By Frederick Halley
TORONTO, Canada – Highland Creek became the first team to capture both the Elite and Premiere division league titles and were richly rewarded for their outstanding performances, when the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) held its 37th annual presentation and gala awards ceremony at the Eastown Banquet Hall, Scarborough, recently.

In addition, Highland Creek also emerged as T20 champions of the Deo Samaroo’s Conference and runners-up in the playoffs where they lost to Durham/TP Tigers Cricket Club.

Apart from claiming the winning trophies in both divisions, several of their players were also rewarded for their brilliant efforts in both formats. While the Premiere League players were crowned both division and playoff champions, those from the Elite, who finished fourth in the division, had to first get past division champions Ambassadors in the semi-finals and then crush Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) in the final.

As part of their winnings, Highland Creek earned the Scarborough Mitsubishi- sponsored trophy for carting off the Premiere League playoff title, the Lakshman Siranganathan trophy for being division champs and the Shiv Persaud of Primerica trophy for winning the Elite League playoff.

Kaieteur International Sports Club `A` were crowned First Division playoff champions, taking home the Trophy Stall of Toronto trophy with Janbaaz being runners-up. They were also the Conference `A` winners for the IR Construction sponsored-trophy, while Conference `B` went to Star Cricket Club for the Action Honda trophy.

Newcomers Ajax Cricket Club made an impressive debut in the Second Division, taking away the Norman Sue Bakery trophy for winning the playoff final by beating Superstars/Islanders in the process, and the Caribbean Wave Restaurant trophy for topping Conference `A`. The Conference `B` champs are Shinol.

Ambassadors added the T20 playoffs (Richard Ramlall’s Conference) to their collection with a victory over Victoria Park, while the Bishams’ Conference playoff title went to Toronto Braves who triumphed over Bangla Warriors `B`.

After going down to archrivals, Kaisoca in the 2016 final, Superstars bounced back to claim the women’s title and with it retained the Caribbean Wave Restaurant trophy. They were also winners of the Norman Sue Bakery trophy for topping the division.
The Under-19 division champions were Toronto Cricket Academy (TCA) while Superstars took honours in the playoffs. The respective sponsors were executives, Matthew Francis and Vish Jadunauth.

Action Zonw claimed the top spot in the Under-16 playoff, taking the Roscoe Heilsman of Platypus trophy while the divisional winners were TCA.
The Under-13 category saw Action Zone carting off the playoff title to win the trophy sponsored by Liz Anandjit, while for winning the division they took home the Azad Khan sponsored trophy.

Among the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) were: Ruvindu Gunasekera and Abdool Samad (Elite); Maaz Pasha and Mujahid Bashir (Premiere); Julian Debidyal, Kumar Debidyal and Arpan Konwar (First Division); Navendra Puvimanasinghe and Adam Ramcharran (Second Division); Mark Williams, Mayur Kapuriya, Waseem Ahmed and Mohammed Raqeeb Al Haque, (T20); Terisha Ansil Lavia and Chuntell Martin (Women’s Division); Trushil Patel and Matthew Seepersaud (Under-19); Mihir Patel and Mahad Khurran (Under-16) and Janan Trivedi and Amalan Sivakumar (Under-13).

Among the centurions in the Elite League were former Guyana and West Indies One-Day player , Royston Crandon, Abdool Samad, Rayyan Khan Pathan (2), Trushil Patel, Amanjot Gill, Parthkumar Patel, Prince Robinson and Ravindu Gunasekera. Pathan also registered the most runs (384) while Trushil Patel (274) was second. Most wickets (20) went to Mustak Variava with Wakenaam -born Guyanese, Imran Khan, finishing second with 15.

SCA assistant secretary/treasurer, Matthew Francis, was the recipient of the Norman Sue Spirit award which is given annually to worthy individuals who have played big roles both on and off the field. The late businessman’s daughter Kim made the presentation.
Apart from receiving trophies, several players were also recipients of cricket gear, compliments of Black Ash Sports,