2010 Champs York U Lions vs # 4 Ryerson U Rams at the CBRP Stadium !
Fall of last year Ryerson University got a nailbiting win over York University, the 2010 American College Cricket Champions. Ryerson Rams, led by 2012 “Leadership Award” winner Hassan Mirza, then came to the American College Cricket Northeast Championship, which featured 10 regional schools, and won that title.
Preparations immediately began for the Rams to come to the Spring Break Championship, which this year was sponsored by Coca Cola.
York U Lions in the meantime was seeing their American College Cricket success leading to opportunities for their star players: Khushroo Wadia was selected to represent Canada, then later Raza Rehman and Rustam Bhatti got the nod. In fact Rehman and Bhatti are currently on tour with Canada at the ICC t20 World Cup, and so missing the Spring Break Championship.
In the group stages both teams looked professional and strong, and either appeared to be a contender for the Chanderpaul Trophy.
By the previously announced formula the 2 teams met in the Quarter Finals for a highly anticipated battle. Ryerson was playing its first game at the CBRP Cricket Stadium, whilst York University was looking for revenge !
The best opening pair in USA & Canada, Khushroo Wadia and Jai Patel then got York U off to an incredible start with a century partnership. Jai Patel himself is an American resident, and hoping to play for the USA.
Refreshed with Powerade,left hander Jai Patel stroked 56 (6 fours, 2 sixes) and right handed Wadia hit 53 (5 fours,3 sixes) before pacer Sufi Chaudhary got them both. But the pair had done enough on the large Stadium field, and with York skipper Hassan Chogthai adding 31 (2 fours, 3 sixes) the Lions posted a formidable 169 for 7 wickets in 20 overs.
Though Ryerson lost the early wicket of Kyle Edgehill,Farhan Khan 34 (3 fours) and skipper Hassan Mirza 13 steadied the ship and Ryerson looked threatening. However astute bowling changes at both the Coca Cola and Dish Network ends by York University kept the wickets falling, and Ryerson Rams were all out for 126 in 19.5 overs. Noman Aslam contributed 18, and Rayyan Pathan 11.
Tehseen Shah, who just made the squad, swung the ball well, and has been the bowling find for York University.
All of York’s bowlers, Jaiveer Chauhan, Hassan Chogthai, Zubair Zia, Hasan Adil,Tehseen Shah and Arsalan Qadir shared wickets, as York University savored sweet revenge over Ryerson University, and advanced to the final four, for the 2nd time in 3 years.
Watch York University play the University of South Florida in the Semi Finals on Saturday, March 24 on TV Asia. TV Asia is available in the USA & Canada on ALL major cable systems and Dish Network.
