TORONTO, Canada – Despite failing to emerge as champions in the Masters category of the just-concluded Toronto Cup softball tournament the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFCSA) made quite an impression, ending in the runner-up spot.In a closely-fought final, the GFSCA went down to the experienced Our Own Sports Club, featuring several former Guyana players and a former Canadian World Cup batsman in Desmond Chumney.
The former Guyana players included Sunil Dhnairam, Shivnauth Seeram, Troy Gobin and Jaimini Singh. Added to that, the captain of the team, Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth, is regarded as one of the best softball player in and out of Canada.
Our Own were also credited with winning 55 consecutive matches over a three-year span up until two weeks ago when they lost to nemesis Guyana Sports Club.
GFSCA skipper Rickey Deonarine was however undaunted by all the “big names” and the reputation of Our Own and felt the 128 for eight they made after being inserted to take first strike, was reasonable.
He is, however, worried about the fielding and so it turned out, as a few catches went a-begging while the ground fielding was also suspect at times.
Eventually the GFSCA score proved inadequate as Our Own went on to win in 19.1 overs as the experience of Gobin (43 not out and Chumney (36) prove the difference.
Deonarine acknowledged afterwards that they needed to score at least 150 to be in with a realistic chance of winning. He also pointed to the fact that they failed to build on the rapid start given by opener Uniss Usuff whose blistering 20 included three massive sixes.
However, the loss of four quick wickets forced Deonarine to play a consolidating knock of 42 instead of his usual cavalier style and with the Our Own bowlers executing fine discipline the lower-order never got going.
Deonarine was full of praise for the staging of the inaugural tournament and felt that the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) had done a fantastic job. The Guyana captain disclosed that he was looking forward to future tournaments here.
In the meantime, the attention now switches to the staging of the Guyana Softball Cup 5, set for October 30, 31 and November 1 at several venues around Georgetown and according to both Deonarine and president of the GFSCA, all systems are in place for what they described as “the best softball tournament in the world”.
The GFSCA executives pointed out that they are expecting a record 26 teams to participate in the annual extravaganza, including several from the host nation, Canada, New York and Florida. More details will be forthcoming shortly.

By Frederick Halley