Dant, Enterprise are OSCL championship winners
Triple winners Dant after Sunday’s victory
Triple winners Dant after Sunday’s victory

… Conference A final ends on controversial note

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada — In 2014, Dant swept all before them, crowning an excellent debut season in the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL). It was a similar performance this season, albeit under controversial circumstances.In last Sunday’s Conference A final, played at the Ashtonbee number one ground, Dant were given the championship on a platter after archrivals Sunshine conceded the game with skipper Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth citing inconsistencies in the rulings of the umpires as regards pelting. The victory meant Dant had carted off the 10/10, 15-overs and the regular season (20 overs) titles.

The victorious Enterprise players celebrate with their supporters.
The victorious Enterprise players celebrate with their supporters.

There wasn’t any controversy in the Conference B final, played on the number two ground where debutants Enterprise maintained their unbeaten season streak with an exciting four-run win over Carr Tec in their 20-over affair.
The Conference A final promised much and the big contingent of Sunday morning spectators anticipated a riveting contest but their hopes were dashed with the disappointing end.
Set a challenging 164 for victory after Dant had recovered from 69 for four to 163 without further loss, Sunshine were in a bit of bother at 50 for four in 9.3 overs when Sunshine, through their captain Parasnauth, refused to continue the game following more than a 15-minute stoppage. The umpires duly awarded the game to Dant.
The controversy erupted after Azam Haniff was deemed to be “pelting” and was forced out of the attack during Dant’s innings and the dispute subsequently boiled over when, in the opinion of the Sunshine players, Dant’s Shaun Deonandan was guilty of similar atrocities and the umpires failed to acknowledge same. Attempts by OSCL executives to get the game restarted also failed.
Earlier, Dant owed their recovery to a sparkling undefeated 94-run fifth-wicket partnership between skipper Looknauth Ramsuchit (45 not out) and Deonandan (40 not out). The two came together in the 13th over with their team struggling at 69 for four and proceeded to take away the game from Sunshine with some breathtaking shots.
Ramsuchit slammed five sixes and two fours while Deonandan, who batted at number six instead of opening because of an hamstring injury, clouted four sixes and two fours as their team went into the break with great momentum. Opener Hemnarine Chattergoon supported with 25. Parasnauth was Sunshine’s best bowler with one for eight in four economical overs. Deonandan was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Enterprise ended their fairy tale season on a resounding note but not before Carr Tec came close to stopping them in their tracks.
Set 141 for victory, after limiting their opponents to 140 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, Carr Tec were left high and dry at 136 for five when their overs expired with MVP Rawle Scott unbeaten on 42 – an innings that included five towering sixes and a similar number of fours.
Carr Tec were, however, undone by their tardiness in chasing down the total with their skipper Bharrat Latchman retiring hurt for 30, setting them back. Jeetendra Harrilall hit 27. Skipper Rabindra Diaram (MVP) finished two for 23.
Diaram had earlier played a major role in his team’s recovery after they were precariously placed at 22 for four in the eighth over, sharing a face-saving 73-run fifth-wicket stand with Avinash Singh who blasted six sixes in a fine 51 while his skipper counted one six and two fours before he went via run-out. Terry Mathura, who caused the early damage, finished with two for 14 from his four overs.
In Saturday’s semi-finals, played at the same venue, Sunshine defeated East Coast while Dant got the better of giant killers Rebels.
At the presentation ceremony which followed, OSCL president Albert Ramcharran regretted the incident which occurred during the Conference A final. He congratulated the teams for another fine season and reminded them of the league’s presentation dinner and dance, set for Saturday, November 12 next.

 

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