By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada — Dirty Dozen entered the final of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC) Over-50 tournament as the underdogs and few gave them any chance to defeat overwhelming favourites Skeldon.

However, when the final delivery of the gripping 20-over contest was completed, it was the Dirty Dozen players and supporters who were jumping for joy and celebrating.
The encounter, played at St Bede’s ground here last Saturday, saw Dirty Dozen halting the winning streak of the star-studded Skeldon side which included the likes of former Guyana player Shivnauth Seeram and Jaimini Singh.
Set a challenging 130 for victory, after limiting Skeldon to 129 in their allotted 20 overs, the new champions reached the target off the final delivery, losing eight wickets, with Prakash Singh proving to be the hero, spanking a boundary to backward point to the delight of an appreciative Dirty Dozen players and supporters.
It was the first defeat for Skeldon during the 2016 season, having won their six preliminary round games quite easily.
Earlier, top-scorer Charlie Yakub (32) and Colin Mohamed (16), the former with two fours and a six, had kept their team in contention despite losing wickets at regular intervals. Mohamed Azizudin was Skeldon’s best bowler with two for 17 from his two overs.
Fazil Shakoor with a disciplined 42, which included two sixes and a four, led the way for Skeldon while Prakash Singh (16) and skipper Khem Singh (13) lent support. Much, however, was expected of Seeram and Jaimini Singh but both faltered when it mattered most.
Yakub crowned a fine all-round performance, grabbing two for nine while Fazil Rasool also came back to capture two for 11.
Yakub was named the Most Valuable Player for Dirty Dozen while Shakoor copped the same prize for Skeldon, both receiving
cash incentive prizes from businessman Nirad Lall.
OMSCC president Azeem Khan lauded both teams for reaching the final and was extremely pleased with their display.
According to Khan, the OMSCC Over-50 Division started some eight years ago with the objective of giving the most experienced cricketers the opportunity to continue to engage in and enjoy their boyhood sport.
Khan also spoke about the interest the tournament has generated over the years and thanked the several sponsors for their generosity that has helped it to survive in its eight-year existence.