Father Michael Goetz with the 2014 GTA Girls HS CIBC Trophy

Mississauga’s Father Michael Goetz High School’s girls cricket team repeated as Greater Toronto Area (GTA) champions in the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) Mayor’s school cricket final on Saturday (May 31) against York Memorial Collegiate Institute. The win came in cricketing “overtime” – a Super Over playoff – after scores were tied.
Father Goetz scored 79 for six wickets from 12 overs in Saturday’s GTA final played on the south ground at the Dixie-Sandalwood Park, Brampton, also called Brampton Soccer Centre. York Memorial replied with 79 for seven from 12 overs, scores were tied and the scene was set for the Super Over.

York Memorial CI batted first in the Super Over but only scored 2 runs, losing two wickets. Both wickets fell to catches in the close field, the over ending with a catch by the wicketkeeper. Father Michael Goetz HS then scored 3 runs without losing a wicket to win the game and retain the GTA CIBC Trophy.

Father Goetz had beaten York Memorial by 14 runs in the 2013 GTA Final at Sunnybrook Park, Toronto. Father Goetz hit 114 for one wicket last year. York Memorial replied with 102 for eight. Opening bats Amanda Pereira (43) and Hareesa Attique (19) lead the way for Father Goetz in 2013.

In 2014 the same openers each reached double figures in the tied game, then returned to complete the Super Over victory. Pereira made 14 and Attique 12 in the Father Goetz total of 79 for six. York Memorial’s Tia Belgrave took two wickets for 8 runs from her one over.

Opening bat Munirah Hutchinson top-scored for York Memorial with 23 and was supported in a useful second wicket stand by Saabiqa Chowdhury, who made 10. Hutchinson was run out while Chowdhury was caught off Hareesa Attique’s bowling. Attique ended with two for 14 from two overs.

One similarity to the 2013 girls final was the presence of a cross-wind that adds to the challenge of switching from indoor cricket preparations to playing outdoors. CBC had visited a York Memorial indoor practice on the eve of the final that was practice featured in a Friday night CBC report.

One significant difference between the two girls finals (2013 and 2014) was the use of the longer boundaries in 2014, rather than the inner 30-yard circle. Use of the shorter boundary was retained in 2014 for the Boys Middle School competition; some of the Middle School teams, including 2014 Toronto and now GTA champions J.S. Woodsworth Senior Public School, included one or two girls.

Eddie Norfolk