Smithfield Middle School bounced back from a round-robin 9 run defeat against Rockcliffe Middle School to win the playoff Final for the western Toronto group in the CIMA Mayor’s School Cricket Tournament at G Ross Lord Park on Tuesday (May 14). The round-robin game saw Rockcliffe power to 93 for three wickets from eight overs, then withstand an individual 60 from Smithfield’s Abdullah Abdullah, whose team ended on 84 for six after eight overs.

But the teams met again in a playoff game as the top two teams in the group. This time Rockcliffe (Won 3, Lost 0) made 70 for six from eight overs and Smithfield (Won 2, Lost 1) replied with 71 for one from seven overs. Opening bat Devon Harrinaraine made 27 for Rockcliffe. Smithfield opening bat Ahmer Ayaz hit 33, fellow opener Rakshit Patel notched 16 not out and Abdullah Abdullah made 15 not out.
In the round-robin game Rockcliffe’s 93 for three included 37 from Devon Harrinaraine. Fellow-opening bat Fabio Nanack made 21 and Alejandro Jimenez made 19. All three wickets came off the bowling of Smithfield’s Ahmer Ayaz at a cost of 20 runs from two overs.
Rockcliffe began the day with a 26 run win against Lambton-Kingsway. Rockcliffe made 53 for three, then limited Lambton-Kingsway to 27 for nine wickets. Asad Mian took three wickets for just five runs.
Rockcliffe totalled 54 for nine in eight overs against Dixon Grove, but then restricted Dixon Grove’s batsmen to 45 for seven (8 overs) and completed a win by nine runs. Muneeb Asif took three wickets for 12 in the Rockcliffe innings. Andy Budhu took three for seven when Dixon Grove batted.
Smithfield began with a four run win against Dixon Grove in a high scoring game that averaged 16 runs an over. Opener Ahmer Ayaz struck 47 and Mohammed Mahmood ended on 53 not out in Dixon Grove’s 131 for two wickets. Opening batsman Umer Tanoli hit 57 not out and Muneeb Asit struck 38 not out, but these fine efforts left Dixon Grove on 127 for one wicket when the eight overs ended. Smithfield won by four runs.
Abdullah Abdullah made 19 of Smithfield’s 44 for six from four overs, including the match winning hit for six, in a four wicket win against Lambton-Kingsway. Lambton-Kingsway made 38 for seven from eight overs. In the Smithfield innings, Lambton-Kingsway’s Nathan Fabello took three for twenty and Turner McTiernan three for twenty four.
Dixon Grove Junior Middle School hit 103 for two from eight overs against Lambton-Kingsway. Opening bat Umer Tanoli lead the way with 56 not out, supported by 22 from opening partner Muneeb Asif. Nathan Fabello top-scored with 22, but Kingsway-Lambton was only able to make 58 for three (8 overs) in reply. Dixon Grove won by 45 runs.
So in a way there may have been some disappointment for the baseball-orientated Lambton-Kingsway side who had some success in last year’s Middle Schools championship, but the scorecards point to overall progress on the field. A greater familiarity with the game of cricket is developing and there are many schools in the Greater Toronto Area that are not very active in school cricket and there is a good chance that Toronto has at least one or two youngsters from the over 100 member countries of the International Cricket Council at school within the City of Toronto. And don’t forget that one of the ICC’s members, the West Indies, embraces several countries.
More scores and matches to follow
The East Toronto Middle Schools group competition took place at Sunnybrook Park in the CIMA Mayor’s School Tournament on Tuesday (May 14). News on the outcome of that section will follow when scores come to hand. Bowmore, Charles Gordon S.P.S., Dr. Marion Hilliard S.P.S. and Valley Park Middle School were the scheduled participants.
Valley Park began with two wins on Tuesday, beating Charles Gordon by 53 runs and Dr. Marion Hilliard by five wickets, but the outcome of the round-robin game against Bowmore (W 0, L 2) is not at hand. Valley Park struck 106 for four against Charles Gordon, who replied with 53 for six. Dr. Marion Hilliard scored 64 for three against Valley Park, who responded with a winning 65 for five.
Dr. Marion Hilliard ended the round-robin with two wins and one defeat. Charles Gordon had one win and two defeats. Dr. Marion Hillard reached 81 for one, then limited Charles Gordon to 30 for nine when those schools went head-to-head.
Wednesday (May 15) features the Girls section of the CIMA Mayor’s School Tournament at G. Ross Lord Park with participation from four Toronto schools: Earl Haig Secondary School, George Harvey Collegiate Institute (C.I.), West Humber C.I. and York Memorial C.I.
This coming Friday (May 17) the second group of East Toronto Boys Senior High Schools is scheduled to play at Sunnybrook Park, Toronto.
Then next week, following Monday’s Victoria Day Holiday Peel Region teams from at least Brampton and Missisauga will enter the CIMA Mayor’s School Cricket Tournament as the event further embraces the Greater Toronto Area. The CIBC Trophy will be up for grabs in each of the cities of Brampton and Missisauga for the competing teams.
The overall Greater Toronto Area tournament finals are scheduled for June 1, 2013 at Sunnybrook Park, Toronto.
Eddie Norfolk
Results from Boys Toronto West Group at G. Ross Lord Park – Tuesday May 14, 2013
Round-Robin Matches
Rockliffe 53 for 3 (8 ov) beat Lambton-Kingsway 27 for nine (8 ov) by 26 runs
Smithfield 131 for 2 (8 ov) beat Dixon Grove 127 for one (8 ov) by 4 runs
Rockliffe 93 for 3 (8 ov) beat Smithfield 84 for six (8 ov) by 9 runs
Dixon Grove 103 for two (8 ov) beat Lambton-Kingsway 58 for three (8 ov) by 45 runs
Lambton-Kingsway 38 for 7 (8 ov) lost to Smithfield 44 for six (4 ov) by four wickets
Rockcliffe 54 for nine (8 ov) beat Dixon Grove 45 for seven (8 ov) by nine runs
Standings: Rockcliffe 6 pts (W 3, L 0); Smithfield 4 pts (W 2, L 1), Dixon Grove 2 pts (W 1, L 2); and Lambton-Kingsway 0 pts (W 0, L 3).
Playoff Final
Rockcliffe 70 for six (8 ov) lost to Smithfield 71 for one (7 overs) by nine wickets.
Eddie Norfolk