It was the second round game again at Toronto’s own backyard against mighty defending champions BMCC, last Sunday, and again Masters scored a resounding win by 6 wickets.
Toronto taking the first lease of the batting friendly track reached 302 for 7 after 50 allotted over’s. Leading the way was Navneet Dhaliwal who was very unfortunate to be run out and missed out a well deserved ton by 12 runs. He was eventually out for 88 with good support coming from Raza Rehman 71 not out and that young 16 year old getting a quiet 77. Zubin Surkari chipped in with a 20. A notable shuffle in the usual batting order was seen with opener and skipper Wijeyeratne sitting in the pavilion for 34 overs and batting at #5 and trying out Dilshan Sudesh who opened with young Bavindu, who lasted only a couple of balls, hitting 11 runs. Wijeyeratne was also run out facing only two balls.

This above act probably cost the TCSCC about 30-40 runs which might had been the difference in the final score line of the home team. Burly Ryan Nurse from Barbados bowled extremely well sending down his 10 overs and capturing 3 for 30.
The BMCC opening pair of Usman Limbada and import M. Smalls looked inseparable before Navneet Dhaliwal clean bowled U. Limbada for 46 with score at 86. Then came another partnership with Gunasekera joining Smalls putting on some valuable runs before Smalls had to retire hurt after having a cramp attempting to get a quick single. Then saw two quick wickets falling and TCSCC back on track after Woolcock and Gunasekera sent back to the pavilion. Then it was all left to skipper Crandon and Nurse to see the BMCC reach the tall score of 303 to win getting a little support from the Toronto fielders who let down a few ‘dollies’ giving the benefit to the batters to remain and score off the required runs. Nurse perished to a poor call by skipper Crandon for 36 off 19 balls but skipper took the entire weight on him and finished the proceedings to stay on ‘top’ as table leaders in Elite Super-6 for 2016, for the past weekend.

TCSCC 302 FOR 07 IN 50 OVER’S – B. ADIHETTY 77, N. DHALIWAL 88, R. REHMAN 71*, Z. SURKARI 20 (R. NURSE 3/39)
BMCC 304/4 IN 48.2 OVER’S – C. CRANDON 81*, M. SMALLS 67 RETD N.O., R. GUNASEKERA 36, R. NURSE 36
Next week will be the last week-end for all Super-6 teams and will determine the first three teams that will play in the play-offs. Table leaders will get a bye and proceed to the Finals with second and third in the table playing a semi-final and the winners will confront the team that get the bye, which is now known as BMCC. Still cricket is a game of uncertainty and have to wait and watch at the results of this weekend’s games. Rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday.
—– Srinath Wijeyeratne – reporting.