This game may have been the first ever in T&D history where a Play-off final was played in the month of October and last Sunday (4-Oct) at King-City saw the Brampton Master’s team led by Hiral Patel edging out Toronto CS&CC by 3 runs on D/L method where the umpires decided and gave the benefit to the two bats of BMCC who did not want to continue the game citing ‘bad light’.
It was well noted that the two umpires and the ‘match Referee’ on duty did not have a ‘Lux’ Meter (meter which can be used to gauge the light) which resulted in the spectators being deprived of a nail biting finish.
Winning the toss, Toronto skipper Shaheed Keshvani decided to bat first where a full fifty over game was announced by the on field umpires and the game got underway soon after 11.00 am. The opener’s, Srimantha Wijeyeratne and Ansar Bharwana started gloriously and had the score board ticking before Ansar (15) was bowled by Gordon and the score read 66/1 in just 8 Over’s. Zubin Surkari then joined inform Srimantha and added another fifty runs partnership for the second wicket with Sri racing to his half century in 34 balls. Zubin departed when the score was 120/2 in the 20th over, caught at short mid off the bowling of Crandon. Srimantha was then joined by experienced player Dhanuka Pathirana when a tragedy took place with Srimantha being unfortunately run out after responding to ‘Yes’ call by striker Pathirana who decided not to take the run. Srimantha’s knock of 76 included 9 hits to the rope and one above it and faced only 64 balls. Then TCSCC went in to a ditch with Pathirana, Keshvani, Ajmal getting out in quick sessions and the score read 150/7 but Raza Ur Rehman saw the club putting on a respectable final score of 198 all out in 47.1 over’s with a well compiled 48 with bowler F. Daniel adding a few boundaries. For BM, Hiral Patel 3/34 and Issacs & Crandon 2 scalps each, bowled well to restrict TCSCC to 198 all out.
BMCC started off disastrously with skipper Hiral Patel ruled out LBW off the bowling of Daniel in the very first ball of the innings. Then came a 50 runs partnership between openers Ruvindu Gunasekera (63* with 5 fours & 2 sixes))and Shehan Kamaleen (20). When Usman Limbada got out for 15 the score read at 72/3 but Ruvindu and K. Darwin (19) brought some respectability to the score bringing it up to 130/3 and then Darwin and V. Sehdev out in space of 3 balls, score was reading as 130/5 in 33.0 over’s when the ‘Match Official’s’ gave the ‘Nod’ to the batters call for ‘bad light’. Match ended there in spite several appeals by the Toronto camp to continue which was not adhered to.
TCSCC – 198 all out in 47.1 Over’s (Srimantha Wijeyeratne 76, Reza Rehaman 48, Zubin Surkari 23, A. Bharwana 15, F. Daniel 12) H. Patel 3/34, R.Crandon 2/17, Issacs 2/43
BMCC – 130/5 in 33.0 Over’s (Ruvindu Gunasekera 63 not out, S. Kamaleen 20, U. Limbada15, K. Darwin 19) Reza Ur Rehman 6-1-11-2
“Congratulations’ to Brampton Master’s – Champions of Elite 2015 and the worthy Runner’s Up Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club” – By Srinath Wijeyeratne