The semi-finalists for the York Region Athletic Association’s Varsity outdoor cricket championships were decided from playoff games on Monday (October 16, 2017) and Tuesday (October 17). On a cold Monday afternoon at McCowan Reservoir (Markham, Ontario) Middlefield C.I., who topped the East group, beat Huron Heights, fourth in the West Group, Huron Heights made 40 and Middlefield 41. Second in the East Father McGivney hit 129 from 15 overs then bowled out Woodbridge College for 38. McGivney won by 91 runs against a Woodbridge College side who were third in the West group.
The weather picked up on Tuesday afternoon when the action switched to King City’s Maple Leaf Cricket Club. West group winner Maple High School won the toss and elected to bat against Bill Hogarth SS, a newly opened school in Markham who placed fourth in the East Group. Maple powered 207 runs from 15 overs for the loss of 3 wickets against a new team seeking cricket playing experience. Ayaaz Khaloon top-scored with 76 for Maple HS and Abrar Haque 64. Bill Hogarth then faced a useful right and left-arm seam-bowling combination. Several balls beat the bat just wide of the stumps or passed just above the stumps but, from a positive perspective, several batsmen managed to put a defensive bat to several balls that were on course for the stumps. Signs that certain batters have potentially good hand-eye coordination, doubtless learned from baseball where the ball does not, normally, hit the ground before crossing the plate. Admittedly a number of batters were bowled, but for Hogarth it was a positive that the team batted though many of the available 15 overs.
Richmond HS, second in the West Group, scored 90 against Bill Crothers SS, who were third in the East group in Tuesday’s other game at Maple Leaf CC. Richmond Hill followed up by bowling out Crothers for 61 to win by 29 runs. Matching scoring detail for this game to players and pictures will follow at a later date.
Richmond Hill advances to meet East Group winner Middlefield CI in Thursday’s (October 19) semi-final at McCowan Reservoir. West group champion Maple HS is due to meet Father McGivney at Maple Leaf CC, also on Thursday. The semi-finals are due to start at 2.30pm but, as with Tuesday’s Maple-Hogarth game, there is a chance that each game may start slightly earlier if both teams are ready; particularly if it is not too warm, or if a prospect of rain exists.
The final is scheduled to be played next Tuesday (October 24) at McCowan Reservoir, Markham. The cricket ground is just south of the Markham Fairgrounds.
Bill Hogarth SS
Maple HS
Bill Crothers
Eddie Norfolk