Canadian colts century challenge (15 August)

15 August

Canadian colts century challenge

Canadian Cricket Association

Hours after a Senior Selection Chair had earmarked two young openers as future choice prospects, there was an onslaught of runs from these two IYT graduates. Damian Mills of Winnipeg (Manitoba) Juniors C.C on returning from the National Senior Selects in Toronto, scored back to back centuries. On Saturday August 14, Damian scored 105 not out against Pakistan C.C and followed it up by scoring 159 against Lions CC on Sunday August 15. This tied WJCC with Cosmos CC in first place with a showdown to occur on Sunday August 22. Two other young Manitobans, Keith Deonarine 93 and Andrew Amsden 54 not out, both of Cosmos CC will no doubt relish the challenge.

Meanwhile 500 miles away, Zubin Surkari, another IYT grad and Mills' opening partner in the Senior Selects, took on a powerful Quebec Cricket Federation team in the annual Atholstan Trophy game held at the lush Eglinton Flats Oval in Toronto. Zubin scored 114 runs of Ontario's second innings score of 249 for 8 wickets, before being unfortunately run out. Zubin will unfortunately not get to play with or against Damian again for the rest of the year.

Zubin is a member of the future thinking and building Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, home club of the previous Sahara Cup Events. Asish Bagai, Captain of the Canadian U-17 Tour to Bermuda and the club's number 1 wicketkeeper, scored a magnificent 103 not out against Bermuda in the final game of a 5 game one week short series. Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club has for the past two seasons, opted to play their promising youngsters in the League's Premier Division with the help of a seasoned captain and an Australian player/coach/trainer.

Would it not be nice to see other Canada-wide youth prospects playing in the strongest league competition in Toronto in an U-23/U-25 squad and as a Canada A unit? Other strong league clubs will surely give their highly promising youngsters the opportunity to play and to contribute on a regular basis. There are scores of promising youngsters who need to receive that opportunity and also some coaching and training supervision. Good luck and continued success colts and juniors.