CIMA Toronto Mayor's X1 returned home from a very successful tour of UK and attracted extensive media coverage. The tour provided us a great oportunity to highlight CIMA's community profile on an international level. CIMA and the City of Toronto representatives were given a warm welcome in UK by prominent British institutions, including the Mayor and the Council of Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, Britain's second most senior Police officer, Deputy Commissioner of Metropolitan Police Sir Paul Stephenson and the CEO of MCC Keith Bradshaw.CIMA's innovative youth initiatlve titled "Cricket Across The Pond" was facilitated by the City of Toronto through logistics and technical support, the tour was financially supported by CIMA Canada through the funds raised from the fourth annual Celebration of Cricket - CIMA Mayor's Trophy.Please follow the links for press coverage.
Program Announcement: (June 24th, 2008) VIDEO
VIDEO
Departure: (August 15th, 2008) VIDEO
Return: (August 29th, 2008) VIDEO
MATCHES: Match 7 vs. Kingston Deputy Mayors X1 (15 overs August 28) Won by 8 wickets What was meant to be a friendly encounter between the hosting borough of Kingston and the youngsters from Toronto- turned out to be a keenly contested match with fierce hitting from both sides. The Kingston team elected to bat and were off to a flying start, as the young Torontonians struggled in the field after 5 straight days of cricket. The early order got away to a flying start, until skipper Darius D'Souza and Lakshan Liyanage curbed the scoring and struck with wickets.With the Deputy Mayor of Kingston in presence, the CIMA XI set off to chase the target in grand style. Darius D'Souza and Lakshan Liyanage hit boundary after boundary in a hitting frenzy. With support from Harsh Desai, Lakshan Liyanage moved onto his third half century of the tour with 3 sixes and 5 fours- to bring home victory in the final match.Scores:
Match 6 vs. Surrey Cricket Academy X1 (40 overs August 27) Won The penultimate match of the tour was the most anticipated by both the CIMA Toronto Mayors XI and the UK organizers. The CIMA XI won the toss and elected to bat at their adopted home pitch at Chessington CC. The early order set a steady scoring rate to take the total to 183/6 in the allotted 40 overs. Good contributions from Harsh Desai and Owais Khurshid, helped to partner Lakshan Liyanage as he built a watchful innings, completing his fifty off the last ball of the innings.The Surrey Cricket Board U-18's lost wickets at regular intervals, but did look threatening at one stage when Richard Cook came in and looked to move the scoring rate with boundaries. Skipper Darius D'Souza and Salman Nazar continued their fine form with the ball, and helped to bring home a convincing victory.Surrey Cricket was on hand to make a presentation to all the lads, and were full of praise for the victorious team.Scores:
Match 5 vs. Metropolitan Police (40 overs August 26) Won Enjoying three consecutive wins after the rained out first game of the tour, the CIMA Mayor's team played a 40 over game against London's Metropolitan Cricket team at the picturesque police cricket grounds in East Molesey, Surrey.(which has also been used for Surrey county matches),Darius D'Souza won the toss and elected to bat on a batsman's paradise. Openers Rajiv Sivanesan and Owais Shah put on a 144 run partnership in 23 overs to give CIMA team a solid start against the formidable Police cricket team. Rajiv Sivanesan smashed his way to 95- sadly run out attempting a second run. Both batsmen laid the platform, for what looked to be a total of around 300, when some strong bowling by the Police helped to restrict the final total to 214 in 40 overs.After strong starting spells by the consistent Lahiru Gallage and Darius D'Souza, the Police middle order settled in and looked to be in a comfortable position to lead their team home. However smart bowling changes and field settings by skipper D'Souza, and an excellent spell from Rajiv Sivanesan (4-34) and Salman Nazar helped to bring home victory for the CIMA XI and maintain its unbeaten record on the tour of UK.Scores:
Match 4 vs. Old Ruthshilians CC (40 overs August 25) Won The CIMA Toronto Mayor's XI pulled off their third win in a row, playing at the Old Ruts ground. Old Ruts are also in the Surrey Championship and are at the top of their division tables. Having won the toss skipper Darius D'Souza decided to bat on a somewhat harder pitch. The consistent opening pair of the skipper and Lakshan Liyanage, put on the first 100 run partnership of the tour. Cruising to 103 in the 20th over, D'Souza was stumped for 47 off the bowling of the off-spinning overseas player Sandeep Ganguly (from Bengal, India). Liyanage batted on to complete his first half century of the tour, moving on to 51 before being caught. The two wickets brought on a sudden collapse as the youngsters from Toronto struggled with the spinners. The CIMA XI finished with 165 in their allotted overs.Another fine display of bowling from Lahiru Gallage, had the Old Ruts trembling as he demolished their early order. Tight spells by left arm pacer Michael Walton, Harsh Desai and the D'Souza helped to contain the run rate. However the Old Ruts gave a good fight putting on a 70 run partnership for the 9th wicket, bring the game to a close finish.Scores: CIMA XI 166/9 in 40 overs (Lakshan Liyanage 51, Darius D'Souza 47)
Match 3 vs. Chessington CC (40 0vers August 24) Won On a soft green pitch and overcast conditions, the skipper DariusD'Souza continued his fine form with winning tosses, and put the Chessy team in to bat. The opening duo of Michael Walton and Lahiru Gallage had the home side in all sorts of trouble as they reeled to 35 runs for 8 wickets. Both youngsters seemed to hav learned how to bowl in the English conditions producing late swing and bowling fuller lengths- to produce optimum results. However a determined knock of 50* by their skipper Hoosain Shaboodian helped Chessy to recover to 121 in their 40 overs.Skipper D'Souza and vice captain Liyanage worked their way through a tight opening spell by the Chessy side, and built an 80 run partnership. This strong start guaranteed victory for the young Toronto side.Scores: Chessington CC 121/8 in 40 overs (H.Shaboodian 50*; Lahiru Gallage 3-13, Michael Walton 2-21)
Match 2 vs. Beddington CC (20/20 August 22) Won Beddington CC (another Surrey Championship league team) fielded a mixed age XI, not knowing the standard of the Toronto team. CIMA XI won the toss and elected to bat on a batting friendly pitch. The CIMA team took the attack to the inexperienced bowling line up of Beddington CC, and finished with a score of 165 for the loss of 2 wickets in 20 overs. Harsh Desai (Ontario Cricket Academy/Cavaliers) was retired after registering a breezy half century. Darius D'Souza, Lahiru Gallage and Rajiv Sivanesan all contributed with useful scores.After a strong start from the Beddington early order, which included a couple of first team players, the spinners Lakshan Liyanage and Salman Nazar took top honours with the ball.Scores: CIMA XI 165/2 in 20 overs (Harsh Desai 50* ret'd, Darius D'Souza 36, Rajiv sivanesan 33*, Lahiru Gallage 28*)
Match 1 vs. Chessington CC (20/20 August 18) Draw Chessington CC (Surrey Championship senior league team), included quite a few first team players after seeing the standard of the young CIMA Toronto Mayors XI at training. CIMA won the toss and put Chessington into bat. After an excellent display of swing bowling from Lahiru Gallage (Ontario Cricket Academy), rain came. Returning to the field with a wet outfield the bowlers struggled for a few overs before Ontario Cricket Academy players Darius D'Souza and Lakshan Liyanage tore apart the Chessington middle order. Chessington finished with a score of 117 in their alloted 20 overs.The CIMA XI looked well on their way to getting the total with Lakshan Liyanage and Darius D'Souza establishing an excellent opening partnership, when the umpires decided that after 9 overs, the match should be called off due to bad light.Scores: Chessington 117/9 in 20 overs (Luke Carter 33; Darius D'Souza 3-25, Lakshan Liyanage 3-19)
