ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier: Canada can surprise the pundits -- Posted Thursday, July 31 2008
Canada plays in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast , Northern Ireland (August 2nd to 5th) with hopes of a place in next year’s competition proper in England . Canada plays in a qualifying group with the Netherlands and Kenya. Scotland and Bermuda play in a second group, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The finalists qualifying for the main event in 2009, as does the third place team, arising from a recent ICC decision regarding Zimbabwe .
Recent results in ODIs and ICC Intercontinental Cup matches might not suggest the Maple Leaf side is too likely to place in the top three. But pride is on the line and there are several experienced players in the line-up who have the potential to be match-winners.
The Canadian side has a reasonable array of seam bowlers and spinners, as well as significant batting potential. John Davison returns to the side for the first time since the ICC Intercontinental Cup Final with Ireland in May 2007. Abdool Samad and Ashish Bagai recently posted the first 200 stand for Canada in ODI matches. Geoff Barnett, Sunil Dhaniram and Abdul Jabbar are capable of scoring runs. The likes of Steve Welsh, Sami Faridi and Harvir Baidwan have shown grit with the bat in ODI matches.
Canada beat Bermuda in a World Cricket League match reduced to 21-overs per side in Nairobi in February 2007. Davison played a crucial innings and Dhaniram came up trumps in the bowling department. An ODI win over Kenya in Mombasa ( Kenya ) showed the potential for Canadian cricket, but was followed by a weak showing against the Kenyans in the opening game of CWC2007. A win against the Dutch proved elusive in ODI matches, but it could have come in South Africa in late 2006 from a Canadian squad lacking any overseas players. Bagai was named player of the tournament at the WCL, scoring two centuries. One came as Canada scored over 300 runs to beat Ireland .
The Dutch are lead by Peter Borren and include Ryan ten Doeschate, an impact player at the Associates level. Kenya is spearheaded by Steve Tikolo and all-rounder Thomas Odoyo. Kenya and the Dutch open the tournament on August 2nd, Canada play the Dutch later on August 2nd and meet Kenya on August 3. Two teams progress to the semi-finals from each of the two groups
One big win could turn the tide in the group stages, then it comes down to a solid semi-final performance to reach the big event, but four wins, including this tournament’s championship would be a tremendous boost for the players. The players put in a tremendous amount of effort in the cause of Canadian cricket. As has coach Pubudu Dassanayake and his support team.
Success in this Twenty20 qualifier would also boost confidence for next year’s World Cup Qualifier in the UAE.
Eddie Norfolk
CANADA - Sanjay Thuraisingam (captain), Ashish Bagai, Abdool Samad, Abdul Jabbar Chaudrey, Geoffrey Barnett, Henry Osinde, Harvir Baidwan, Eion Katchay, Sunil Dhaniram, John Davison, Muhammad Qazi, Abdus Sami Faridi, Karun Jethi, Steven Welsh; Mike Henry (manager), Pubudu Dassanayake (coach), Dan Kiesel (physiotherapist)
Davison returns to lead Canada’s charge (ICC) -- Posted Tuesday, July 29 2008
“It’s the best side that has come together for Canada in a long time,” says wicketkeeper-batsman Ashish Bagai
Canada wicketkeeper-batsman Ashish Bagai says his team will look to all-rounder John Davison to guide it through to next year’s ICC World Twenty20 2009.
“John is rated amongst the best and it is great news that he is back to bolster the side for this important event,” said the 26-year-old Bagai ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier to be staged in Belfast, Ireland from 2 to 5 August.
“All the players are definitely looking to him to guide us through to the next year’s event in England. His return to the side (after a gap of 14 months) gives a totally different look to this talented team,” said Bagai.
The six Associate countries, including Ireland, Kenya, Scotland, the Netherlands and Bermuda as well as Canada, will go head to head in the four-day tournament at Stormont and at stake will be two or possibly three places in the England event.
Both finalists will qualify for that tournament which will take place at Lord’s, The Oval and Trent Bridge next June.
The third place, to be decided by a third and fourth-place play-off, is dependent on Zimbabwe Cricket’s Board ratifying a decision taken by its officials during ICC Annual Conference week, to step back from the tournament.
The 38-year-old Davison has been the mainstay of Canada cricket for almost a decade. He was Canada’s star in the 2001 and 2005 ICC World Cup Qualifiers (formerly the ICC Trophy) where the North American side finished third to secure places in the 2003 and 2007 ICC Cricket World Cups in South Africa and the West Indies respectively.
In 2001 in Canada, Davison scored 145 runs and took 15-298 while in 2005 in Ireland, his contribution was 312 runs and 6-124 with the ball.
In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa, Davison took the world by storm by belting the fastest World Cup century in history when he clubbed six sixes in a swashbuckling 111 from only 76 balls against the West Indies.
He followed this up last year with the third-fastest World Cup half-century against New Zealand on way to becoming his side’s top performer.
Davison has played 25 ODIs and 51 first-class matches and has also attended the Australian Cricket Academy in 1993. He played for Victoria and South Australia and presently works as a coach at the Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence.
Bagai said Davison’s stature was unique within the playing group. “He is more than a player to the Canada team. He is a strategist, an inspiration and mentor to everyone in the side. He is receptive and the players listen to him.
“Whenever he has represented Canada, he has brought all these qualities with him and has played each role to perfection. I think Canada cricket owes him a lot,” said Bagai, who appeared in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2000 for the Americas.
Canada’s preparations for the Belfast tournament are far from ideal with defeats against Bermuda both in the ODI series and the ICC Intercontinental Cup matches earlier this month. “I think the team prepared itself nicely for the two events but it just couldn’t produce the desired results,” said Bagai, who skipped the four-day match but contributed 149 runs with the bat in the ODI series which Bermuda won by 2-1.
“I also think Bermuda played its best cricket in both the events. But those defeats have given us an opportunity to look at the grey areas, work on them and travel to Belfast better prepared.”
Bagai lives in England and admits it is not the best preparation for any team to assemble just days before an important event. “John (Davison) lives in Australia while I live in England and it is not an ideal situation where you get together as a team only a few days before the start of the tournament.
“But John and I know the players and likewise, the players know us so we can overcome this disadvantage. In our absence, the team is preparing as hard as it can.
“It’s the best side that has come together for Canada in a long time. I am confident that the results in Belfast will echo my views,” he said.
Bagai attended the ICC Winter Camp in 2006 and he went on to win the player-of-the-tournament award at the ICC World Cricket League Division One the following year.
And Bagai was was not affected by the fact he will not be captaining the side. “I think it makes sense when you have a captain who is always available to the team as compared to someone like me who is only available for selected matches because of work commitments.
“There is mutual respect between me and the players and I am motivated and committed to play my role as a senior member of the team. For me, representing or being involved in any role that can help Canada cricket is an honour and a privilege,” he said.
Bagai added his side would not worry about which team was in its group. “It doesn’t matter to us which teams we face or who is likely to be our semi-final opponent. Instead of worrying about that part, we would prefer to focus on our preparations and try to convert those preparations into quality performances.
“We will not show disrespect to any team by taking them lightly. Instead, we will to go match by match and play as hard as possible,” he said.
Canada, seeded fourth, is drawn with Kenya and the Netherlands and play the African side in the opening match of the tournament.
CANADA - Sanjay Thuraisingam (captain), Ashish Bagai, Abdool Samad, Abdul Jabbar Chaudrey, Geoffrey Barnett, Henry Osinde, Harvir Baidwan, Eion Katchay, Sunil Dhaniram, John Davison, Muhammad Qazi, Zubin Surkari, Karun Jethi, Steven Welsh.
Tournament Schedule
Saturday 2 August
0930 Kenya v Netherlands
1300 Ireland v Scotland
1630 Netherlands v Canada
Sunday 3 August
0930 Scotland v Bermuda
1300 Kenya v Canada
1630 Ireland v Bermuda
Monday 4 August
0930 Semi-final one: Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B
1300 Semi-final two: Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A
1630 Third and fourth-place play-off
Tuesday 5 August
0930 Fifth and sixth-place play-off
1300 Final
For more information go to:
www.iccworldtwenty20qualifier.com
Canada-Bermuda ODI 3 - video -- Posted Thursday, July 24 2008
Thanks to Stormy99 on youtube!
Scotland demolishes Canada in ICC Intercontinental Cup -- Posted Friday, July 18 2008
Scotland polished off Canada just after lunch on the third of four scheduled days in the ICC Intercontinental Cup. In reality, it was a demolition job as Canada was bowled out for 130 runs in its second innings, giving the Scots victory by an innings and 165 runs. The main destroyers, as in the Canadian first innings, were opening bowler Dewald Nel, who took 3 wickets for 38 runs, and left-arm spinner Ross Lyons, who took 4 wickets for 36 runs. Opening bat Sandeep Jyoti top-scored for Canada with a patient 43 runs made off 130 balls.
Lyons took 7 wickets for just 42 runs in this match. Nel had match figures of 7 wickets for 70 runs. Some of the Canadian batsmen fell to careless strokes.
Few people saw this match, possibly 10 people turned up as spectators on the final day who did not have some kind of official role or similar reason for being present. Advertising for these bread and butter international matches for Canada is basically non-existent. The off-the-field organization from Cricket Canada is basically weak. During the lunch break, three stand-by umpires watched the one groundsman work on the crease markings, roll the pitch and perform whatever other tasks time allowed. There were no refreshment facilities for any intrepid spectator who ventured to Maple Leaf Cricket Club. (There would have been provision if the game lasted into Saturday.) As for souvenirs and memorabilia of Canadian cricket or its players? Forget it. Nothing.
At least the man-of-the-match award went to the correct person; Dougie Lockhart for his 151 runs. He also took 3 catches and made a stumping in his wicket-keeping role. Now all he needs is for someone to buy him a barbecue so he can use his new barbecue tools, his prize for being Man-of-the-Match. Five Canadian batsmen reached double-figures in the second innings, compared with just 2 in the first innings.
The game boosts Scotland’s chances of reaching the top two in the Intercontinental Cup standings and a possible berth in November’s Final. Canada has little time left to re-group, focus and take aim at a top-three spot in the World 20/20 qualifying event at the start of August. It was just so sad for those who care about Canadian cricket.
Two flags flew on Scotland’s behalf at the ground. The Canadian flag was conspicuously absent, just as at the Scotiabank National T20 Cricket Championship in May. And on the third day, the official scorers were advised that one of the Canadian players should really be Muhammaad Shakir. Not one of the three previous versions of his name that were in circulation. A small point, but one of many incomplete or missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle at the top of Canadian cricket.
Eddie Norfolk
ICC World Twenty20 -- Posted Friday, July 18 2008
The ICC has announced a revised schedule for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast next month.
The tournament, involving the six leading Associate teams - Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland - will now take place from August 2 to 5, with a fourth day included to allow room for a third and fourth-place play-off.
That additional fixture has become necessary because a third team will join the two finalists in next year's tournament, providing Zimbabwe Cricket's board ratifies Zimbabwe's decision, taken during the ICC's annual conference week, to step down from the ICC World Twenty20 2009.
If that is confirmed then the winner of the Belfast event will take the place of Zimbabwe in the main draw, in Group A, alongside India and Bangladesh. The losing finalist will take its place in Group B, alongside Pakistan and England and has the prospect of playing the opening match of the tournament, against the host team at Lord's, London. The winner of the third and fourth place play-off slots into Group D, with South Africa and New Zealand.
The format for the WT20 Qualifier takes in 11 matches over four days, with the six teams split into two groups based on the sides' ODI rankings. Group A is made up of Ireland, Scotland and Bermuda while Group B features Kenya, Netherlands and Canada.
The first two days of the tournament, August 2 and 3, features round-robin action with the top two sides from each group going forward to the semi-finals. Those semi-finals will take place on day three, followed by the all-important third and fourth place play-off. A fifth and sixth place play-off - a second additional fixture to the original schedule - will get the fourth day off and running before being followed by the final.
Information sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/361538.html
Scotland poised for Intercontinental Cup win over Canada -- Posted Thursday, July 17 2008
July 17, 2008; ICC Intercontinental Cup: Summary scores after 2 days of a scheduled 4 day game at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City, Ontario:
Scotland 374 runs all out (130.5 overs, Dougie Lockhart 151 runs, Qasim Shiekh 92 runs, Sunil Dhaniram 4 wickets for 61 runs)
Canada 79 all out (38.2 overs, Dewald Nel 4 wickets for 32 runs, Ross Lyons 3 wickets for 6 runs) and, following-on, 36 runs for 2 wickets.
Scotland leads by 259 runs.
Report
The delight of the Canadian players and the small band of home team supporters as Scotland was bowled out for 374 runs was quickly transformed as Canada was routed for 79 runs in its first innings, and, following on, closed the day at 36 runs for 2 wickets. Canada needs to score 259 more runs in order to make Scotland bat again. This looks like being too tall an order on a wicket that was receptive to some spin and where Scotland’s seam bowlers poised several questions.
Indeed, Canada needs to score another 36 runs to overhaul Scotland’s batting mainstay, Dougie Lockhart, whose fine innings eventually ended with him caught and bowled by Sunil Dhaniram for 151 runs. Opener Lockhart was the 7th man out with the total on 361 runs. Dhaniram was the most successful of the Canadian bowlers, taking 4 wickets for 61 runs from 23 overs.
Canada lost opening bat Abdul Jabbar to the first ball of its first innings. The home team struggled against tidy pace bowling and then tumbled against the spin of Ross Lyons. Lyons took 3 wickets for just 6 runs from 9 overs that complemented pace bowler Dewald Nel’s 4 wickets for 32 runs. Only skipper Qaiser Ali (10 runs) and Dhaniram (17 runs) reached double-figures in Canada’s first innings.
Jabbar bagged a pair – being dismissed for nought in both innings - when Canada was asked to follow on, and young wicketkeeper Rustam Bhatti was bowled for 20 runs. It is likely to be a tough day on Friday for the home side when play resumes at 10.30 am at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City, Ontario (intersection of Dufferin Street and 15th Sideroad). Few will expect Canada to even take the game into the scheduled fourth day on Saturday.
But for all that hope springs eternal in sport, realism is likely to win out. Those who wondered about all the singles (single runs) the Scots took on the opening day may begin to realize the value of the innings played by Lockhart and Qasim Sheikh, who made 92 runs. The Scots fielded well and the bowlers took control of the game.
Canada did manage a major second innings recovery in the Intercontinental Cup against the Netherlands in December 2006 but this wicket favours the bowlers. Pride was restored in that game against the Dutch after a horrible collapse but the game was still lost.
Eddie Norfolk
Canada in a grind -- Posted Thursday, July 17 2008
An unbeaten 126 by Douglas Lockhart, supported by Qasim Sheikh's 92, took Scotland to a commanding position of 286 for 3 on day one of their Intercontinental Cup game against Canada in King City. It was a bad toss to lose for the home side as the bowlers toiled on a flat pitch at the Maple Leaf North-East Ground.
Scotland batted comfortably despite having less than a day to acclimatise themselves to the local conditions after their arrival was delayed because of a hurricane in Bermuda, where they had played their previous game.
Canada tasted early success when Fraser Watts was trapped lbw by Eion Katchay with the score on 21, before Lockhart and Sheikh took control till tea. Qaiser Ali, the Canada captain, used eight bowlers to force a breakthrough but to no avail. The pair scored five boundaries each before reaching their half-centuries, with Lockhart reaching the mark first.
Scotland proceeded to 168 at tea before Sheikh unfortunately fell eight short of a ton shortly after the interval. They had added 173 in 57.1 overs. Debutant Sami Faridi, the chinaman bowler, who was the receiving end of a real pasting by the pair, broke through with one which turned across Sheikh, who edged to the wicketkeeper while attempting to work it to the leg side. Sheikh faced 194 balls and hung around for as many minutes, hitting 11 fours.
Canada struck again with the wicket of Richard Berrington but the mainstay, Lockhart, remained till stumps with Neil McCallum. Lockhart faced 211 balls to reach three figures and ensured the advantage remained with Scotland despite the fall of a couple of wickets in the final session.
Report sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/icccont2007/content/story/361458.html
Canada struggle against Scotland on first day of Intercontinental Cup -- Posted Wednesday, July 16 2008
Scotland won the toss and chose to bat first against Canada at King City in the four-day first-class Intercontinental Cup match.
Canadian hopes were elevated by an early wicket when Katchay had Watts lbw for 10, but then Lockhart and Sheikh put together an unenterprising but impressive partnership for the 2nd wicket. Canada were at least able to keep the run rate down, and at tea Scotland were 168/1 off 64 overs. The Scots accelerated after tea, with Lockhart completing an impressive century. Sheikh fell on 92 after the pair had put on 173, and Canada captured one more wicket before the close. It was definitely Scotland's day however, and with the score on 286/3 they are in excellent position to post an unbeatable total tomorrow.
CricketEurope is covering the match live
Four-nation Twenty20 tournament confirmed to be held in Toronto -- Posted Tuesday, July 15 2008
Organisers have confirmed a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto involving hosts Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in August.
"There were some teething problems initially but now everything is going according to plan," Noman Nabi, chairman of Sports International Marketing - the company staging the August 14-17 tournament. Nabi said packed stadiums are expected for the event, with approximately 12,000 spectators expected for each game.
The tournament faced major hiccups last month when the original organisers backed out. "We only came in the picture last month and signed an MoU with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in mid-June," Nabi said. He said they had signed an MoU with the Bangladesh Cricket Board while all terms and conditions have been verbally agreed with the top officials of Cricket Canada.
"They [Cricket Canada] have assured us that they would soon confirm the participation of the West Indies in the tournament," he said. Noman said there was a delay in confirming the four-day event as Cricket Canada were a "bit apprehensive" about the venture after the earlier organisers backed out.
"The PCB has been very supportive," he said. "The tournament is aimed at building Pakistan's image in Canada because a successful Twenty20 tournament will help revive cricket in that country.
"Canada has a big Pakistani community and since the event will begin on August 14 we believe it would be a perfect time to celebrate [Pakistan's] Independence Day there."
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/other/content/story/360845.html
Cricketers drug tests -- Posted Monday, July 14 2008
Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif has tested positive for a banned substance during an Indian Premier League (IPL) game, tournament organisers have said.
Only last month Asif, 25, was detained at Dubai airport on suspicion of carrying illegal drugs.
He was held in Dubai for two weeks before returning to Pakistan after a decision was made not to press charges.
"The Indian Premier League confirms the player is in violation is Mohammad Asif," the league said in a statement.
Asif played for the Delhi Daredevils during the lucrative Twenty20 tournament which began in April and ended in June.
Your correspondent has no knowledge of the use of 'drugs' by Canadian cricketers. Any reports of the use of 'banned substances' in Canada will be published.
Jon Harris.
Four-nation Twenty20 tournament -- Posted Sunday, July 13 2008
To be held in Toronto, organisers have confirmed a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto involving hosts Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in August.
"There were some teething problems initially but now everything is going according to plan," Noman Nabi, chairman of Sports International Marketing - the company staging the August 14-17 tournament - told the News. Nabi said packed stadiums are expected for the event, with approximately 12,000 spectators expected for each game.
The tournament faced major hiccups last month when the original organisers backed out. "We only came in the picture last month and signed an MoU with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in mid-June," Nabi said. He said they had signed an MoU with the Bangladesh Cricket Board while all terms and conditions have been verbally agreed with the top officials of Cricket Canada.
"They [Cricket Canada] have assured us that they would soon confirm the participation of the West Indies in the tournament," he said. Noman said there was a delay in confirming the four-day event as Cricket Canada were a "bit apprehensive" about the venture after the earlier organisers backed out.
"The PCB has been very supportive," he said. "The tournament is aimed at building Pakistan's image in Canada because a successful Twenty20 tournament will help revive cricket in that country.
"Canada has a big Pakistani community and since the event will begin on August 14 we believe it would be a perfect time to celebrate [Pakistan's] Independence Day there."
Report sorced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/other/content/story/360845.html
Sunday Cricket Festival at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park -- Posted Sunday, July 13 2008
A two-day cricket event that is part of The 4th Asian Community Games wraps up on Sunday with the Festival phase on Sunday at Centennial Park, Etobicoke, Ontario. Sunday play is scheduled to begin at 10 am. Matches use the 20/20 format and include playoffs to decide the Mayor’s Cup and the Member of Provincial Parliament Cup, based on performances in games on Saturday.
The City of Toronto Cricket Club meet the St George’s Club at 10 am, then a combined City team then meets the Toronto Police at 2pm. The cricket concludes with a kids match on one of the two grounds and a match between Brampton-based GT Sports Club (Etobicoke & District Cricket League) and Mississauga Ramblers (who have teams in the Toronto & District as well as the Hamilton & District cricket leagues).
This is the first time cricket has features in the Asian Community Games. Volleyball also debuts alongside badminton, basketball, soccer, table tennis and track & field. The overall event is organized by the Sing Fai Sports Club. The Toronto City Cricket Club is the sponsor of the cricket event, the roots being in the original City of Toronto’s Spirit of Cricket/Mayor’s Trophy.
The cricket grounds are on the northern side of Centennial Park, next to the Soccer City entrance off Toronoto’s Eglinton Avenue West.
However, some of the smart money for car parking goes to those who use the main car park at the south-east end of the park off Centennial Park Road (near the Rathburn Road and Renforth Drive intersection). Those using this car park then walk around the ski hill to reach the cricket grounds. Most of the Asian Television Network (ATN) cricket team took this approach on Saturday. The car park for the two cricket grounds tends to get full on weekends.
Centennial Park was the core venue for the cricket, soccer, track & field (stadium) and basketball (Etobicoke Olympium) events on Saturday. Badminton took place at the Hershey Centre, Mississauga, table tennis was hosted in Markham and volleyball was played at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus. Only the cricket continues, as part of the Asian Community Games, on Sunday, but other sports will be taking place, as usual, in the rest of the park.
Eddie Norfolk
Everything's cricket -- Posted Saturday, July 12 2008
How to help cultures converge in the classroom
As a physical education teacher at a culturally diverse elementary school, I was excited to read about the research of Keenjal PattniShah into bridging the culture gap.
Two years ago, our school introduced cricket into the phys.ed and intamural program for students in Grades 1-6. Through cricket we've had seldom-seen-before parents make contributions to the life of the school either through volunteer coaching or assisting at interschool cricket tournaments. Our school library now includes a fiction series cricket. Bulletin boards depict cricket being played around the world by children and international stars, both male and female, from South Asia and West Indies.
By embracing a sport that holds great significance in the lives of our students we feel we've made some headway in bridging the culture gap. It has also given the students who are knowledgeable to share what they know with their equally keen classmates.
Tim Stone, Toronto.
Published in the Saturday, July 12, 2008 edition of the Toronto Star: pp AA7
Western Canadian John Ross Robertson Trophy -- Posted Saturday, July 12 2008
The Western Canadian John Ross Robertson Trophy was held in Calgary on June 28 and 29.
Unfortunately, the Saskatchewan champions were unable to attend and were replaced by the Edmonton Champions, Millwoods C.C.
Last year's Alberta Champions CanAsia of Calgary were joined by Meraloma C.C. from Vancouver and Lions C.C. from Winnipeg.
The opening day of the tournament saw CanAsia taking on Lions on Riley Park Large while Millwoods hosted Meraloma on the small ground.
On the large ground CanAsia won the toss and elected to bat on a beautiful June day.
Lions initially bowled well and kept the CanAsia batsmen in check with regular wickets and some tight bowling. However, as the innings progressed their poor fielding began to show and a series of dropped catches allowed
the Calgarians to post a total in excess of 250. This was always going to be too many for Lions and they failed to get close as CanAsia cruised to an easy win.
On the smaller ground Meraloma won the toss and elected to bat. Iain Dixon and Dave McGowan opened and got the innings off to a flying start thanks to some eccentric field placings by the Millwoods skipper and some wayward
bowling. With 50 on the board Dixon drove loosely to be caught behind.
Vohara Gunaratna then kept up the pace by pasting his first ball through extra cover for four and the scene was set for a big Meraloma total.
Gunaratna soon departed, bowled by Chaudhary's slower ball, but in form Jon Snow and McGowan then took over the game. In a stand of 139 they took the Millwoods bowling apart and completely took the game away from the
Edmontonians. After McGowan fell for 90, Karl Whatham took over with a 34 ball 59 as Jon Snow cruised to 119. Snow was finally out on midwicket boundary and Alex Earl helped himself to a rapid 38 as the Meraloma score pushed towards 400, and eventually passed it, thanks to some lusty late
hitting from Kevin Sandher. Meraloma 411 for 7 after 50 overs.
Even on Riley Park's postage stamp sized smaller ground 411 is an imposing score. Millwoods set about their batting with intent, if little art.
Opener Amanjit took 17 off Andrew Downs' first over, all of them over slip or point, and for a few overs an unlikely victory seemed vaguely possible.
However, as the runs flowed so did the wickets. Despite scoring 77 off the first ten overs there were already four Millwoods batsmen back under the shady tree. Seamer Murray Reed picked up three for 27 and Luke McCarthy, who would end up with 4-31, accounted for the other with his nippy seamers.
Two more wickets followed in the 11th over and the game was over bar the shouting. Jagroop played well as the remaining wickets fell but his 70 was a token effort andwhen he was out, bowled by Whatham, the Millwoods total
was a meagre 157. Meraloma by 254 runs.
The final was set for the large ground on Sunday, June 29. The rivalry between Alberta and BC cricket has a long history and has been intensifying with the passing years so a good final looked to be in the offing.
Unfortunately CanAsia ran into an in form Meraloma side on a wicket which suited their bowlers. CanAsia won the toss and elected to bat. Zulfikar Hussain opened with Abdul and it was clear from the outset what Zulfikar's game plan was. Despite being regularly beaten by the swing of Murray Reed and the pace of Andrew Downs he kept going for his shots. His fourth ball from Reed went for a massive six over midwicket but by the 5th over there were only 13 on the board. Abdul then pushed at a Downs delivery to be
caught at second slip by Whatham. A maiden from Reed was followed by two massive sixes off Downs' next over and Sandher decided to introduce spin. Sandher's over successfully put the brakes on the batsmen. Reed was
continuing and after giving up a six over deep fine leg a minor adjustment in the field had Zulfikar clipping a catch to Whatham at short fine leg.At 39 for 2 from 10 overs CanAsia weren't in a bad position.
Reed who was getting great swing and bounce induced an edge to the keeper, sending Adnan back to the shady trees. Downs was then re-introduced and he immediately produced two quick outswingers which were nicked to Whatham at
second slip. CanAsia were 43 for 5 and reeling. Reed then got one to bounce on Kazmi which was easily pouched by Earl at gully and retired to the deep with figures of 3 for 25. Sandher then brought himself back in harness with McCarthy. His first ball was a loosener to Khan who cut hard at it sending the ball flying towards the area in front of gully.
Unfortunately for him the Meraloma fielding was otherworldly on this day and Alex Earl took a spectacular one handed diving catch. That catch was followed by Reed pouching an equally spectacular one handed grab at deep
mid off to remove Habib and the CanAsia innings subsided for a mere 61.
With little to work with the CanAsia bowlers tried to muster some inspiration, but they weren't able to. Mick DiManno and Dave McGowan opened for the Meralomas and easily knocked off the runs in a mere 14 overs.
Meraloma Western Canadian Champions once again.
Article forwarded from Vancouver by I.D.
Cricket comes of age in Canada: wins recognition from Ottawa -- Posted Tuesday, July 8 2008
Propelled by the avid enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of recent immigrants, cricket has finally come of age in Canada - about 150 years after it was once regarded as the country's national sport.
The federal government announced Friday it was officially recognizing the game, elevating its formal stature and making it eligible for much needed public funding.
"It's a tremendous day for cricket," said Ben Sennik, president of Cricket Canada, the umbrella organization that speaks for the sport and is responsible for the Canadian national team.
The recognition, which follows a decade of lobbying, means an immediate grant of $77,000 for 2007-2008. While it's a modest sum, Sennik could barely contain his delight.
"We need every dollar, the way we are developing," he said. "In the past, we have been scraping through."
Canada is no stranger to the pastime, with reports of games played here as far back as the mid-18th century.
The country's first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, declared it Canada's national sport in 1867 and Cricket Canada itself was established in 1892. However, the game was quickly overtaken by baseball in importance.
In recent years, interest has risen to a new level with the influx of immigrants from cricket-crazy areas such as Pakistan, India and the Caribbean, as well as from other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, South Africa and the U.K.
A happy Toronto taxi driver, Ahmad Choudhuri, began pontificating about Canada's place in the cricket world immediately after hearing about Ottawa's decision.
"They have a lot of good players over here," said Choudhuri, who played the "gentleman's game" as a boy in India.
"If they want, they can have a really good team. If they get funding, they can get a very good team."
About 40,000 people in Canada are registered as cricket players with their provincial associations - the best of them barely qualifying even as semi-professionals. As many as 50,000 others are estimated to play regularly and schools are increasingly getting in on the game as well.
Ottawa is committed to spending $164 million a year supporting more than 50 different sports, and Secretary of State for Sport Helena Guergis welcomed cricket to the fold.
"It is an exciting day for cricketers for Cricket Canada, as a national sports organization, to have the opportunity to be recognized by the federal government," Guergis said.
Cricket Canada used the opportunity to show off the national team's natty new uniform - grey with a red stripe on the sides of the shirt and pants, with a splash of yellow on the sleeves.
National teams from Scotland, Ireland and Bermuda, along with international powerhouse the West Indies, are all due to visit for games this summer.
Article sourced from:-
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2008/06/20/5939906-cp.html
ICC to invest US$300 million for non-Full Member countries -- Posted Tuesday, July 8 2008
The ICC has announced that it will invest US$300 million over the next seven years for the development of the game outside the ten Full Member countries, terming it as the "biggest investment in global development by any sport outside football."
"We want to see results that challenge world cricket's existing order," Haroon Lorgat, the new ICC chief execuitive, said. "And we want to develop better players and better structures on and off the field, giving everyone the chance to be the best they can be."
Lorgat said the initiative was made possible due to a number of commercial agreements. "Thanks to agreements with our commercial partners, foremost among them the one we signed in December 2006 with ESPN Star Sports [reported to be worth $1.1 billion], the game is financially secure."
The funding package, which begins next year, is expected to benefit the 94 Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC, and the annual amount, approx. $40 million, is significantly higher than the $18 million put forward this year. "This fresh cash injection highlights we are a not-for-profit organisation. All the revenue we generate from our events, broadcast and commercial agreements is ploughed back into the game," he said. "It is also an indication of how strong this great game is at present.
"Participation is at an all-time high in all our members at all levels. Thanks to the World Cricket League, all Associate and Affiliate Members now have a clear pathway through to one of the crown jewels of the game, the World Cup."
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/360333.html
Canada lose to Bermuda in Intercontinental Cup -- Posted Monday, July 7 2008
ICC Intercontinental Cup match at Maple Leaf CC, King City , July
4-7, 2008:
Bermuda 237 all out (87.4 overs) and 248 all out (110.5 overs) beat
Canada 228 runs all out (71.3 overs) and 151 runs all out (61.1
overs)
Bermuda 20 points, Canada 0 points
Bermuda's Dwayne Leverock took 5 wickets for 60 runs and Rodney
Trott 3 wickets for 28 runs as Canada was bowled out for 151 runs in
its second innings to lose the Intercontinental Cup match by 106 runs
on Monday. Slow-left arm spinner Leverock had a ten wicket haul from
the match for a personal cost of 129 runs and played a crucial
supporting role with the bat on Sunday as captain Irving Romaine led a major batting recovery with 84 runs.
This outright win gave Bermuda maximum points and brings them level
with Canada on 26 points at the foot of the round-robin standings.
Arvind Kandappah, batting with a runner, and Eion Katchay each made
29 runs for Canada. Sunil Dhaniram and Ian Billcliff each reached
the 20s but both were victims of Leverock.
Bermudian coach Gus Logie said "It was a good all round performance.
I was pleased with the quality of the fight-back. Steven Outerbridge had a fine 79 with support from John Celestine (47 runs) and our
skipper (Irving Romaine, 30 runs) in the first innings. 237 was a
good score in the end and we followed up by taking a 9 run first
innings lead.~T
"At 78 for 5 (close of day two) we had a lot to do, but Irving came
through with 84 runs, again with support from John Edndess and Dwayne
Leverock which took us to a 257 run lead. The pitch was beginning to
wear and Leverock took 5 more wickets, Rodney Trott took 3 wickets
and young (Stefan) Kelly bowled with good control."
Logie also paid tribute to Chris Foggo for good short leg catches
that were something special.
"We showed mental toughness in both innings (batting) and this has
brought our younger players forward."
It looked like being a tough day for Canada , batting on a wearing
wicket that was taking spin, but there were phases when runs began to
flow. There was little room for error. Leverock was getting the ball
to turn and had fine support from the steady pace bowling of Stefan
Kelly when play resumed on Monday. Leverock was able to operate with
several fielders in close-catching positions. Rodney Trott then
enjoyed success with his off-spin. Kelly took two well-judged catches
at deep square leg to end the game.
Bermuda returns home to face Scotland in this competition from July
10th to 13th. The Scots then come to Maple Leaf CC, King City to play
Canada (July 16 to 19th).
Eddie Norfolk
Bermuda set Canada 258 to win -- Posted Sunday, July 6 2008
Bermuda recovered well from their overnight 78/5
as Edness and Romaines put on 82. Edness fell on 46 but Romaine (84), partnered by Leverock (29*) took the total to 248. Dhaniram's figures were an incredible 42.5-24-36-4, and bin Zafar also took four wickets.
Canada's hopes of the win were dealt a blow when Samad fell for a duck in the 2nd over and were in tatters by the close as Bermuda claimed three more wickets. Captain Ian Billcliff is still there but will have to produce something special if Canada are to salvage a win from their current score of 32/4.
Cricket Europe live coverage
Toronto & District Under-25’s and Seniors to meet in Ontario Senior Championship Final -- Posted Sunday, July 6 2008
Eddie Norfolk
The final of the Ontario Senior Cricket Championship sees the Toronto & District Cricket Association senior side facing the T&D Under-25 side at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park on Sunday (noon start). In Saturday’s semi-finals, the T&D Senior side beat the Etobicoke & District Cricket League Under-25’s by 23 runs, while the T&D Under-25’s beat the Southern Ontario Cricket Association by 3 wickets.
Sharoze Shah top-scored for T&D Seniors, scoring 53 runs in an all-out total of 162 runs from 39.2 overs. Zaheer Allard took 3 wickets for 39 runs. Harvir Baidwan, who made his Canadian ODI debut last weekend, lead the bowling charge for the T&D, taking 5 wickets for 24 runs as the Etobicoke Under-25’s was bowled out for 139 runs. Tony Mohabir top-scored with 25 runs for the Etobicoke side.
There were plenty of unused overs by the batting sides in this match, and if it had not been for Shah leading the fight for the T&D Senior side, after losing 6 wickets for just 65 runs, there might have been many more unused overs on a sunny day.
Southern Ontario stumbled to 28 runs for 4 wickets, before K. Majir with 45 runs and wicketkeeper M. Abadallah, with 35 runs, batted with application to help lead the side to 176 all out (46.2 overs). Six bowlers shared the wickets for the T&D Under-25’s.
Chris Manohar and R. Lall lead the charge for the T&D after losing some early wickets. Manohar batted well and his side seemed to be crusing to victory when on 154 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. At this point, Manohar, who captained last year’s Canadian Under-19 team, was out for 73 runs. Neeraj suddenly picked up 3 quick wickets and the game had taken a major turn as, with a run-out in the mix of dismissals, the T&D Under-25’s rocked to 162 runs for 7 wickets. But batting sense was restored and a 3 wicket win was achieved to set up the possibility of an all T&D final. Something which came through a short time later as the T&D seniors came through against the Etobicoke Under-25’s on the neighbouring pitch at Centennial Park, Etobicoke.
So the final is set for a high noon start on Sunday. Admission is free and spectators would be most welcome.
Canada back on top after conceding lead -- Posted Sunday, July 6 2008
Bermuda 237 and 78 for 5 lead Canada 228 (Billcliff 56, Kandappah 51*, Leverock 5-69) by 87 runs
Fifteen wickets fell on the second day of the Intercontinental Cup match between Canada and Bermuda at King City and, even though Canada collapsed to give the visitors a slender first-innings lead, their bowlers put them back on top by the end of the day. Canada were dismissed for 228, Dwayne Leverock taking 5 for 69 with his left-arm spin, in reply to Bermuda's first-innings score of 237 but their spin attack reduced the visitors to 78 for 5 in the second innings by stumps.
Canada began the second day on 14 for 0, trailing by 223 runs. Their openers Geoff Barnett and Abdool Samad started steadily, adding 21 runs in the first six overs. The partnership was broken on 35 when Samad, trying to play a delivery from Ryan Steede on the leg side, was caught by Chris Foggo at short square leg. The second-wicket stand began to consolidate Canada's position but Leverock struck two quick blows to dismiss Barnett, caught at cover, and Trevin Bastiampillai, held by Foggo at short square once again. Canada had slipped from 76 for 1 to 77 for 3.
The partnership between Canada's captain Ian Billcliff and Arvind Kandappah began to shift the momentum towards the hosts. Kandappah did not follow the cautious approach of the top order and attacked Leverock instead. He scored boundaries all round the ground and hit a straight six over the sight screen to go into lunch on 43 off 29 balls. Billcliff provided the stability at the other end and Canada were 121 for 3 at lunch.
Kandappah got to his half-century off 38 balls after the interval but a back injury forced the 37-year old to retire hurt shortly after. Canada's momentum was broken and a steady stream of wickets followed. Sunil Dhaniram was bowled by Stefan Kelly by one which moved in as he tried to play aggressively, while Leverock found a way through Saad bin Zafar's defences.
Billcliff alternated between caution and aggression, scoring his fifty of 111 balls, but as wickets fell around him he scored at a quicker pace, hitting sixes over long-on. When he got out for 56, lofting a catch to George O'Brien at deep cover, Canada were 10 runs short of Bermuda's total with one wicket in hand. Kandappah returned to resume his innings but didn't face a ball as Henry Osinde offered a return catch to Rodney Trott to give Bermuda first-innings points.
Bermuda's openers, Foggo and Oronde Bascome, had made ducks in the first innings but they provided a steady start against Canada's new-ball attack, Osinde and Eion Katchay, by extending the lead to 49.
The introduction of spin sparked the collapse. Bascome was caught and bowled by Karun Jethi and Foggo's attempted sweep against Dhaniram landed in Billcliff's hands at slip. Bermuda went from 40 for 0 to 48 for 3 when Barnett caught Outerbridge, Bermuda's top-scorer in the first innings, for a duck at cover. James Celestine batted aggressively, hitting two fours and two sixes in his 22 but eventually edged Jethi to the wicketkeeper.
Bermuda's captain Irving Romaine and Rodney Trott performed damage control, batted nine out of the remaining ten overs with caution. However, Saad bin Zafar ended Trott's resistance, 1 off 30 balls, in the final minutes of the day by bowling him with a quicker ball.
Report by Cricinfo staff
July 6, 2008
Canada fight back after conceding 1st innings lead on Day 2 -- Posted Saturday, July 5 2008
Arvindah Kandappah's aggressive 51 led the Candian reply to Bermuda's 237. Coming in with Canada at 77/3 he hit a half century off just 38 balls, with 8 fours and a six. In the meantime his partner, skipper Ian Billcliff scored just 2 runs. Earlier Geoff Barnett completed an accomplished 30 before falling to Bermuda's World Cup star Dwayne Leverock.
Kandappah had to retire hurt on 51, and wickets tumbled. Dhaniram and bin Zafar managed double figures but no-one could keep Billcliff company as Canada went to tea at 201/8, Billcliff 32*, and last man Osinde 4*. Billcliff opened up after tea, reaching a patient 50 from 111 balls, but was caught on the ropes with Canada still needing 10 runs to tie Bermuda's first innings total. Kandappah returned with a runner to partner Osinde but Osinde was caught and bowled with Canada still 9 runs short.
When Bermuda batted again, the openers looked secure until Dhaniram and Jethi came on, and then four wickets fell quickly - 40 for 0 soon became 62/4 and then 78/5 at the close. Dhaniram in particular was proving very difficult, bowling his first 8 overs for only 5 runs. Canada are still in with a chance of a win with two days to go.
Cricket Europe live coverage
Dhaniram helps restrict Bermuda -- Posted Saturday, July 5 2008
Canada's bowlers gave their side the advantage on the first day of the Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda by dismissing the visitors for 237.
Steven Outerbridge's 79 was the only substantial contribution for Bermuda as Canada's new-ball attack wrested the initiative with early breakthroughs before left-arm spinner Sunil Dhaniram's four wickets helped wrap up the tail.
Henry Osinde gave Canada the perfect start by trapping Chris Foggo lbw for a duck off the third ball of the match. It got better when Eion Katchay, opening the bowling in the injured Umar Bhatti's absence, struck in his first over as well: Oronde Bascome was lbw for another duck and at 1 for 2, Bermuda's decision to bat had backfired.
James Celestine and Outerbridge combined to add 77 runs for the third wicket, a partnership which helped Bermuda recover to a certain extent through its aggressive approach. It was broken, however, by Dhaniram who had Celestine lbw for 47, off only 56 balls, as he tried to play across the line.
Outerbridge held the middle-order together but although Irving Romaine, Rodney Trott and Jekon Edness got starts, none of them carried on to make substantial scores. Romaine was snared by Osinde, who induced an edge with a full ball outside off stump after bowling a couple of off cutters. Osinde later pulled out of the attack because of a hamstring problem.
The turning point, however, was Outerbridge's dismissal, which was brought about by an athletic leaping catch by Ian Billcliff at cover. Bermuda were 180 for 5 and their position deteriorated in the first hour after tea. They lost three wickets during that period and Dhaniram had a hand in all of them: he had Trott lofting a catch, caught and bowled Ryan Steede, and ran out Stefan Kelly. The last pair, Dwayne Leverock and George O'Brien, managed to add 21 in quick time before Dhaniram had O'Brien caught at the boundary.
Canada's openers, Geoff Barnett and Abdool Samad, played the seven overs remaining in the day with caution and finished on 14 without loss.
Canada 14 for 0 trail
Bermuda 237 (Outerbridge 79, Dhaniram 4-70)
Report sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/icccont2007/content/story/359802.html
Canada’s coach looks to solid first innings batting -- Posted Saturday, July 5 2008
ICC Intercontinental Cup - Summary scores after Day 1 of a scheduled 4:
Bermuda 237 runs all out (87.4 overs, Steven Outerbridge 79 runs, Sunil Dhaniram 4 wickets for 70 runs)
Canada 14 runs for 0 wicket (7 overs).
Match at Maple Leaf CC, King City, Ontario. Play begins 10.30 am.
---------------
Report
Canadian coach Pubudu Dassanayake hopes his side will remain at the crease for a long time when play resumes on Saturday in the ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda. Canada bowled out Bermuda for 237 runs on the opening day, lead by slow-left arm spinner Sunil Dhaniram taking 4 wickets for 70 runs from 34.4 overs. Opening bowlers Henry Osinde and Eion Katchay each took 2 wickets.
Bermuda lost two early wickets but then had three partnerships with promising starts but failed to pass the century mark. John Celestine (47 runs) and Steven Outerbridge (79 runs) added 77 runs for the third wicket. Celestine then fell leg-before wicket to Dhaniram. Captain Irving Romaine shared a stand of 41 runs with Outerbridge, before Romaine was caught off Osinde’s bowling for 30 runs. Outerbridge was caught off Katchay out with the total on 180 runs. Just two runs later Rodney Trott, who had made 22, was caught off Dhaniram as Canada began to turn the screws.
Dassanayake said there had been a bit of turn at times and a bit of low bounce in the wicket, but nothing untoward. The key for batting success remains concentration, application and stroke selection. Canada closed the day on 14 runs for no wicket from 7 overs.
Home fans may be hoping for a large score similar to the 450 runs against the United Arab Emirates last summer or the 588 runs against Bermuda in 2006. Both totals being made on wickets at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City, Ontario. venue for the current match. John Davison (165 runs), Ian Billcliff (126 runs) and Abdool Samad (119 runs) each scored a century in the 2006 match against Bermuda. All-rounder Dhaniram was left on 141 runs not out when the last wicket fell against the UAE last year – an interesting number as July 1st 2008 was the 141st birthday of Canada.
Samad and Geoff Barnett are Canada’s opening batsmen overnight. Barnett hit a splendid century at the Maple Leaf ground which was a key element in the home win over Kenya in 2006. He will be hoping for a good score after missing out in the ODI matches last weekend.
Bermuda, meanwhile, might have hopes of a repeat of the 2005 win over Canada at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, or an even better showing. In 2005, Bermuda overcame an 82-run first innings deficit to beat the hosts and in the first Intercontinental Cup meeting at Sunnybrook Park, the last wicket Bermudian pair hung on for a draw, although Canada won the Americas qualifying group thanks to bonus points gained in that match and Davison’s match against the USA.
So hopes will be high for some more competitive and sporting cricket in the remainder of this match. But Canadian coach Dassanayake and his players will be focused on a solid first innings and an overall win.
Eddie Norfolk
Canada dismiss Bermuda for 237 in Intercontinental Cup match -- Posted Friday, July 4 2008
Canada struck first in the 4-day Intercontinental cup match against Bermuda, when the visitors were reduced to 2 wickets for one run after two overs from Osinde and Katchay. Celestine and Outerbridge took the score to 78 before Dhaniram had Celestine lbw for 47. At lunch Bermuda were 112/3. They eventually totalled 237, with Dhaniram taking an impressive 4/70 from 34.4 overs. At close Canada were 14 without loss
Canada team: Bastiampillai, +R Bhatti, A Samad, A Kandappah, G Barnett, *I Billcliff, K Jethi, S bin Zafar, S Dhaniram, E Katchay, H Osinde
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Cricket literature - the 18th century - The history of the game -- Posted Friday, July 4 2008
Written and pictorial records of cricket may go back to the Plantagenet period, although it is impossible to distinguish between what may be cricket and its brothers, cat and dog, stool-ball, rounders etc., and even at times its cousins, hockey and golf. The firmest, though still not secure, pictorial evidence is an illustration apparently of a man demonstrating a stroke with a stump to a boy holding a straight club and a ball in a Decretal of Pope Gregory IX that was illuminated in England; while in the Wardrobe Accounts of the Royal Household for the year 1300 the sums of 100 shillings and 6 pounds are mentioned as being spent on "creag" and other sports of Prince Edward (the grandfather of the Black Prince).
In the Tudor period there are references to boys playing "creckett" and in the seventeenth century there are many references such as that by Sir William Dugdale that Oliver Cromwell played cricket in his youth, while in 1653 Sir Thomas Urquhart even makes Gargantua play cricket in his translation of Rabelais. At the very end of this century cricket makes its appearance in the newspapers, a trend that grows rapidly in the eighteenth century but is concerned with announcements of matches, the wagers involved and, occasionally, the ensuing riots rather than with descriptions of matches. Rather different is the "Code of 1744" that contains at least two strata, one of which, wherein for instance the ball is referred to as "she" rather than "it", is clearly rustic rather than metropolitan and may be of considerable antiquity. All this, however, cannot be classed as literature.
Literature begins, for cricket, suddenly, unexpectedly and fully grown, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, in a Latin poem of 95 lines on a rural cricket match that was written by William Goldwin and published in his Musae Juveniles in March 1706. Little is known of the author: he left Eton for King's College Cambridge in 1700 and subsequently became Master of Bristol Grammar School and then was Vicar of Saint Nicholas, Bristol, until his death in 1747. His poem, In Certamen Pilae (On a Match at Ball), has been translated into English verse by Harold Perry in Etoniana in 1922 and, with copious scholarly notes, again into verse by H.P.-T. (P.F. Thomas) in Early Cricket the following year. In early spring "a chosen cohort of youths, armed with curved bats, ...descends rejoicing to the field". Each team tries to impose its own laws, until a grey-haired Nestor composes the squabble. They mark the pitch and on the stumps place the bail which "cries out for good defence" against "the leathern sphere". Two umpires stand "leaning on their bats" while the scorers "sit on a hummock ready to cut the mounting score on sticks with their little knives". The game begins and a batsman "propels the strident ball afar ...but a clearsighted scout (fieldsman) prepares his ambush in the deep and with outstretched palms joyfully accepts it as it falls ...and grief overwhelms those who silently mourn their friend's disaster". The tale of misfortune continues, and one batsman in going for a second run "falls headlong at the very foot of the wicket. (as) the shaken earth groans beneath his great weight" and the rustic throng exult in laughter". The other side fares better and "Victory , long striven for, noisily flaps its wings and fills the sky with the shouts and roars of success".
Cricket literature in English also gets off to a flying start with the appearance of Cricket: an Heroic Poem. illlustrated with the Critical Observations of Scriblerus Maximus. In 316 lines it describes the earliest match for which individual scores have been recorded, between Kent and England at the Artillery Ground, London, on June 18th 1744. It was written by James Love (really Dance), the bankrupt son of the architect of the Mansion House, who had taken to acting and writing for the stage to earn his living. It contains the much quoted couplet "Hail, cricket! Glorious manly, British Game! / First of all Sports! be first alike in Fame", as it lauds cricket to the detriment of "puny Billiards, where, with sluggish Pace, / The dull Ball trails before the feeble Mace" and even "Tennis self, thy sister sport" that cannot "charm, / Or with thy fierce Delights our Bosoms warm". Its style may, however, be better judged by the description of the fall of the famous lefthander Richard Newland of Slindon:
The champion strikes.
When scarce arriving fair,
The glancing ball mounts upward in the air.
The batsman sees it, and with mournful eyes
Fixed on the ascending pellet as it flies,
Thus suppliant claims the favour of the skies
And now illustrious Sackville where he stood
The approaching ball with cautious pleasure viewed,
At once he sees the chiefs impending doom,
And pants for mighty honours yet to come.
Swift as the falcon darting on its prey,
He springs elastic on the verdant way;
Sure of success, flies upward with a bound,
Derides the slow approach, and spurns the ground.
Prone slips the youth, yet glories in his fall,
With arm extended shows the captive ball.
The notes are worth reading, being partly informative of participants in the match and literary inspirations from Vergil and partly mock scholarly like that on Book 2, verse 47: "A Place there is.) Est in secessu Locus. The Author here has exactly follow'd the Example of all great Poets, both ancient and modern, who never fail to prepare you with a pompous Description of the Place where any great Action is to be perform'd."
A more frivolous poem on a cricket match appeared in 1773 when the Rev. John Duncombe wrote a parody on the ballad
Chevy Chace called Burry Triumphant:
The active Earl of Tankerville
An even bet did make,
That in Bourn paddock he would cause
Kent's chief est hands to quake.
And so he did, for:
Of byes and overthows but three
The Kentish heroes gain'd,
And Surry victor on the score,
Twice seventy-five remain'd.
Of near three hundred notches made
By Surry, eight were byes;
The rest were balls, which, boldly struck,
Re-echo'd to the skies!
This called forth a rejoinder from John Burn by, an attorney-at-law in Canterbury. His description of the Duke of Dorset is memorable:
His Grace the Duke of Dorset came,...
Equall'd by few, he plays with glee,
Nor peevish seeks for victory...
And for unlike the Modern way
Of blocking every ball at play,
He firmly stands with bat upright,
And strikes with athletic might,
Sends forth the ball across the mead,
And scores six notches for the deed.
A more unusual match was the subject of an anonymous poem of 1796: it was played between the one-legged and the one armed:
...Though bloody deeds by fortress wall
Are parodied when bat and ball
Defend and storm the stubborn wicket.
Thus thought I, when with vision dim,
With feeble step and loss of limb,
Old warriors in the strife contended...
Poems could give advice, on cricket (1772):
Ye bowlers take heed, to my precepts attend,
On you the whole state of the game must depend,
Spare your vigour at first nor exert all your strength,
But measure each step, and be sure pitch a length.
Ye strikers observe when the foe shall draw nigh,
Mark the bowler advance with a vigilant eye;
Your skill all depends upon distance and sight,
Stand firm to your scratch, let your bat be upright.
and even through cricket on life (1756):
The outward side, who place and profit want,
Watch to surprise and labour to supplant;
While those who taste the sweets of present winnings
Labour as heartily to keep their innings.
On either side the whole great game is play'd -
Untry'd no shift is left, unsought no aid;
Skill vies with skill, and pow'r contends with pow'r ,
And squint-eyed prejudice computes their score.
The enthusiasm for cricket in the eighteenth century is well represented by a letter from Mary Turner of East Hoathly to her son in September 1739: "Last Munday youre Father was at Mr Payns and plaid at Cricket and come home pleased anuf for he struck the best Ball in the game and whished he had not anny thing else to do he wuld play Cricket all his life". However, the active participation in cricket of members of the nobility called forth adverse criticism from both poets and poetasters. Alexander Pope attacks probably Lord John Sackville in his "The Judge to dance his brother serjeant call, / The Senator at cricket urge the ball", while in 1778 a lampooner inveighs against the Duke of Dorset in his The Noble Cricketers:
When Death (for Lords must die) your doom shall seal,
What sculptured Honors shall your tomb reveal?
Instead of Glory , with a weeping eye,
Instead of Virtue pointing to the sky,
Let Bats and Balls th' affronted stone disgrace,
While Farce stands leering by, with Satyr face,
Holding, with forty notches mark'd, a board -
The noble triumph of a noble Lord!
The last words for the eighteenth century must, however, be for its most famous club, Hambledon, for which the Rev. Reynell Cotton, master of Hyde Abbey School, Winchester, wrote his Cricket Song:
...The wickets are pitch'd now, and measured the ground;
Then they form a large ring, and stand gazing around -
Since Ajax fought Hector, in sight of all Troy,
No contest was seen with such fear and such joy.
Derry down, etc Then fill up your glass, he's the best that drinks most.
Here's the Hambledon Club! - who refuses the toast ?
Let's join in the praise of the bat and the wicket,
And sing in full chorus the patrons of cricket.
Derry down, etc.
And when the game's o'er, and our fate shall draw nigh
(For the heroes of cricket, like others, must die),
Our bats we'll resign, neither troubled nor vex'd,
And give up our wickets to those that come next.
Derry down, etc.
AR Littlewood (University of Western Ontario)
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/89662.html
Samad's century leads Canada to victory in 3rd one-dayer -- Posted Tuesday, July 1 2008
Abdool Samad posted his first ODI century, making 130 runs, and Ashish Bagai made 84 runs as Canada reached 276 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs against Bermuda on Canada Day. The duo added 217 for the second wicket and Canada went on to gain a consolation win in the three game ODI series with Bermuda by 77 runs.
Bermuda made 199 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in its 50 overs. Captain Irving Romaine made 60 runs and Steven Outerbridge 56 runs. Canada’s Eion Katchay took 3 wickets for 38 runs and veteran Sanjay Thuraisingham, drafted into the side due to injuries, took 2 for 33 runs.
Samad hit 12 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. Bagai hit 3 sixes and 8 fours. The pair added 217 runs for the third wicket.
Bermuda wins the ODI series 2-1. The teams meet at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City starting on Friday in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, a first-class match scheduled for 4 days.
The third wicket partnership of 217 easily beat Canada's previous ODI record of 106 (between Bagai and Davison against Ireland in 2007), and is the highest partnership for any wicket for Canada in one-day internationals (177 set by Geoff Barnett and Ian Billcliff against Bangladesh on Feb 28 2007 at the Recreation Ground, St John's Antigua).
In reply Bermuda made 199/7, with debutant Eion Katchay taking three wickets.
CricInfo scorecard