2nd Edition. May 3rd 2013.
The second edition of the Combined Universities and Colleges tournament was distinctively won by Captain Sahil Kesar’s  final year graduate XI.  Judged from best of three series they won 2-0.  This year’s edition was well represented by mostly final year students from York, Ryerson, University of Toronto, Sheridan, Cambrian and Seneca Colleges. Organized by a former Emery graduate,  Sahil Kesar, with Emery well represented by the Walton brothers, the tournament was both heavily competitive and fun for all involved.

In the first match, the combined team put in a strong batting performance at the end to mass 139 in the allotted 20 overs.   However, there was a batting collapse in the top order as Emery had them batting 33 for 5, until a middle order partnership between Michael Walton and Jay Nakiwade provided resistance. Hitting a total of 9 sixes, they raised the run rate and final score to a defensible total.   Emery’s run chase started off well with Vishal Sangha (15), Sheik Haddi (22) and Afaq Ansari (15) showing some defiance, however in the end could only manage 101, falling well short of their target. Most fell victim to precision bowling by Mohit Punjabi with excellent support catching from Michael Walton, garnering 5 wickets for 10 runs in his allotted 4 overs.

The second match was contested under some serious rivalry. Batting first, Emery fell to the pressure placed on them by the opening pair of Sahil “Mickey” Malhotra and Mohit. Mohit wrecked the top order for a further for another 4 wickets, ably supported by Michael who came through with 3 at the end. Emery could only manage to muster 77 runs in 16 overs.  Chasing a meagre total, almost proved to be a disaster for the University boys, as they lost 5 wickets in the chase with Mickey putting on 26 in a series of placed boundaries. He could only stand and watch while his partners fell.  Spirited resistance by Emery it may have been, but in the end, after 8 overs, the Combined Universities took the match and series by a very wide margin.

Overall, the matches were played with good spirit, healthy rivalry with decent temperature and sunny skies.  At this time of the year, many students are graduating and hoping to receive that magical letter from a college or university for acceptance in the September term. I recall a long time ago, I was on vacation in Trinidad when my dad called my uncle’s house where I was staying asking for permission to open an envelope from York University. Nerves were racked and I was anxious to know the contents….Finally, with the letter opened, I almost yelped when my dad said that York had given me acceptance. After all those years of studying, working and sacrifice I was finally given a chance to study my childhood passion.  I imagine the Emery boys have the same nervous anxiety as they leave their High School to pursue that  critical tertiary education. As I spoke to them afterwards, I heard acceptances to York, Guelph, and University of Toronto. I do hope that as their rivals graduate into professional lives, and fall into the eventual schedule of employment and life, that the fresh young first years take their place and return for Spring 2014.

The Emery boys have a lot to look forward to in their final year.  The upcoming CIMA tournament is fast approaching. I hope that the team takes full advantage of the competition and rise up to the challenge of meeting players from across the Toronto and Peel Boards of Education. No doubt, the games will be keenly contested, but, playing against tougher competition is always healthy for an upcoming cricketer. I quite look forward to a few key players performing at their best. Legspinners Ishwar Loknauth and Varad Mehta should cause some bother and with a maturing batsman in Afaq Ansari, I believe that Emery will go far at the CIMA Cup.

Many thanks goes out to the Emery manager “Captain” Uriel McDonald (Teacher) and Coach Parvaz Guddu Singh (Hall Monitor) as well as Prinicpal Icilda Elliston.  A special thank you goes out to the excellent folks at ProAction Cops and Kids (www.copsandkids.ca) for their continued support and funding.

Trophy winners:

Best Batting: Afaq Ansari (Emery)

Best Bowling: Mohit Punjabi (Combined Univ)

Best Fielding : Patrick Walton (Combined Univ)

MVP: Michael Walton (Combined Univ)

 Report from Colin Mohammed

Colin.mohammed@torontopolice.on.ca

School Resource Officer

Toronto Police

31 Divison