norfolk
The ICC Champions Trophy and the need for a balance in cricket -- Posted Saturday, June 21 2008
Eddie Norfolk
The captain’s of the teams playing in this year’s ICC Champions Trophy seem to have similar ideas that this competition is second only to the ICC Cricket World Cup, if you read the latest ICC Media release. Even Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni talks of the delight of beating CWC 2007 winners Australia during the northern hemisphere winter. But didn’t India win the inaugural World 20/20 in South Africa?
If there was such a thing as a proper ICC Test Match World Championship, which is potentially tough to arrange due to time taken for such matches, several, if not most of the captain’s would rank it above the CWC.
And in the overall cricketing mix, there must be a domestic structure with pinnacle competitions that are fed with players developed within the country from the bottom up. Players who began cricket by hitting or bowling balls on the beach, at the local park or against a building in the street where they live. They may have begun by playing with fathers or grandfathers or other kids in the neighbourhood or at school.
The magical appeal of cricket may have come from seeing the game on public television, from listening to the radio or from going to Test matches, ODIs, national competition matches or seeing the game at a local park. I wondered, on my way into Toronto’s G. Ross Lord Park a few weeks ago, does this South Asian family playing cricket near one of the park entrances realize that various Canadian, and possibly other, international players are currently playing in the opening games of the Toronto and District Cricket Association elsewhere in this park?
The answer was likely to be no. What efforts are made to ensure even those from cricket playing heritage countries who live in the Greater Toronto Area know about local, provincial and national cricket activities?
The Toronto and District School Board Athletic Association outdoor cricket championship final took place recently at Eglinton Flats. The Mississauga Ramblers ran outdoor invitational tournaments for both school girl and school boy teams at the Iceland oval ground in the two weeks before the Toronto finals. There was at least one member of the Scotiabank National T20 Cricket Champion Ontario B team playing in the boy’s event in Mississauga.
The Manitoba Cricket Association successfully ran its 19th annual Kanga Cricket Jamboree at Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg. Teams ranging from elementary to the top end of high school levels took part. One member of the ICC Americas Under-15 team that played in the CLICO International Under-15 tournament, an event targeted at being the World Championship for that age bracket, took part in the Junior High event. Trevor Manoosingh. It might have been a cameo appearance, but he was there, as was his father. Kids have to take exams and there are other things in the world beside cricket.
Schools and junior cricket is one of the priorities for Cricket Canada/The Canadian Cricket Association based on the last AGM and some other verbal or written utterances. How many Cricket Canada leaders were on hand to see these recent schools events, or even the recent Toronto Schools and Peel Regional Schools indoor championships?
None.
Canada’s women first played internationally as a country in Victoria, BC, against Bermuda in a Women’s World Cup Americas qualifying series that only took place due to one CCA official deciding Canada would play the new Bermuda side. A free passage to the next phase was thus turned down and Canada was edged out 2-1 in the series. Order was restored in 2007 as Canada won the inaugural ICC Americas Women’s Championship.
How many then CCA leaders turned up for the championship series?
Again, none.
The CCA President did appear for a while during the final day’s ICC Americas v Trinidad & Tobago Under-17 match, He was busy, and following various emails to try and inspire some attendance by someone on behalf of the CCA, he showed up.
He was around for a similar amount of time to his appearances at Men’s Senior Internationals in 2007. He put in about 3 hours at what was supposed to be the first National Universities and College Championships. And, in fairness, he did turn up at the T&D Junior Playoffs. North Star CC was behind that appearance as they arranged a lunch for various cricket people after the Under-13 Final at Sunnybrook Park, Toronto.
There is still confusion over when the Canada Cup Under-19 will be played this year. It seems there was little appetite to support another National or Ontario Colleges and Universities Championship this year, but colleges and universities cricket was to be a major building block for cricket in this country a year or two ago. Mere official words at a pre- or post-game series of speeches.
The 2006 Ontario and the 2007 ‘National’ (but only Ontario teams involved) events were largely down to the efforts of one person.
There has been a whole pile of smoke and mirrors, notices of intent with little time to respond on the official website and some fill-in-the-missing pieces ‘action at the last CCA AGM in November 2007 to prove the governing body means business now it has a supposedly paid CEO came on board.
But too much of it has been smoke and mirrors. Women with an interest in cricket had the chance to turn up on what proved a snowy day in Toronto for trials for the national women’s team. With something like 7 or 8 days notice if enthusiastically tracking the official CCA website.
To some newcomers to the scene, it might seem a start has been made. Behind the scenes it is largely recent or current international players and a few of the support people doing the work and providing the facilities.
But an inter-provincial championship was not new. It was even revived at the 50-overs a side level during the current President’s reign, with British Columbia winning. The present CCA Bylaws and Guidelines include a list of winners of past events.
And it turned out the women were to go on an overseas tour, helped by the Trinidad & Tobago Women’s Cricket Board. People may have missed the official announcements about this tour – I certainly did but I went to the first three matches. I even took in Tobago for the first time.
Then it was time to see another first, breaking my traditional concept of not spending money on myself, I hopped across to Barbados. ICC Americas Under-15’s beat Kenya in the first match played by an Americas side at this level. ICC Americas Under-19 was a forerunner at the Under-19 level to the appearance of Canada, USA and Bermuda at Under-19 CWC’s. The likes of Ashish Bagai, Kevin Sandher and Asif Mulla (for ICC Americas), later Umar Bhatti and Trevin Bastiampillai (via Canada U19) emerged via the U19 route to the senior Canadian side.
But what has Cricket Canada had to say about the four Canadian youngsters on the ICC Americas’ side?
Nothing.
New leagues and competitions were to emerge, based on post AGM announcements. There has been delivery on the Scotiabank National T20 Cricket Championship, but the promotion and organization by Cricket Canada was poor, especially from the angle of the players, match officials (umpires, match referees and scorers), most of the media (one or two newcomers might have been happy and accepted the rain interference as a material factor) and the public.
From arrival at the ground to see no welcome message from Cricket Canada or the ground authority to the closing speeches where it was claimed lots more people would have been present (but the car park overflowed on an add-on day and there was no public transit near the ground) there were ongoing issues. The published scorecards were, in my opinion, an insult to some of the scorers. All details were completed for the Quebec-British Columbia five-over game. The ONE scorer checked with the umpires, players and a ‘passing reporter’ on some specifics of catches and run-outs.
And when I moved across to see the close of Ontario A v Ontario B, I wondered why the game was continuing after Ontario B nudged a single that took them past the previous innings total on the scoreboard. How silly of me not to have known Ontario A had made 28, rather than 20 or 21. I had seen part of the game from the distance and have digital images to prove it.
Canadian cricket has massive potential, but it needs strategy, planning, management, organization, communication, education, infrastructure and realism at the helm and progressively extending down across the country. Now some parts of the country have reasonable organization at Provincial or League levels. But the Provinces and Leagues and clubs need support from the top so the game may develop at the bottom rung and at the High Performance levels.
The appearance on the scene of interest from Scotiabank and CBC (Canadian, not Caribbean, Broadcasting Corporation, for any overseas mainstream cricket follower) follows a trend in the build-up to CWC 2007. The mix needs to be broadened. Not just ‘the obvious’ sponsors and broadcasters are needed. But heck, “The Score” was spurned in May 2006 by the CCA leadership who did not even know the public channel existed. Yet it probably had the only Monday-Friday half-hour sportsnews program on Canadian TV in English that dealt with cricket.
Canadian cricket needs money. The players, coaches and many of the people who have kept the game alive. Let’s start to deal with the nonsense. And well done to Western Canada, not only the bastion of the Canadian Football League, but the bastion of the John Ross Robertson club championship of Canada. The Western event goes on June 28 and 29 in Riley Park, Calgary.
In a country where club cricket is the core of the grass roots, why do the current Cricket Canada leaders from the Toronto heartland want to kill off this event? It is, after all, a long-standing national championship.
The future of cricket, internationally as well as in Canada, depends on a proper balance of Test/4-day (Intercontinental Cup), ODI/World Cricket League 50-over and T20 matches at the international level, balance between international and domestic competitions, and infrastructure (human and financial) to properly support the development of the game in Canada.
The last time I sent a photo directly to the Canadian Cricket Association, for the usual fee of nothing, was after a net session in St Lucia. I do not believe it was posted on the official website. It showed the Canadian squad and support team in training gear, so Canada’s sponsors (DST Output and Slazenger) were more visible and it included the St Lucian players who bowled during Canada’s nets. It was our way of saying thank-you.
It would have been nice to receive an answer to simple questions from Cricket Canada, such as is there a Scotiabank branding on the upcoming ODI series with Bermuda or even details of the scheduled start time. I was pleasantly surprised earlier this year that someone at the MCC responded within less than two business days on something to do with the Laws of the Game.
And on Friday, we shall hear the latest on the Canadian Federal Government’s support for cricket. This, despite the fact, a solid thank-you for the original $40,000 in March 2007 barely had a message of thanks from the CCA.
The official CCA website report on its AGM 2007 spoke of the name change to Cricket Canada making the title more bilingual. But when Quebec played in the Final of the Scotiabank National T20, the anthem was sung in English. But the Quebec flag flew. And in the GTA ‘Mecca’ of Canadian cricket, the flags of Canada and Ontario were nowhere to be seen.
Well, in August 2006, I was not “glad Kenya won (first ODI)” but ‘we’ could have learned many things from Cricket Kenya. One was to properly re-state the financial situation (they declared an opening deficit of $500,000 US, if memory serves me correctly), build bridges with past sponsors and develop new relationships. They signed some deals that were solid (did anyone ever see a Slazenger bat in use by a Canadian player, as per the original CCA website posting?), they arranged to play ICC Full Member A-teams to help development and have been working to expand junior and school cricket.
There was even a Program for the Kenyan Under-15 team’s participation in the CLICO International Under-15 tournament in the West Indies. It includes player profiles for players it hopes will be in contention for Under-19 CWC places when Kenya hosts the next event in 2010.
There was a whole host of nonsense I encountered during my 2-3 months with the CCA in April-May 2006. One email told me we could not even post an ICC Media release on the official website as we had not applied to host the 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Far less could we use a piece where I stated we had not been awarded the 2009 ICC World Cup qualifying event.
The ICC in Dubai told me Canada had applied. And since being awarded the event had dawdled along instead of showing dynamic commitment and getting on with things. Some grass pitches might have been in place by now across the country if Canadian cricket was properly run.
And cricket would be allied with the efforts to have the Pan-American Games in Toronto.
It’s time for someone to deal with some of the self-praise and self-interest aspects that have and are holding back the progress of cricket in Canada. The good news for Cricket Canada, is that some other national sporting bodies are not well run and include issues between East and West provinces or French-English before hitting any real issues. But various layers of government provide funding. One sport managed to appoint a CEO without board approval, the board overturned the appointment and a multi-million dollar lawsuit was issued by the short-lived ex-CEO.
What price management?
But the CCA/Cricket Canada leadership like to have positive publicity. Well, perhaps the CCA fiscal performance in 2006-2007 was better than Bear Stearns.
But with proper leadership, surely a loss could have been averted in a year when Canada played in the top ICC competition, scoring 249 runs in its final innings against a Full Member Country, and when it played in the top ICC Associate one-day competition and the Final of the Associate’s First Class competition?
A balance between form and substance is imperative. Why wasn’t the official logo for the Scotiabank National T20 Cricket Championship displayed at the Maple Leaf CC entrance by Cricket Canada?
There is a basic concept that you have to spend money to make money.
Someone who was interested in the CCA CEO position even phoned me from Europe on the eve of applications closing. He had cricketing pedigree but he had not received answers to some email inquiries about some of the specifics. He mentioned ‘low-key’ in relation to the promotion of the 2001 ICC Trophy by the CCA in the Toronto area. Our discussions confirmed it was still low key. In the circumstances, he saw the potential but realized it might be a rocky road. So in the course of the two hours, or so, I confirmed I would drop off an application for the CEO job position to see if I would be an acceptable candidate.
I laughed when a letter arrived from the CCA informing me I had not reached the interview stage. The signature at the foot of the letter provided the bulk of the amusement. It provided a link to a fairly feeble CCA presentation during a one-day seminar at the University of Toronto a few weeks earlier. [For the record, the reason so many people in the St Lucia crowds were wearing Canadian training shirts rather than replica game shirts was due to distribution errors. One of a few facts learned during a public relations “Canada Day in St Lucia” during CWC 2007.
Man-of-the-Match in one T20 semi-final Manoj David, by the way, played for British Columbia (yellow shirts) rather than Quebec (light blue shirts). It’s just so unbelievable, and so sad.
But the times may be a-changin’, or about to change, more than some Canadian cricket “leaders” think. The axe is getting into position for at least one of them from the grass-roots level.
I have failed on one major target since returning from the ICC Intercontinental Cup Final loss to Ireland in May 2007. I wanted to recruit and train more people to report and photograph the Canadian cricket scene. But, in the short-term, who would have paid?
The same person who currently ‘pays’ me to go to the various matches and events. Me.
So a whole pile of news, potential stories, photos and video footage remains unpublished, but more significantly, a whole pile of submitted ideas remain unused or poorly implemented. But it’s not only my advice and help that has been turned aside in recent years by the CCA/Canada Cricket. But hope came out of a number of recent events.
The challenge is to keep the high performance side going – which should not be a major problem given the playing depth available in Canada – and transform the junior and schools side of the game into a much bigger component. Then move the juniors and school players into an enhanced club game with, hopefully, sponsored leagues and other competitions.
Much of which stems from planning and implementing ‘the basics’. As in cricket, so in life, or vice-versa. Line and length. Play down the line-of-the-ball. Plan and implement properly. Prioritize properly, adjusting to significant opportunities. Focus.
Canadian Immigrant montly notes the RBC Wicket Cricket Program -- Posted Saturday, June 21 2008
The April 2008 issue of Canadian Immigrant, a free monthly magazine, contained a section headed "Cricket comes to Canada" in its "Health" section (more specifically on Page 12 of that issue.)
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) Director, Cultural Markets, Mr. Mark Whitnell, spoke of the bank's interest in helping to build the sport in Canada. RBC has introduced the RBC Wicket Cricket program, aimed at schools and communities from the second to sixth grades.
School teachers, community leaders and coaches are able to register for RBC Wicket Cricket via www.rbc.com/cricket. The plastic sets of kit include two sets of stumps (with bases), two bats, two balls and six cones (for use as boundary markers, although they could also support fitness drills).
Canadian Immigrant montly reported close to 400 schools across the country had registered for the RBC Wicket Cricket Program. Indeed I was told some sets of RBC-branded cricket equipment had arrived for some Winnipeg elementary schools on a recent trip to Manitoba.
So take a look at the rbc website and many may also be interested in Canadian Immigrant (www.Canadianimmigrant.ca), which has a motto of "Inform, Educate, Motivate."
RBC feel this equipment scheme is the best way to help schools and communities from the ground up respond to kids and their families who are passionate about the game." So interested youngsters in grades two-to-six should politely ask your teachers, coaches and community leaders to sign-up for the program, if they have not already done so.
And when the kit arrives, say thanks to RBC and work on your friends who prefer sports like baseball, soccer and football playing friends to try out cricket. It worked well at the Manitoba Kanga Ball Jamboree.
Eddie Norfolk
Western Union 20/20 Cricket at the Guyana Independence Festival in Toronto -- Posted Saturday, June 21 2008
Last year I saw part of the Guyana v Guyanese Canadians cricket match at Lamoreaux Park Cricket Ground in Scarborough , Ontario . Scarborough being the eastern part of the City of Toronto . I discovered the game as a result of tracking cricket news in some of the multitude of ethnic newspapers available in the Greater Toronto Area, some of which reach to other Canadian major cities and some extend across North America.
This year, the 42nd Independence Guyana Festival is being staged in the Toronto area, under the auspices of the Consulate General of Guyana, from June 20-22 at Lamoreaux Community Centre and Grounds. The Centre and grounds are at the intersection of Kennedy and McNicoll in Scarborough .
This year, the Western Union Guyana Festival 20/20 cricket will include four teams competing for $20,000 in cash and prizes, according to the event newspaper. Teams from the Toronto & District Cricket Association, the Scarborough Cricket League, Western Canada and the Guyana National Team will be competing.
There will be two games on Saturday and two on Sunday. The first match starts at noon each day. Admission is $3 for adults. Children 10 and under are free. There were all kinds of food stands last year at the ground and there was a great atmosphere.
Lamoreaux Park is quite a nice ground, usually used by the Scarborough Cricket League, but some players hop between different leagues so they can play more matches during the season.
The Guyanese High Commissioner to Canada is due to be at the Festival. He is based on Ottawa but was in Winnipeg a couple of weekends ago and saw play in the Manitoba Cricket Association, after supporting other local Guyanese celebrations in the Winnipeg area.
Last year Guyana beat a Canadian Guyanese side containing several Canadian international players.
A four team soccer competition and softball matches are also on the sporting agenda. Other cultural, trade show, tourism and food festival aspects are across the road around the Community Centre. So it is a place for young and old, but especially the young at heart.
** With thanks to the organizers and to Mr. Ron Fanfair who contributed to the cricket section of this year's event guide newspaper.
*** There is more cricket in the western part of Toronto and in neighbouring Mississauga, as the Ontario Senior Championship begins on Saturday at Centennial Park, Etobcioke and the Iceland Cricket Oval, Mississauga. One Inter-league match per day takes place at each ground on June 21st and 22nd.
A third round of matches is scheduled for June 28th. Semi-finals follow on July 5 and the Final is at Centennial Park on July 6th.
Eddie Norfolk
The future of cricket in Waterloo Park, Waterloo, Ontario -- Posted Monday, June 16 2008
Eddie Norfolk
A Community Study was underway in the City of Waterloo, Ontario, regarding future developments for Waterloo Park. This large park in the centre of the City was used for the 2006 Athlostan Cup featuring Ontario and Quebec.
At the time there were hopes of the City developing a new pavilion for the cricket ground, where previously baseball diamonds had been in place. A local councillor provided useful help for the Waterloo Sunrise club at the time and the same councillor was on hand for the 2007 John Ross Robertson (Eastern) Semi-final match between Waterloo Sunrise Browne (2006 Southern Ontario Cricket Association Champions) and Yorkshire CC (2006 Toronto & District Cricket Association Champions).
The net facility reflects the old baseball usage for the area. One side of the ground has a grassy bank on which spectators can sit and watch the game, as happens in some other leading grounds around the world. Ideally, this ground should have a grass wicket, have some levelling of the outfield and a new pavilion. Ground levelling would require part of the existing grassy bank to be moved back.
Again, ideally, the grassy bank could be extended around the ground, with some of the existing young trees re-located. A sign on the roadway near the ground could be erected showing the route to the cricket ground. It is a major league sized park, split by a river and lake, with many entrances.
Now I now know how to get to the cricket ground very easily - even by bus from Toronto to the walking distance of the correct entrance of the park. Others might struggle, initially, even by road to find the cricket ground.
Now I have heard the City would provide a replacement cricket field in another part of the City. There is a second ground at Laurel Creek where, with proper support, the Kaiteur CC, would love to have some enhancements made to the ground.
I see one Ontario Provincial Ministry provided help to one of the other clubs in the league where Sunrise and Kaiteur play. A different ministry to the one involved in the "Ontario Grants Scandal" where a Canadian Cricket Association (CCA) request for $150,000 was transposed into $1 million for the Ontario Cricket Association (OCA).
One Cricket Official spoke after the recent Scotiabank National T20 Cricket Championship about the OCA seeking input from the Citizenship and Immigration Ministry on how best to spend the remaining money.
It begged the key question: why don't the official cricket leaders of Ontario and Cricket Canada, previously the CCA know? And don't get me wrong, I include the 2006 leaders in with the current ones. So the Past President of the OCA and his then 1st Vice-President (now elevated to President) are in the mix.
Perhaps the lack of a systemic approach is a major factor. There's at least one Federal Government facility in the City of Toronto - the "Mecca" of Canadian Cricket, if not the Universe, for those who think like the hockey version of the Toronto Maple Leafs leaders - where some $4-5 million would be an initial investment to get an outdoor ground with an indoor net and fitness facility off the ground over a starting 5 year period. A too-short a period for proper fiscal planning - at least 10 to 20 years should be considered.
A pile of grounds and potential playing areas in the Cities of Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Markham, Ajax and into the Golden Horseshoe areas where the Hamilton and District Cricket League operates. Ottawa's Rideau Hall facility could do with some funding. At minimum a decent lawnmower and some kind of outfield rolling and work.
Someone might even buy some new netting for the two mobile nets sitting idly on the western side of the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, so those nets could be put to proper use somewhere in the GTA.
And there are cities and provinces beyond Ontario where cricket is currently played or might be expanded to be played.
There seem to be no end of Federal, Provincial and Local government funding schemes to achieve some of these ends provided:
a) somebody identifies specific needs (from small to great);
b) quantifies the costs, and even potential revenue streams; and
c) submits properly completed applications in a timely manner (or, on a go-forward basis, at least tries to make up lost ground).
And money could also come from a whole range of private and public companies and businesses.
But someone needs to ensure the public and private sector organizations and companies that provide tangible support are rewarded by evidence of publicly documented thanks and public recognition.
I had no idea a certain Chamber of Commerce had provided, by early 21st and later 20th century CCA standards, a substantial amount of financial support in 2006-7. It sounded plausible, but it has not been verbally mentioned at any public cricket function/event or through any CCA writing or website disclosure that I have seen to date.
Later this week, there is due to be a media conference where the Federal Government is to disclose further support for cricket.
Perhaps before that media conference, the official Canada Cricket website - now updated to show a third logo for Cricket Canada in the space of what, 3 months (did anyone win the advertised competition?) - might perhaps disclose the starting time for the ODIs against Bermuda, or even confirm the specific three dates (June 28, 29 and July 1 as per the ICC and other cricket knowledgeable entities). Heaven forbid, it might even disclose a squad and even confirm if the ODIs are branded as a Scotiabank ODI, as might be the original Tri-Series event due in August and possibly a new series involving Pakistan.
The existing CCA Bylaws and Guidelines are far from perfect, but evidence that AGMs should be properly advertised in advance, that representative games should be publicized in advance and some other suggestions on how to properly organize such events. Also, at some point in CCA history, there was a semi-annual AGM in April just before the outdoor domestic cricket season begins. So the cricket community could come together and know what is going to happen in advance.
Now sometimes extra opportunities might arise, but the chance to exploit these should stem from following all kinds of basics. It can be difficult to turn up and see some event of significance or be at the event 'at the right time' where there is little or no disclosure.
I wonder if someone has arranged for York Regional Transit to run buses either along Bloomington Road/15th Sideroad, or extend it's 'Eric Lindros' bus to run past Maple Leaf CC for the Sunday June 29 and Canada Day (July 1) matches with Bermuda?
It did not happen. Neither would the potential masses who might have arrived by road been able to park in the Maple Leaf CC car park. It overflowed on the Monday when the 2-day version of the event schedule might already have ended, had it not rained. And the National Selectors might have been watching an All-Star Game from 8 am that apparently was not worth charging $5 admission to see.
Someone asked me yesterday if the renovations at the Toronto club would be completed in time for the ODIs in August. I don't know and at times I wonder if I care?
I care about the game, I care about the players, the umpires, the scorers, the followers of Canadian cricket, the potential followers and players of cricket in Canada and about some of the administrators in Canada and abroad.
And on Sunday I saw thunder and rain at one venue and puddles at another. Some other people got to see themselves playing from a previous day on my laptop.
And the Toronto Lynx got $10 from me when I stopped by on the way home to see part of a US development league game with the West Virginia Chaos. The free 4-page program was much better than Cricket Canada or the CCA has produced in recent times.
And the model Cricket Canada ought to follow is not the ice hockey NHL Toronto Maple Leafs but the model of the Intercounty Baseball Toronto Maple Leafs, now celebrating 40 years of existence.
Cricket Canada's organizational and promotional efforts for the Scotiabank National T20 hardly reached those of some Toronto clubs in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.
So let's hope for significant improvements for the ODI series with Bermuda. Perhaps someone from Cricket Canada might publicly thank the Trinidad and Tobago Women's Cricket Board for the help and support those people provided during the inaugural Canadian Women's overseas tour.
But perhaps that tour was a figment of my imagination, or a piece of "media creativity", to quote from my first phone call with Cricket Canada CEO Mr Atul Ahuja.
I wonder if he, or President and CEO Mr. Ben Sennik, knows four Canadian junior cricketers were in the ICC Americas Development squad that played in the CLICO International Under-15 tournament in the West Indies?
There were some more things that could have been learned from Cricket Kenya by people like Ben Sennik and Atul Ahuja, to harken back to the "I'm glad Kenya won' speech delivered by Mr. Sennik after the first home ODI against Kenya in 2006. A speech partly recorded in the Wisden Cricketers Almanack.
And let's not go down the path of contact information for potential Canadian participation in the second Stanford 20/20 event in the West Indies being passed on to Mr. Sennik back in August 2006.
I saw a century on Saturday in the Southern Ontario Cricket Association that was helped by 5 dropped catches. How many catches have various CCA leaders and VPs dropped or not event got a finger on since preparations for the 2001 ICC Trophy began?
A friend of mine used to wonder why I used some labels for different situations or types of people during my more senior days in internal audit. But eventually she found some new experiences and introduced the term "meeting people" which is a noun. There are certainly several "meeting people" in Canadian cricket administration, some who are gurus of "one-way street people" mentality.
Let's leave it at that for now. Far too many photographs and/or epic quotes of self-praise, self-interest, myopic vision or complete ignorance are available from recent times on the leadership and administration side of Canadian cricket circles to select a mere one or two,
But perhaps another day I will explain to Mr. Ben Sennik my interpretation of his 2006 comment "We (in Canadian cricket) could learn something from Cricket Kenya".
On Friday we might learn something from the Sports Minister. Will it be enough?
Have some of the recent smoke and mirrors notices been sufficient?
The future of cricket in Waterloo Park, Waterloo, Ontario, is just one detail in the patchwork quilt of modern Canadian cricket. The City of Waterloo official web-site has a section for local residents to provide their comments on the future development of Waterloo Park.
The future of cricket in Canada hinges off the development of a true Canadian cricket culture. Something an increasing number of people around certain cricket grounds are realizing.
Twenty over cricket is not a 21st century invention. Not even in Canada.
But branding and marketing to try and expand the market of cricket, originally in England, in a 20 over format is different. As was the introduction of the 40-over Sunday League and the rise of overseas players on the County Championship circuit back in the 1960s.
Oddly enough, if members of the BCCI who originally objected to 20/20 cricket and wondered openly about variants of the game with 25, 15 or however many overs per side knew their global cricketing history, England had already come up with what proved a one-season less than wonder event; a 10-overs a side county championship, played over just 2 nights!
Clive Lloyd captained the winning Lancashire side.
Someone could set up a 10-over World Championship circuit at NFL grounds, baseball stadia...and how about a special ball version for NHL arenas. The Cayman Islands used to have a special golf ball that 'only went half the distance of a normal ball'.
And how appropriate to end on golf. The marketing mantra for 20/20 cricket in North American markets claims it is ideal due to sports followers only being interested in games with short duration. How many hours of TV coverage was there for the US Open Golf championship this past weekend?
Understanding the potential of different market segments - "know your customer" - is key to being able to exploit the various segments and sectors. And similar considerations apply in working out who you could get to sponsor different levels of cricket.
Even, if not especially, in Canada.
At least one of my new friends in Manitoba Schools Cricket had just received some cricket equipment from RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) before the MCA Kanga Ball Jamboree. The monthly 'Canadian Immigrant' had an article about the RBC scheme and seemed to think cricket was pretty invisible in this country.
Footnote: The Spring 2008 City of Waterloo 'Programs and Activities Guide' contained an article about the Waterloo Park Master Plan. Residents were asked to complete the survey at www.waterloo.ca/survey.
Windsor surges, stumbles, then scrapes home against Kaiteur -- Posted Monday, June 16 2008
Windsor surges, stumbles, then scrapes home against Kaiteur
Southern Ontario Cricket Association: Laurel Creek, Waterloo – June 14, 2008
Kaiteur 238 all out (40 overs) lost to Windsor 239 for 6 wickets (39.2 overs)
Windsor Cricket Club was surging towards a 239 run target against Kaiteur on Saturday at Laurel Park, Waterloo (Ontario) until the magical changing fortunes of cricket took over. A barrage of sixes, mixed in with well placed shots for 1’s and 2’s, seemed to be making the outcome a forgone conclusion. The first wicket stand had taken the score to 99, opening bat was going well, making the occasional big hit for six into the natural undergrowth and forest at Laurel Creek during this stand.
It was 93 for no wicket after 21 overs and Kaiteur’s world was crumbling as the total reached 183 for one wicket after 30 overs. There were still some 55 runs to go from 10 overs - the game had a delayed start. Left-handed number three bat Bijan Patel brought up the 200 with a six in the 33rd over….and then it happened. Opener Kamal was caught on the boundary, just behind square-leg for 104.
It was his first century and he showed some fine strokes. Now he did benefit from the old saying about catches winning matches, being dropped five times. The fifth chance was tough as the sun was low and the ball was on a similarly low line of fire. But some of the previous four chances ought to have been grabbed. But Kamal had kept going and left with the score on 205. Catching success returned and Patel was next out for 60. A silly run out made it 214 for 4 (34 overs) and another catch in the deep made it 223 for 5.
Ten runs were needed in 3 overs. Six needed from 2 overs. Some dot balls, a fine, low catch by a fielder in possibly a very short-extra cover position – or a wide-ish, deep silly-midoff and just one run from the 39th over meant 5 runs were needed off the last over.
But a couple of friendly deliveries down the leg side brought a two and then the winning three to see Windsor home with 4 balls to spare. The two included an overthrow.
Gobin Nandu took 3 wickets for 47 runs from 6 overs. Figures reflecting the contrasting tone of the game as the second wicket barrage turned to a stutter.
Earlier, Kaiteur number nine bat, Narine Permaul had pushed his team’s score to greater heights with a fine 53 runs. The home innings was well underway when I arrived as even I spend time on other things. The last wicket fell on the final ball of the 40 overs. Argune Nandu made 31 runs higher up the batting order. The number ten bat had made a useful contribution.
And the mosquitos bit and the nettles stung. But it was fun and it was quite a nice ground with a nice pavilion, and some youngsters played with cricket bat and ball during the innings break.
Current unofficial and incomplete standings for the Southern Ontario Cricket Association see three teams with two wins and 16 points: Sunrise Onkar (P2, W2), Kaiteur (P3, W2, L1) and Sunrise Browne (P3, W2, L1). Windsor has one win (8 points) from the one result I know. But when three missing results materialize, something will change. But the results and standings are starting to come together, driven by the grass-roots people who play, umpire and score at these matches.
Some other matches on the original schedule were postponed due to exam commitments for various players at schools and universities.
There was an interesting message about people not being allowed to walk on the ski trails. I suspect I did, but with the sun blazing down, there was no danger of snow in the Kitchener-Waterloo region of the Great White North on Saturday June 14. The outfield was nicely cut to a short length, but next time I’ll try to remember not to wear shorts at this tree-lined, conservation area ground. But the bites and stings have shrunk overnight.
Eddie Norfolk
Ireland to host inaugural World Twenty20 qualifiers -- Posted Sunday, June 15 2008
Ireland will host the inaugural World Twenty20 Qualifiers between August 2 and 4, with the top six Associates vying for the two places available to them in next year's ICC World Twenty20 in England.
The hosts are the No.1 seeds and have been placed in Group A, which also includes Scotland and Bermuda. Group B comprises Kenya, Netherlands and Canada. The seedings were decided according to how the teams stood in the one-day rankings on February 2.
The tournament will be the first time that Ireland, Bermuda, Netherlands, and Canada have played international Twenty20s. Kenya and Scotland had their first experience of the format when they took part in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa last year.
There will be three matches a day, all hosted at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. The opening game will be between Kenya and Netherlands.
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/354462.html
TURF WICKETS AT KING CITY -- Posted Saturday, June 14 2008
It has been the intention and priority to maximize the usage of available turf wickets within our infrastructures. This will promote the highest caliber of Cricket and will enable our players to thrive at the highest level.
Maple Leaf Cricket Club (MLCC) has been enormously supportive of our initiatives in this regard and will play an active role in ensuring maximum throughput relating to these turf wickets. In order to achieve this, it is imperative that we give necessary authority to MLCC to maintain and manage the games played on these turf wickets as this will benefit our member clubs imminently. As you would imagine, our Elite Division teams will be given the priority to play on these turf wickets.
With immediate effect, MLCC will have the authority to move the games within it's facility - King City - the same day. Therefore, we kindly request you to advise all your players to be prepared for these changes and be adequately equipped with necessary footwear - spikes and rubber.
You can be rest assured that we are working on a more effective protocol to be implemented for the future.
Please do not hesitate to offer recommendations on how to better effectively manage these turf wickets.
We thank you in advance for your fullest cooperation in this matter.
Report sourced from:-
www.kholvad.com/cricket
One of the oldest cricket clubs in western Canada -- Posted Friday, June 13 2008
The Edmonton Cricket Club was founded in 1882 six years prior to the establishment of the Vancouver Cricket Club. Early history indicates games were played against teams from Fort Saskatchewan and Strathcona.
By 1912, cricket had a considerable following and the EDCL (Edmonton and District Cricket League) was established.
Today our club plays in the 1st Division of the EDCL with five other teams. We are one of the few clubs in Canada to have our own private ground located in St.Albert.
Edmonton Cricket Club is the very first cricket club in Alberta Canada to establish a presence on the World Wide Web. Our club motto is Victi vel victores ad amphoras eamus
Information sourced from:-
http://www.angelfire.com/ab/ecc/
Woburn Collegiate wins second straight city cricket title -- Posted Thursday, June 12 2008
Toronto's Woburn Collegiate Institute has won their city cricket title for the second year in a row.
The final game victory over North Albion on Wednesday, June 4 "was way too close for comfort... a real nail biter," according to coach Mitch Allibone.
Woburn is now undefeated in two seasons in both league and playoff action.
Woburn batted first, making 79 runs in 25 overs.
"Typically not a lot of runs for our team," said Allibone.
North Albion got their chance and although they started slowly, "by the beginning of the 25th over they were behind by only four runs, and with nine wickets out," said Allibone, adding that it was "way too close for comfort."
But it was Woburn's day for victory.
The hero of the game for Woburn, said the coach, was team captain Devang Patel who bowled out North Albion Collegiate's last batter making the 10th wicket and giving Woburn the city title.
"Devang got the 10th wicket in the last over of the game by an incredible bowl," said Allibone.
"North Albion only needed four runs in about six bowls, easy to do, to win, but Devang shut them down."
Other players deserving honourable mention, he said, were Parth Desai, Asad Ali, Agam Joshi and Hiral Patel, our vice-captain.
Woburn won its semi-final earlier in the day over C.W. Jefferies in seven wickets, by a score of 74 runs.
"The team played very well in this game... fine batting, bowling, fielding... they played like a well-oiled machine," said Allibone. "Asad Ali took five wickets and Parth Desai, our MVP, made 25 runs."
Article sourced from:- www.insidetoronto.com
Canada face Kenya, Holland in World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast -- Posted Thursday, June 12 2008
ICC media release
The International Cricket Council today announced the schedule for the inaugural six-team ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier (WT20 Qualifier), which will take place in Irelandfrom 2 to 4 August.
Kenya and theNetherlandswill get the short, sharp tournament off to an exciting start in Stormont as the picturesqueBelfastvenue will host three matches per day culminating in the final on the Monday afternoon.
At stake, apart from the pride of being the top Associate team in this form of the game, will be a place in the ICC World Twenty20 2009 being staged inEngland. Both finalists from this event will qualify for the big one which will take place at Lord’s, the Oval and TrentBridge next June.
The WT20 Qualifier involves two groups of three teams playing a total of nine matches over three days.Ireland,Scotlandand Bermuda make up Group A whileKenya, theNetherlandsandCanada will fight it out for supremacy of Group B.
This is the first tournament of its kind in Associate cricket and some of the participating teams have not played Twenty20 Internationals before so there is no Twenty20 ranking system for these teams. For this reason, the seedings were decided on the basis of how the teams stood in the ICC ODI rankings, the cut-off date being 2 February, six months before the start of the tournament.
As such, with Irelandplaced 10thon the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship table it is the top-ranked Associate ODI side in the world and the number-one seed for this event.Kenya is seeded second followed byScotland,Netherlands, CanadaandBermuda in that order.
Although this is essentially a three-day event, a fourth day has been set aside as a reserve day in the event of rain.
The WT20 Qualifier is part of a busy international calendar for many of the top Associate sides. All six teams will be involved in ODI series at some stage over the next three months while each of them, apart fromKenya, also has ICC Intercontinental Cup fixtures coming up before the end of August.
ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
Belfast, Ireland
Groupings (seedings in brackets based on ODI rankings as at 2 February 2008)
Group A
Ireland(1)
Scotland(3)
Bermuda(6)
Group B
Kenya (2)
Netherlands(4)
Canada (5)
Tournament Schedule
Day 1 (Saturday 2 August)
Group B –Kenya vNetherlands(0930)
Group A –Ireland vScotland(1300)
Group B –Netherlandsv Canada(1630)
Day 2 (Sunday 3 August)
Group B –Scotland vBermuda(0930)
Group A –Kenya vCanada(1300)
Group B –Ireland vBermuda(1630)
Day 3 (Monday 4 August)
Semi-final 1 – Group A winner v Group B runner-up (0930)
Semi-final 2 – Group A runner-up v Group B winner (1300)
Final (1630)
Day 4 – Tuesday 5 August
Reserve day only
Results from the Southern Ontario Cricket Association (SOCA) -- Posted Wednesday, June 11 2008
(Eddie Norfolk)
The following are best-basis scores for the main 45-over league of the Southern Ontario Cricket Association (SOCA). Requests to find contact information for certain clubs so missing scores will appear have, so far, failed to produces results but the good news is that the league is back in action after grinding to a halt last summer during the playoffs.
There are now two Under-19 teams playing in this league: Cavaliers (who are based in Windsor) and St Jacobs (the Under-19 side of the Waterloo Sunrise club). This should be good for the future of the league as it brings an infusion of young talent.
The young St Jacobs side battled away well against Sunrise Onkar at Waterloo Park on Sunday June 1, but in the end lost by 34 runs.
On the opening weekend, Sunrise Onkar, the Waterloo club's second team, beat Sunrise Browne, the first team, by 2 wickets.
The 45-over league season has now reached the 14 game mark, which is two thirds of the way through the schedule. There are 8 points for a win and 4 points for a tie or an abandoned match. Playoffs follow later in the season.
The T20 league was due to start last weekend, and on June 28-30 the Waterloo Sunrise club is hosting an Under-19 competition at Waterloo Park.
Best wishes to all playing and supporting cricket in Southern Ontario.
Matches and Results to date
May 24
Cavaliers v Cavaliers U19 in Windsor (unknown result)
May 25
Kaiteur 108 all out (A. Nandu 49, Mohsin 4 wickets for 16) beat St Jacobs U19 75 all out (C. Argonen 4 wickets for 20, Z. Rosan 3 wickets for 15) by 33 runs
Sunrise Browne 120 all out (Inderjit Dhaliwal 43, Arjit 3 wickets for 28, Parveen Sharma 4 wickets for 8) lost to Sunrise Onkar 121 for 8 wickets (Neeraj 54, Farhan 21, Majed 4 wickets for 38, Kuldeep 2 wickets for 10) by 2 wickets
Windsor v Cavaliers U19 (unknown result)
May 31
Sunrise Browne 201/7 (Sanjay 34, Mansoor37, Kamal 28 for 3) beat Windsor 126/7 (Kamal 62, Sarabjit 27 for 3, Perneet 28 for 2) by 75 runs
Cavaliers v Kaiteur (unkown result)
June 1
Cavaliers U19 35 all out (Sarabjit 12 for 5, Wajid 11 for 4) lost to Sunrise Browne (unknown total) (Himant 27, Krishna 7 for 1) by ? wickets
Onkar 212 (Neeraj 63, Ammar 33, Tahir 4 wickets for 30) beat St Josephs 178 (Waleed 33, Abdullah Sheikh 27. M. Lalva 26, Pankaj 4 wickets for 38 runs) by 34 runs
June 7 Scheduled matches were
Browne Cavaliers
Windsor Onkar
Cavaliers U19 St Josephs U19
June 8 Scheduled matches were
Windsor St Josephs
Cavaliers Onkar
June 14 Scheduled 45-over match
Kaiteur Windsor (Laurel Park, Waterloo)
Help Save Hugo Ray -- Posted Wednesday, June 11 2008
There is a current application to re-develop Hugo Ray Park with an artificial/synthetic turf for field hockey use. This change would end cricket at Hugo Ray Park, one of the best cricket grounds in Canada. Cricket lacks adequate training/playing facilities in Canada, and the proposed redevelopment of Hugo Ray Park will have a significant negative impact on the future of cricket.
We are asking our players and supporters to fill the City Hall today evening in support of the Cricket Club. The District of West Vancouver will be discussing (and possibly voting) on the future of Hugo Ray Park and we want to show the City that we are willing to fight to save the premier field for cricket. Please make very effort to attend the meeting and show that you care!
The City Hall address is 750 - 17th Street (take the 15th Street exit off Hwy #1 - just west of the Taylor and head south to it Esquimalt Road and then turn right). The plan is meet at the City Hall at 6 pm and ensure that we all get seating and the speakers will need to register.
If you need more information, please call Alex at 778 229 7858.
Thanks in advance for your support! This is a fight that we can win!
Article sourced from:-
http://www.bcmcl.org/
Junior Six-A-Side Tournament - Metro Vancouver Cricket Leagu -- Posted Wednesday, June 11 2008
More news on Junior Cricket comes from the Metro Vancouver Cricket League website
Rain clouds and an intermittent post-lunch drizzle did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of players, parents and other supporters at Sperling Park on May 19, 2008, when the inaugural Junior Six-A-Side Tournament of the MVCL got off to a great start at 9 a.m. Tournament organizer Anil Khanna had matters well in hand and by noon one could feel the excitement and anticipation amongst the juniors as to which team would be declared winner of the tournament. True sportsmanship was evident, particularly when some of these youngsters after performing well with the bat, retired and asked that they be replaced by their team mates so that they also would have an opportunity of contributing to the performance of the team.
Winner Master Blasters Juniors I
Runner Up MVCL Juniors
Consolation Winner Ismaili Juniors
Best Batsman Charith Ariyarathne (Vancouver Juniors) - 51runs
Best Bowler Sachin Phadkar (Arbutus Juniors) - 3 for 9runs
Most Sixes Anushka Indrasiri (Ismaili Juniors) - 7 Sixes
Sincere thanks to the Umpires and Scorer for their services, to all those who were present at the event to support and encourage the players, and to Taj Mohamed and his crew for providing a great BBQ lunch for everyone in attendance.
Guyana’s High Commissioner watches Manitoba Cricket -- Posted Tuesday, June 10 2008
Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Mr. Rajnarine Singh, visited Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, the home ground of the Manitoba Cricket Association (MCA) on Sunday (June 8th). He saw play in the day’s three league matches, mingled with spectators and players and gave a brief talk after the last match ended. He told local players and officials. “I wish you all the best. I enjoyed the cricket and keep the flag flying.” This remark embraced both keeping the cricket flag flying, and for many meant retaining links to their Guyanese heritage.
The High Commissioner was introduced to three Canadian-born youngsters of Guyanese heritage who played in the Guayanese Association of Manitoba’s winning side in Saturday’s MCA Kanga Ball Jamboree Junior High schools event. The players, Sanjay Singh, Bryan Chandar and Anthony Chandar were reminded of the need to concentrate on their studies, as well as enjoying their cricket”. The Guyanese Association placed second, behind Prince Edward in the Elementary section of the Jamboree.
Sisler edged out Dakota in the High School’s section. Both schools had records of 3 wins and 1 defeat, but Sisla won the head-to-head match by x runs.
This was no mere passing glance at cricket in Winnipeg. The High Commissioner stayed beyond the end of play and enjoyed the buffet of typical Guyanese cuisine that followed.
The local Guyanese Association President, Mr. Kamta Singh, formally welcomed Mr. Singh, and MCA President Mr. John Lovelace also welcomed this visit. Mr. Lovelace pointed to the progress of the young Guyanese cricketers as evidence of the desire of the cricket association to promote the game in the schools and at youth levels in the province.
The league matches on Sunday saw Cosmos beat Bloomfield in Division 1 by 59 runs. In Division 2, Seahawks beat the MCA Under-19 XI by 121 runs and Lions II beat Eldorado by 29 runs. The MCA hosts league matches at Assiniboine Park on Saturday’s and Sundays into September. Recreational matches are held on Wednesday evenings.
The High Commissioner’s visit to Winnipeg included a Saturday event hosted by the Guyanese Association of Manitoba that tied in with the country’s upcoming celebration of 42 years of independence.
MCA Sunday Scoring Summary
Division 1
Cosmos 223 runs for 6 wickets (Sunny Mangat 51 runs, Matt Dalloo 37 runs) beat Bloomfield 164 all out (Gulam Murtaza 37 runs) by 59 runs
Division 2
Seahawks 187 runs for 8 wickets (I. Haq 42 runs) beat Manitoba Cricket Association Under-19’s 66 runs all out (Abdul Aziz 4 wickets for 12 runs) by 121 runs
Lions II 225 runs (Harish Mudaliar 66 runs, Anang Jani 49 runs not out) beat Eldorado 196 runs all out (Jimmy Gazze 54 runs) by 29 runs
Note: MCA matches have a limit of 45 overs per side.
Eddie Norfolk
Cricket and Friendship win in Manitoba Kanga Ball Jamboree -- Posted Sunday, June 8 2008
Eddie Norfolk
The 19th Manitoba Cricket Association (MCA) Kanga Ball Jamboree took place at a sunny Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, on Saturday (June 7th). The High Schools section was won by Sisler, who edged out Dakota due to winning the head-to-head game by 14 runs. The Junior High title went to Guyana Association and the Elementary Schools competition was won by Prince Edward England. Two sides from Prince Edward took part in the Elementary section.
There were five games taking place simultaneously for much of the day. Assiniboine Park has three main cricket pitches, used for weekend league and mid-week recreational cricket by the MCA. The Park hosted some sporting events when Winnipeg hosted the Pan-American games.
Kanga Cricket
Kanga Cricket is played with plastic bats and balls, rather than the traditional willow bats and leather balls. This gives players with no previous cricketing experience the chance to try the game, as well as allowing matches with teams of mixed gender.
Each player has to bat, bowl and has a turn as wicketkeeper. The game was played with ten players per side. Instead of being out, a batter continues until the end of a two over segment of play, but for each ‘life’ when the batter would normally be out, two runs were deducted from the total score.
At times, some of the players who had baseball batting skills had successful overs firing the ball over the boundary for sixes and fours, but some of the bowlers overcame the wind and posed problems. Still, there were at least a couple of amazing shots, including a reverse sweep by a falling batter that sailed for six over the cover boundary.
Round-up of the action
Five teams competed in the High Schools section. Sisler and Dakota both won 3 matches and lost 1, but Sisler placed first due to wining the head-to-head match. Sisler made 75 runs in that game, beating Dakota, 61 runs, by 14 runs. Vincent Massey edged out Gordon Bell to take third place, also as a result of winning the head-to-head encounter.
Guyanese Association beat both General Byng and the Manitoba Cricket Association All Stars to take the Junior High title. The Guyanese edged out General Byng by 9 runs in the deciding game.
Prince Edward England won all three matches in winning the Elementary Championship. The school had a second side, titled Australia , in the hunt for the championship. Both squads were reckoned have similar strength, but on the day both the Prince Edward England squad and the Guyanese Association beat Prince Edward Australia.
Cricket and Friendship Winners
The major winners were cricket and friendship, aside from the boost given by the weather after a day of intense rain on Friday. The ground had dried very well to allow the event to go ahead. At times there were five matches taking place. Several parents and teachers were also on hand to watch the play and volunteers from MCA clubs turned out to ensure the event ran smoothly.
A mention in the local daily newspaper
The Kanga Ball Jamboree was listed in the 'coming up' listings in the Winnipeg Free Press sports section. High school sports are peaking at present due to upcoming examinations. Provincial Track and Field championships, as well as archery, triathlon, baseball, lacrosse and fastpitch were on the High School agenda in Winnipeg on Saturday, some events being part of the Manitoba Summer Games.
Front-page sport highlighted the visit of NHL star Joe Sakic to Winnipeg and the decision by the CBC to end use of the Hockey Night in Canada theme song. Sakic, eighth in all-time scoring, was coaching a team of 7- and 8-year olds in a hockey tournament. The local sporting competition included the Pan American men's volleyball cup, horseracing and a double-header featuring the local Northern League baseball club. Throw in some previews of the upcoming Canadian Football League, the start of the European Soccer championships, the finals of the French Open tennis and some huntin' and fishin' news, and you get a perspective on how cricket might have to battle for publicity.
But kids from one of the poorer socio-economic inner-schools in the area playing cricket is newsworthy, and if some of those in the schools and Manitoba Cricket Association (MCA) gained some financial support, perhaps cricket might be able to move up the ladder and become part of the Manitoba Games.
The teachers, including one principal, attending the cricket were pleased the kids were able to participate, not only in summer, but some play indoors during the winter. And they were pleased to be in board with the MCA for this Kanga Ball Jamboree.
Congratulations should go to all involved with this successful day.
Final Standings
High Schools
W L Pts
Sisler * 3 1 6
Dakota 3 1 6
Vincent Massey * 2 2 4
Gordon Bell 2 2 4
Virden 0 4 0
Note: Sisler placed higher than Dakota due to winning head-to-head match; Vincent Massey place above Gordon Bell due to head-to-head win.
Junior High
W L Pts
Guyanese Association 2 0 12
General Byng 1 1 6
MCA All-Stars 0 2 0
Elementary Schools
W L Pts
Prince Edward ‘ England ’ 3 0 18
Guyanese Association 2 1 12
Prince Edward ‘ Australia 1 2 6
Hampstead 0 3 0
High Schools Results
Dakota 110 runs beat Virden 63 runs by 47 runs
Sisler 71 runs beat Vincent Massey 33 runs by 38 runs
Sisler 102 runs beat Virden 87 runs by 15 runs
Vincent Massey 92 runs beat Gordon Bell 87 runs by 5 runs
Vincent Massey 125 runs beat Virden 50 runs by 75 runs
Dakota 94 beat Gordon Bell 77 runs by 17 runs
Gordon Bell 106 runs beat Virden 33 runs by 74 runs
Sisler 75 runs beat Dakota 61 by 14 runs
Gordon Bell 115 runs beat Sisler 68 runs by
Dakota 84 runs beat Vincent Massey 68 by 16 runs
Junior High Schools
Guyanese Association 141 runs beat MCA All-Stars 50 runs by 91 runs
Guyanese Association 102 runs beat General Byng 93 runs by 9 runs
General Byng 126 runs beat MCA All-Stars 85 runs by 41 runs
Elementary School Results
Prince Edward England 53 runs beat Guyanese Association 36 runs by 17 runs
Prince Edward England 38 runs beat Prince Edward Australia 4 runs by 38 runs
Prince Edward England 34 runs beat Hampstead 13 runs by 21 runs
Guyanese Association 52 runs beat Prince Edward Australia 31 runs by 21 runs
Guyanese Association 93 runs beat Hampstead 22 runs by 71 runs
Prince Edward Australia 43 runs beat Hampstead 20 runs by 23 runs
More cricket on TV in Canada -- Posted Saturday, June 7 2008
The Asian Television Network (ATN) has announced an agreement to televise games from the
English County Championship and the Tests between England and New Zealand, and England and South Africa. Games will be carried on the network’s CBN channel.
Meanwhile in Quebec, students at Carlyle School in Mount Royal are now enjoying a game of cricket at lunch break after putting pressure on school officials to start a school team. It all started when students brought a cricket bat to school one day and now the sport is part of the school’s physical education program.
Item sourced from:-
http://blogs.cricinfo.com/btw/archives/2008/06/more_cricket_on.php
Americas camp for women a success -- Posted Friday, June 6 2008
Eleven women from three ICC Americas Associate countries - Argentina, Bermuda and Canada – were joined by four players invited from Trinidad and Tobago at the first women’s regional cricket camp in the Americas. The ten-day camp was headed by a coaching staff of three former West Indies women's internationals: Ann Browne-John, Stephanie Power and Jasmine Sammy.
ICC Americas Regional Development Manager, Martin Vieira, visited the camp in Trinidad and said: “I am delighted when a project is planned, implemented and progressed as successfully as this. All involved, officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board at the complex, coaches and managers, and the players, have agreed it was a huge success."
In addition to daily drills and educational sessions in several areas, the group played as an Americas X1 in three games versus local competition. The management and coaching staff were amazed at how quickly the girls gelled as a team and the vast improvement in their skills over the ten-day period.
The Canadian contingent comprised Joanna White and Meara Crawford from British Columbia, plus Ontario’s Monali Patel and Mona Persaud. All four Canadians had visited Trinidad and Tobago in April in the first ever overseas tour by the women’s national squad. The Trinidad & Tobago Women’s Cricket Board had helped organize and partly fund that tour.
Argentina was represented by Catalina Greloni, Cecilia Birnie, Deifina Canton and Veronica Vasquez, and the three Bermudian playing participants were Rickelle Smith, Shuntae Todd and Stacey Babb (Bermuda).
Article sourced from:-
http://blogs.cricinfo.com/btw/archives/2008/06/americas_camp_f.php#more
Woburn repeat as Toronto City Senior Boys School Cricket Champs -- Posted Wednesday, June 4 2008
Woburn beat North Albion by just 3 runs in a closely contested final of the Toronto District Schools senior boys outdoor cricket championships at Eglinton Flats (today/Wednesday). Woburn was held to 79 runs for 8 wickets in its 25 overs, but the bowlers battled back and it was a tense North Albion innings. In the end the last wicket fell with North York all out for 76 runs. There were four balls to spare when the last batsman was bowled.
Woburn thus retained the title gained in 2007. North Albion end up as outdoor runners-up, but took the indoor cricket crowns at senior and junior boys levels.
Marc Garneau won the 3rd place playoff match against CW Jefferys.
Final: Woburn 79 runs for 8 wickets (25 overs) beat North Albion 76 all out (24.2 overs) by 3 runs
Eddie Norfolk
Toronto Schools semi-final results -- Posted Wednesday, June 4 2008
Defending champion Woburn beat CW Jefferys and North Albion beat Marc
Garneau in this morning's Toronto District Schools outdoor senior
boys cricket semi-finals.
Semi-final scores:
CW Jefferys CI 71 runs all out (20.4 overs) lost to Woburn CI 74 runs
for 3 wickets (13.4 overs) by 7 wickets
Marc Garneau 83 all out (24 overs) lost to North Albion 84 runs for 4
wickets (17.4 overs) by 6 wickets
Final starts soon at Eglinton Flats: Woburn v North Albion (West
pitch)
North Albion and CW Jeffreys reach Toronto Schools Cricket Semi-Finals -- Posted Tuesday, June 3 2008
Etobicoke (June 2): North Albion CI beat West Hill CI and CW Jefferys CI beat East York CI in Toronto Schools outdoor cricket quarter-finals on Monday (June 2) to advance to Wednesday’s semi-finals. The semi-finals are at Eglinton Flats (north-east corner of Jane and Eglinton, Toronto) with a 9.30am start. The winners then contest Wednesday's Final, which starts at 1pm.
Match summaries
West Hill began well, the opening batsmen put on 46 runs in ten overs before the first wicket fell, but the side failed to capitalize on this start. North Albion’s bowlers gained the upper hand as West Hill reached 113 runs for 4 wickets in 25 overs. Usman Limbada, one of the opening batsmen, hit a fine 56 runs in this total. Akash Shah lead the North Albion response with 40 runs and victory came in the 19th over by 7 wickets.
Abdil Parsram took 4 wickets for 16 runs as CW Jeffreys bowled out Toronto South Region winners East York for just 79 runs. Shihab top-scored with 24 runs. Ali Bakhtir made 36 runs to lead CW Jeffreys to an 8 wicket win with nine overs to spare. And those involved with the school will surely be pleased to be in the news for good reasons.
Sports, such as cricket, can bring communities together, as can education. Hopefully all the youngsters participating today can seize the opportunities provided by schools and sports to advance their lives.
North Albion will be seeking to add the outdoor crown to success in indoor cricket championships.
Quarter-final scores from Eglinton Flats (June 2)
West Hill CI 113 runs for 4 wickets (25 overs, Usman Limbada 56 runs) lost to North Albion 115 runs for 3 wickets (19th over, Akash Shah 40 runs) by 7 wickets
East York CI 79 runs all out (19th over, Abdil Parsram 4 wickets for 16 runs) lost to CW Jeffreys 82 runs for 2 wickets (16th over, Ali Bhaktir 36 runs not out) by 8 wickets
Matches have a 25-over limit per side.
Eddie Norfolk
When the Don met the Babe -- Posted Sunday, June 1 2008
Donald Bradman's visit to USA and Canada in 1932
Nineteen thirty two was an eventful year in the life of Donald Bradman. In April he married his long-time sweetheart Jessie. That was followed by run-ins with the cricketing authorities, and the small matter of being the target of Bodyline.
In the middle of the year, the Don went on an "extended honeymoon" - a tour that gave the people of Canada and the USA the privilege of watching him bat; an opportunity those in neighbouring New Zealand didn't ever get.
The tour was the brainchild of Arthur Mailey, the Australian legspinner. Mailey was the perfect salesman. He knew cricket's popularity was on the wane in America, and that the Don would be an unknown entity. So he used associations with baseball, perhaps the most popular sport in the USA then, and the most similar to cricket, to cash in. Bradman was billed as the Babe Ruth of cricket; fitting, because the "Sultan of Swat" himself could best be described as the "Bradman of baseball".
On the guarantee that the Don would tour, Mailey secured financial support from the Canadian Pacific Railway Corporation. Bradman insisted on Jessie accompanying him. The request was accepted, and the Bradmans, with 11 other players - including the captain, Vic Richardson, Stan McCabe, Chuck Fleetwood-Smith, and Mailey - set sail on May 26 from Sydney on the Niagara. Roland Pope, an opthalmologist and former Test cricketer who used to accompany Australian teams of the time on their tours as a sort of medical officer, was part of the party; his usually voluminous luggage was "restricted" to 36 bags.
Suva in Fiji was the first stop, but rain ruined a scheduled match. Bradman had a visitor in Edward Thakabou, a famed local left-arm fast bowler. The 6' 3" Thakabou was hardly impressed by Bradman, who stood 5' 8" in his size-six boots.
On June 16 the group reached Victoria in Vancouver, Canada. The next day they faced a team of the Cowichan club - for whom 18 batted and 11 fielded - in Duncan. The tourists piled up 503 for 8 in reply to the home side's 194. Richardson and Bradman added 50 runs in seven minutes, while McCabe made 150 - including a hit that resulted in a fracture for an opposition player's wife, though only a minor bone in the leg. The lady might have been better off had she been injured in the next game, by when the organisers had taken the precaution of insuring spectators. Bradman the bowler took centre stage in that match, picking up six wickets in an eight-ball over, though he missed a hat-trick.
Bradman the batsman reigned in the town of Guelph. His 260 against a Western Ontario XVIII was a record score on Canadian soil, and stood for 58 years as such. In a subsequent match, "Spark" Bell, one of Canada's finest batsmen of the time, made 109, the only century scored by a local player throughout the tour.
Brockton Park, which Bradman described as "without question the most beautiful ground in the world", was where the Australians suffered their only loss of the tour, an 18-run defeat against the local team. It was here, too, that Mailey lured a batsman to try hitting him out of the park for the prize of a cigar. The batsman connected on the first one, but was then caught in the outfield as he attempted to double his reward.
More one-sided matches followed in Montreal, before the Australians left for New York, where in the game at Innisfail Park, Bradman was dismissed for a duck. That sparked off a celebration, with the delighted (and rather opportunistic) bowler circling the boundary and collecting a hatful of dollars from sporting spectators. In the same game, Sammy Carter, a former Australian wicketkeeper, was hit in the eye, which ultimately led to the loss of sight in it.
Also in New York, Bradman met Babe Ruth on the sidelines of a Yankees game. "Us little fellows could hit them harder than the big ones," Ruth told the Don, who stumped his host by spotting a "double play".
The tourists then touched Detroit where in one game, the umpires couldn't agree on whether to play under MCC or Australian rules, and so one called six to the over and the other eight before Richardson intervened.
The next stop for the Australians was Chicago before they headed back to Canada, where grasshoppers wreaked havoc during a game against a combined Canadian team in Winnipeg.
At a game played in Moose Jaw, Bill Ive picked up 11 for 23. Seventeen players batted for the locals and no fewer than 14 bowled at the visitors, a baseball-like scenario. At Yorkton, a batsman who was hit on the thumb by McCabe hopped about in pain - so much so that his false teeth dropped to the ground.
A few more matches were played in Canada before the Australians headed south again, this time to San Francisco, where they played against a Northern California All-Stars team in the empty 70,000-capacity Kezar Stadium. The All-Stars were a flop: Bradman's accounts say that the 15 men mustered only 20 and 33 in their two knocks; the Australians raked up 268 for 2 declared. Bradman had a great outing in the field, picking up three catches and four run-outs in their first innings.
One newspaper report gave a bit more credit to the home team, though it admitted that "local wickets fell like the price of stock". The writer used terms such as "Dynamite Don", "the bambino of cricket" (Ruth being the "Great Bambino" himself), and "the antipodean slugger" to describe Bradman.
A visit to Hollywood was next, and Sir Charles Aubrey Smith, captain of England's 1889 team in their first Test against South Africa, now turned film star, led an XI against the visitors. The team also met the cast of The Mask of Fu Manchu and Bradman visited the home of actor Leslie Howard.
On the return trip, the Australians stopped at Wellington in New Zealand. A match was to be played but the weather didn't permit it. A late decision to hold an exhibition game the following day was not conveyed to the Bradmans, who had already set off on a sightseeing trip with Fleetwood-Smith. The locals thus missed out on watching the Don, with two standing in for the Australian absentees. One of them was Eric Tindill, who was to go on to become a unique double-double international, playing and officiating at the highest level in cricket and rugby. Bradman didn't ever play in New Zealand.
The touring party reached Australia on September 23, four months after their journey began. Overall, Bradman scored 3779 runs at 102 in 51 matches, including 18 centuries, while McCabe scored 2361 runs and took 189 wickets. The Don, whose Test fee was around £25 at the time, received £100 as a fee for the tour - 51 games in 75 days covering a distance of 10,000 kms through North America - besides a daily allowance. The lesser known players had to bear their expenses. In his autobiography Farewell to Cricket, Bradman talks of the tour, saying, "It had been far too strenuous, but nevertheless it was placid compared with the storm that lay ahead, and of which at that time we had scarcely heard the rumblings."
The tour was Jessie Bradman's first visit overseas. Soon her husband would face the toughest test of his career: up against England, led by Douglas Jardine, on a mission to regain the Ashes, with Bodyline the weapon to contain the "Babe Ruth" of cricket.
Bibliography
Farewell to Cricket by Don Bradman (Hodder and Stoughton, 1950)
The A-Z of Bradman by Alan Eason (Alan Eason, 2002)
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/310792.html
Within the book "Cricket for Dummies", there are seven references to Sir Donald Bradman. These will be posted in a few days. (JH)
There is a DVD "BODYLINE" of 3 discs well worth reviewing by all Canadian cricketers. The notes state "Parental guidance recommended for persons under 15 years", due to "low level coarse language". (Jon Harris)
USA fail to advance in world Cricket League (ICC) -- Posted Sunday, June 1 2008
Afghanistan overcomes spirited Jersey fight back to win ICC World Cricket League Division 5 final
Hasti Gul Abed wins man-of-the-match award for his 3-17 and 29 not out
Afghanistan overcame a spirited Jersey fight back to win a dramatic ICC World Cricket League Division 5 (WCL Div. 5) final by two wickets in Jersey on Saturday.
In a low-scoring match at the Grainville, Afghanistan achieved the target of 81 runs with just two wickets and 12.2 overs to spare after it had collapsed to 42-7 and then 62-8.
Fast bowler Hasti Gul Abed was the star of Afghanistan’s memorable victory when he followed up his 3-17 with an invaluable 29 not out to pick up the man-of-the-match award.
A delighted Abed said: “This game was very important to the team and to the country.
“Jersey got a small total but when I came into bat, all I wanted to do was to guide my team home and I am delighted to have accomplished the job,” said the 24-year-old all-rounder.
"There will be lots of people waiting in Kabul to see the trophy and all of Afghanistan will be very happy,”said Abed.
Afghanistan and Jersey join Hong Kong, Fiji, Tanzania and Italy in the six-team ICC WCL Div. 4 set for the Tanzanian capital of Dar Es Salaam from 4 to 11 October.
In turn, the top two teams from that tournament will progress to WCL Div. 3 in Argentina next January and hope to finish in the top two to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009 in the UAE, which incorporates Divisions 1 and 2.
The top four Associate or Affiliate teams from the ICC World Cup Qualifier will book their places at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 to be staged in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Electing to bat first, Jersey would have hoped for its opening pair of Peter Gough and Steve Carlyon, who put on a century opening stand against the USA in the semi-final yesterday, to give it a solid start.
But fast bowlers Dawlat Ahmadzai and Hasti Gul Abed bowled an outstanding opening spell and gave no room to the two openers. Abed’s accuracy was rewarded with the wicket of Peter Gough moments after he had accidentally received a blow to the back of the head from a throw while attempting a quick single.
The reliable trio of Matt Hague, Ryan Driver and Andy Dewhurst quickly followed as Jersey was reduced to 25-4, with Abed claiming three of the first four wickets to fall.
A 42-run stand for the fifth wicket between Carlyon (17) and Jonathan Gough, who top scored with 23, brought some kind of respectability to the innings by taking the score to 67.
But Jersey then suffered a sensational collapse as it lost its last six wickets for 13 runs to be bowled out for 80 in 39.5 overs.
Hamid Hassan was instrumental in ripping through the lower-order with some hostile fast bowling as he finished as the pick of Afghanistan bowlers with figures of 9.5-1-27-4.
Jersey knew it would need quick wickets before the lunch interval if it was to stand a chance of victory and opener Karim Khan gave the home team the start it had hoped for when the Afghan opener was run-out after a mix-up with Ahmad Shah Ahmadi.
The 29-year-old Driver then lifted the spirits of a large Jersey crowd when he brought the downfall of Noor Ali Noori who was caught by Sachin Patidar while attempting an over-ambitious shot off only his second ball as Afghanistan went for lunch at 25-2.
After lunch, paceman Driver (4-27) brought into play his experience of playing in the English county championship for Lancashire and Worcestershire to leave Afghanistan in all kinds of trouble as it slumped to 42-7.
However, a 20-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Asghar Stanikzai (10) and Hasti Gul Abed, younger brother of coach Taj Malik, edged Afghanistan closer to the target until Matt Hague grabbed the vital wicket of Stanikzai with the visitors still 19 runs away from victory with two wickets standing.
But as a crowd of over 1,000 cheered for the home side, Abed took control of the proceedings and hit some telling blows before steering Afghanistan to victory by sealing the winning single through gully which led to memorable scenes of celebration.
Driver, who was inspirational throughout the week, was proud of his side. “Obviously the guys are disappointed to lose the final but to be all out for 80 and come within two wickets of victory shows the true grit and determination of the team. I’m proud of all the boys,” he said.
Driver also paid tribute to the wonderful support from the magnificent crowd, which included former England captain Geoff Boycott, who presented the trophy to the winning captain.
“The crowd were absolutely fantastic," said Driver. “Cricket in Jersey really is on the up.”
In the third/fourth position match, Nepal recorded a comprehensive 98-run victory over the USA at Farmers Field.
Scores in brief:
Final
At Grainville, Afghanistan beat Jersey by two wickets
Jersey 80 all out, 39.5 overs (Jonathan Gough 23; Hamid Hassan 4-27, Hasti Gul Abed 3-17)
Afghanistan 81-8, 37.4 overs (Hasti Gul Abed 29 not out; Ryan Driver 4-26; Tony Carlyon 2-13)
Third/fourth place
At Farmers CC, Nepal beat USA by 98 runs
Nepal 189 all out, 49.3 overs (Paras Khadka 48; Khawaja Shuja 5-34)
USA 91 all out, 42.4 overs
Fifth/sixth place
At FB Fields, Singapore beat Botswana by 15 runs
Singapore 119 all out, 42.1 overs (James Moses 3-22)
Botswana 104 all out, 37 overs (Abdul Razak 4-24)
Seventh/eighth place
At Victoria College, Germany beat Mozambique by two wickets
Mozambique 152 all out, 45.5 overs (Syed Shah 46 not out; Ehsan Latif 3-36)
Germany 157-8, 46.1 overs (Abdul Bhatti 36)
Ninth/10th place
At Les Quennevais 1, Norway beat Japan by seven wickets
Japan 181 all out, 48.3 overs
Norway 182-3, 43.2 overs (Shahid Ahmed 81 not out)
11th/12th place
At Les Quennevais 2, Bahamas beat Vanuatu by six wickets
Vanuatu 113, 29.4 overs (N Ekanayake 4-15)
Bahamas 116-4, 35.2 overs