Australasia Cricket Club Under-18s won the 2020 Toronto & District Cricket Association’s (T&DCA’s) Under-18 Championship thanks to a 7 wickets against Ontario Cricket Academy U- 18s (OCA U18s) back on Sunday, September 27 on the west ground at Eglinton Flats, Toronto. The Final followed semi-finals contested on the previous day in a season that began late due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australasia U18s had more wins in the playoffs – two wins- than their one regular season success in the four game per team round-robin phase. Indeed both finalists – Australasia U18s and OCA U18s – each managed just one regular season win and suffered three losses, as did Toronto Rhinos U18s. Toronto Rhinos with a Net Run Rate (NRR) -0.6994 placed fifth and missed the playoffs. Australasia U18s with a Net Run Rate -0.2056 placed third ahead of fourth-placed OCA U18s (NRR -0.5779).
Qasra U18s topped the round-robin phase thanks to 4 wins from 4 matches (Net Run Rate 0.8488). Oakville Academy U18s lost to Qasra U18s in the regular season but won against the other three teams (NRR 0.6578) to finish second in the round-robin phase,
Ontario Cricket Academy U18s then inflicted the first loss of the shortened season on Qasra Academy U18s in the semi-finals on Saturday, September 26, 2020. Qasra Academy U18s entered the semi-final with a regular season record of 4 wins from 4 matches and a NRR of 0.8488. Oakville Academy U18s lost to Qasra U18s in the regular season to post 3 wins and 1 loss with a solid NRR of 0.6578 but stumbled out of the playoffs in the semi-finals, just like Qasra U18s.
Australasia’s two playoff wins to capture the T&DCA U18 Championship featured 7 wickets for captain Chirag Dhariwal and 70 runs for Ramanvir Dhaliwal. Chirag Dhariwal took 4/11 in the semi-final against Oakville U18s then took 3/21 in the Final against OCA U18s. Ramanvir Dhaliwal scored 35 runs in each playoff game.
Qasra Academy U18s – Unbeaten until the Playoffs
Qasra Academy U18s won all four regular season games and seemed to have the early morning conditions in their favour in semi-final against Ontario Cricket Academy U18s. Moisture was hanging in the air as the sun tried to brighten the day on the East ground at Eglinton Flats.
But Qasra only picked up one early wicket, admittedly that of the potentially dangerous Siddh Lad, caught behind for just 1 off the bowling of Amin Karan (1/17 from 4 overs). OCA U18s went on to reach 91/8 from 20 overs then restricted Qasra U18s to 84/8 from 20 overs to win by 7 runs.
OCA U18s opening bat Sahil Badin scored a patient 10 runs from 24 balls before being caught by Amin K off the bowling of Jainil Majumdar (2/18 from 3 overs). Sahil Badin provided
important support for number three batsman Utkarsh Kohli who top-scored for OCA with 35 runs from 45 balls. Utkarsh Kholi scored one of just two boundaries in the OCA innings in the unfriendly early morning conditions before being caught by Sheel Patel off the bowling of Kairav Sharma (2/20 from 4 overs). Parmveer Kharoud chipped in with 16 runs (21 balls) batting sixth while Dhir Arvan notched the other boundary of the innings in scoring 7 runs.
Parmanveer Kharoud blasted through the top three Qasra U18 batsmen, each being bowled for between 0 and 3 runs to turn the tide in OCA U18s favour. Qasra U18s fourth wicket pair lead the recovery before Sahil Badin trapped Arjuna Sukhu lbw for 17 (36 balls). Krish Bandivdekar picked up 3 wickets for 17 runs from 4 overs including number five bat Manav Patel who top- scored with 29 runs from 33 balls. Parmanveer Kharoud returned to grab a fourth wicket and post the impressive figures of 4/10 from 4 overs.
Qasra’s ninth wicket pair added a few runs at about one run per ball but it was not enough and OCA U18s moved into the U18 final with a win by 7 runs. Now one run per ball from the start of the innings would have seen Qasra Academy U18s to victory well before the overs ran out, but Parmanveer Kharoud’s opening burst turned the game around. Manav Patel’s knock was close to 1 run per ball and restored some hope for Qasra. But the ninth wicket pair needed to make around 2 runs per ball to reach the final. OCA U18s reached the final thanks to some solid efforts bowling (3 bowled, 1 lbs) and fielding (3 caught, 1 stumped).
Dhariwal 4/11 and Dhaliwal 35 runs in Australasia’s Semi-Final Win
Oakville Academy U18s lost two early wickets in the semi-final against Australasia U18s, recovered a little then lost three wickets to catches in quick succession and had a second recovery on the path to 82 all out from 19.1 overs. Australasia U18s captain Chirag Dhariwal took the bowling honours with 4 for 11 from 4 overs.
Chirag Dhariwal’s wickets included bowling Eran Maliduwapahirana, who top-scored with 18. Eran Maliduwapahirana and Kristopher Karran (10) added a few runs after Oakville lost two early wickets, including opening bat Ethan Gibson. Ethan Gibson lead the individual run scoring in the overall U18 competition with 150 runs from 5 innings (twice not out) but made only 5 in this game. Kristopher Karran was bowled by Jimil Patel (1/11 from 3 overs).
Three Oakville batters in mid-innings pumped the ball into the air and were caught before Ayaz Sahibi (16) and Kyle Karran (19*) lead a slight recovery before three run outs saw Oakville U18s fall all out for 82 after 19.1 overs.
Both Australasia U18s opening bats fell quickly before Ramanvir Dhaliwal (35 runs from 46 balls, including 4 boundaries) and Rajanbir Samra (16 runs from 26 balls) steered their team towards victory. Australasia U18s won the game with 83/5 after 15.5 overs. Kyle Karran took 2/13 from 4 overs. Ravindra Nauth was economical with 1/12 from 4 overs while Eran Maliduwapahirana was more expensive with 2/26 from 3.5 overs.
Dhariwal 3/21 and Dhaliwal 35 runs in Australasia U18’s Championship Triumph

Chirag Dhariwal followed his four semi-final wickets with 3 wickets for 21 from 4 overs in the Under-18 Final for Australasia U18s against OCA U18s. Chirag Dhariwal began with the important wicket of OCA U18s opener Siddh Lad who top-scored wit 21 runs from 30 balls (2x4s). Utkarsh Kholi made 18 before he was caught by Ramanvir Dhaliwal off Chirag Dhariwal’s bowling. Parmanveer Kharoud (11) and Dhir Aryan (14*) also reached double figures in OCA U18’s 93/6 from 20 overs.
Australasia U18s lost one early wicket before making steady progress with the bat thanks to opener Rajanbir Samra (24 from 27 balls), number three bat Ramanvir Dhaliwal (35 from 27 balls) and Ghumankeerat Singh (28* from 32 balls) batting at number four. OCA U18’s opening bowlers kept the runs in check but the rest of the bowlers were unable to defend the OCA total in the U18 Final.
Parmveer Kharoud conceded just 6 runs from 3.2 overs while Jinit Kansara bowled 2 overs for just 4 runs. The other four OCA U18s bowlers cost between 5.33 and 7.33 runs per over which was not quite enough on the day.
Eddie Norfolk, Toronto,
23 December, 2020