… OSCL 2017 season climaxes this weekend

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – The Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 2017 season climaxes this weekend with non-stop action at the Ashtonbee playing fields, Scarborough, here in what is forecast to be excellent weather conditions.
First up on Saturday are the finals of the Norman Sue Bakery (NSB)-sponsored 15-over tournament. followed by the Conference A and B playoffs championships finals on Sunday.
Already assured of the Conference A regular season (20 overs) championship after tallying 67 points and with the Caribbean Sensation 10/10 trophy firmly in their grip, Dant face an uphill task to once again retain both the NSB title and the Conference crown.
Unlike last season when they only suffered one defeat, Dant’s vulnerability has been exposed this time around with losses to Saturday’s opponents Sunshine, East Coast Bannas whom they face on Sunday and Rems during three regular season games.
They also got a scare from Rems in the NSB semi-final but managed to scrape home by the slimmest of margins and also qualified for Sunday’s final with close two-wicket victory over Better Hope.

Taking the above into consideration, Dant will need to pull out all the stops when they clash with Sunshine in Saturday’s final if they are to come out on top.
When the same two teams met last year, in what was billed as the clash of the Titans, Dant emerged victorious in a one-sided affair, prompting Sunshine skipper Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth to admit that his team “failed to bring their A game” into the day’s contest. They certainly have a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday.
Dant, who are missing the services of all-rounder Shaun Deonandan through injury, still have a formidable force in the likes of Riaz Kadir, former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batsman Hemnarine Chattergoon, skipper Loaknauth Ramsuchit, former Guyana captain Damodar Daesrath, Yadram Bogh, Satroahn ‘Blade’ Balkarran, Rabindra Diaram and Bholanuth Sukhu.
Meanwhile, EC Bannas manager Mark Khan is supremely confident that his charges are capable of stopping Dant in their tracks on Sunday and boasted that the regular season win was no fluke.

According to Khan, EC Bannas, who defeated Sunshine in last Sunday’s semi-final, are raring to go under the astute leadership of former Guyana player Trevon Garraway. Apart from Garraway, who has been among the runs and wickets during the season, the batting also hinges on Krishna Deosarran while Conference A’s leading wicket-taker Amit Pooran, former Guyana Under-19 player Eon Katchay and Garraway are all capable bowlers.
Saturday’s B Conference final, featuring Wakenaam and GTA Storm B promises to be an intriguing affair with bragging rights clearly at stake. While Wakenaam had an excellent season but faltered in last Sunday’s regular season semi-final, it’s been a mixed bag for GTA Storm who have played well in the knockout games but disappointingly in the 20-over tournament.

Another big match-up on Sunday is the B Conference final where regular season champions Enmore tangle with Restoration Warriors for the playoffs crown.
Enmore skipper Shiv Persaud, who had a dream season by placing third in the batting aggregate with 331 runs and topping the bowling with 30 wickets, will be aiming to replicate those feats while former Guyana Under-19 player Steve Ramdas is expected to play a major role.

Among the big names in Restoration Warriors are former Guyana and West Indies B team batsman Krishna Arjune, skipper Ravi Bodo and their leading wicket-taker Rajindra Persaud.
Apart from the two major finals on Saturday, there are also the A and B conferences consolation finals. EC Bannas and Rebels clash in Conference A while Ramblers and Good Success battle in Conference B.