TORONTO, Canada – Caribbean Sensation’s year of success continued at the Ashtonbee ground here over the last weekend as they trounced Dant by 32 runs to cart off the Conference A championship honours in the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) regular 20-over tournament.The victory ensured a second title for Caribbean Sensation in the 2015 season, following their win in the 10/10 competition over Masters and also denied Dant their first silverware following their domination in their debut season the previous year.
The two teams will, however, go head-to-head once more in the season’s finale when they clash in the grand final today at the same venue with Caribbean Sensation aiming to end in a blaze of glory and Dant hoping to salvage some lost pride.
The Conference B final ended in total disaster for Rebels, who were seeking to revenge their loss against Wakenaam in the 10/10 tournament and also to maintain their unbeaten run in the 20-over regular season.
After limiting Wakenaam to 128 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, the officiating umpires discovered that Rebels had included former Guyana Under-19 player Naresh Roopnarine on their team sheet while he was never at the venue.
His supposed replacement, Dhanraj Patram, who captured two for 19, was never included until after the Wakenaam innings ended. The umpires promptly awarded the game to Wakenaam, much to the consternation of the Rebels players and supporters.
Opener Surendra Persaud smashed two sixes and a four in a top score of 56 for Wakenaam while Mohan Singh, with two for 17 was Rebels’ best bowler in a losing cause.
In the Conference A, Dant were dismissed for 125 in 17.5 overs in pursuit of the challenging 157 for three made by Caribbean Sensation. Opener Hemnarine Chattergoon was the mainstay for Dant, hitting a defiant 48 before he was dismissed in the 17th over. Skipper Navin Singh took three for 25, Anand Balwant two for 15 and Narendra Sankar two for 21.
Caribbean Sensation were earlier led to their total through Reyaz Prahalad (39 not out) and Sheik Khan who slammed an unbeaten 36 with three sixes and a four.
In order to arrive at the two grand finalists, the OSCL changed the format this season with the Conference A winners meeting the Conference B runners-up and the losers clashing with the winners.
Both Conference A teams proved too strong for their Conference B rivals on Sunday at the same venue, with Caribbean Sensation belting Rebels by 87 runs and Dant having to fight hard to get past Wakenaam by 14 runs in a hotly contested affair.
Left-hander Richard Driffiled was in scintillating form for Caribbean Sensation, smashing seven sixes and two fours in 61 while Prahalad was again among the runs with 47 retired hurt and Sheil Khan unbeaten on 21.
Rebels were shut out for 105 in 19.2 overs with two wickets each going to Zaheer Allard, Narendra Sankar, Shane Murli and Rabendra Diaram.
Wakenaam, set 145 for victory after Dant had reached 144 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, reached 130 for six when their innings ended with Satrohan Balkarran claiming two for 16 and Reaz Kadir two for 19.
Imran Ali had earlier rescued Dant with a quick-fire 43 not out with three sixes and two fours while the consistent Chattergoon stroked 35 at the top of the order. Naveed Ali took three for 18 and Surendra Persaud two for 19.

By Frederick Halley