Eddie Norfolk with a round-up of this year’s John Ross Robertson Trophy
Eddie Norfolk01-Nov-2006The John Ross Robertson Trophy is Canada’s club play-off between amateur club champions and is emblematic of the Club Cricket Championship of Canada. Since 1982, champion clubs from the previous season meet to determine Eastern and Western Canada champions, each year. In some years there is a play-off between the two winners to decide a National club champion. Previously the trophy was contested on a national basis.In 2006, Meraloma of the British Columbia Mainland Cricket League took the Western Championships (played in Winnipeg). Centurions, of the Toronto and District Cricket Association, took the Eastern Championships (played in Toronto).In this year’s tournament, Meraloma, champions of the British Columbia Mainland League in 2005, beat Winnipeg Juniors (Manitoba Cricket Association champions) by five wicketsThe match was played at Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba, in early August 2006. The event clashed with some of Canada’s international matches, so Geoff Barnett and Kevin Sandher were missing for Meraloma.Ihsan Kahn provided the bulk of Winnipeg Juniors runs in the final. He made 79, including 8 x4 and 1 x 6, and took part in a stand of 107 for the fourth wicket with Sampath Wijewardena, who made 25. Andrew Downs took 3 for 29. Downs later lead the way with 61 in a stand of 81 for Meraloma’s fourth wicket with Jonathan Snow (44). There were 47 extras in Meraloma’s total.Downs lead the way against Saskatoon in the semi-final with taking 4 for 14. Steve Welsh took 3 for 15 and Ben Osbourne 3 for 23. Iain Dixon took three catches. David McGowan, 40 not out, and Dixon (23) made the bulk of the runs as Meraloma won by nine wickets.Ihsan Khan was the star of Winnipeg Juniors’ semi-final with Saskatoon (Saskatchewan champions). He took 4 for 7 as Gujarat (Alberta Champions) were bowled out for 110. Then he lead the charge with a swift 50 in just 17 balls as Winnipeg Juniors won by seven wickets.Western Final
Winnipeg Juniors 200 (45.1 overs; Ihsan Khan 79, Andrew Downs 3-29) lost to Meraloma 201 for 5 (42.1 overs, Andrew Downs 61, Jonathan Snow 44) by five wicketsSemi-finals
Saskatoon 90 (C. Deenan 19; Andrew Downs 4-14, Steve Welsh 3-15, Ben Osbourne 3-23) lost to Meraloma 92 for 1 (David McGowan 40*, Iain Dixon 23) by nine wicketsGujarat (Alberta) 110 (Amit Anand 42, Ihsan Khan 4-7) lost to Winnipeg Juniors 111 for 3 (12 overs; Ihsan Khan 50) by seven wicketsThe final of the Eastern division, played in early July, proved a one-sided affair at Toronto’s Ross Lord Park. Adastrians (Quebec 2005 Champions) won the toss and batted but were all out for 60 in just 22 overs. Ahmed Sultan made 22. Bede Anandaappa took 4 for 10 in six overs for Centurions, Ontario’s representative in the final. The club was Toronto and District champions in 2005. Canadian international Sanjay Thuraisingham made a swift 37 not out as Centurions cruised to a nine-wicket win in the 11th over.It was a disappointment for Adastrians who had beaten Cavaliers (Southern Ontario 2005 champions) the previous day in a semi-final. Qaiser Ali scored a fine century for Adastrians, steering them to 234. Ali and Raja Sohail shared a stand of 105. Pedro Depeiza (60) and Curtis Springer (53) tried hard to attack the target but Cavaliers were all out for 234. They lost by 19 runs with 2.2 overs unused. Ahmed Sultan took 4 for 54.Eastern final
Adastrians (Quebec) 60 (22 overs; Bede Anadaappa 4-10) lost to Centurions (Toronto & District) 62-1 (10.4 overs; Sanjay Thuraisingham 37*) bu nine wicketsSemi-finals
Adastrians (Quebec) 253 for 7 (50 overs; Qaiser Ali 103, Raja Sohail 56) beat Cavaliers (Southern Ontario) 234 (47.4 overs; Pedro Depeiza 60, Curtis Springer 53, Ahmed Sultan 4-54) by 19 runsCenturions (Toronto & Dist.) walkover v Mississauga Ramblers (Hamilton & District)