TORONTO, Canada – Caribbean Sensation tuned up for the upcoming inaugural Toronto Cup with an effortless victory over Our Own Skeldon when the two teams clashed in the final of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club’s (OMSCC) Over-50 tournament, played at Littles ground here last Saturday.The 20-over affair, which promised to be a hotly-contested one, never lived up to its pre-game hype, as the defending champions proved superior to their opponents who stuttered to 117 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, replying to Caribbean Sensation’s imposing 180 for seven, thereby going down by 63 runs.
Opener Jai Singh, who is also president of the OMSCC, led from the front with a brutal 72, plundering the hapless Our Own Skeldon bowlers for nine huge sixes and a solitary four.
The right-handed Singh completely dominated a 77-run opening stand with Iqubal Rahaman whose contribution was a mere five after his team were inserted to take first strike.
At one stage, the eventual winners looked well set to get past two hundred but a mini middle-order slum put paid to their hopes. Ganesh Ramraj (24) and Suresh Persaud (23) supported Singh’s brilliant knock.
Prakash Singh, who was later named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the losing team, did extremely well to withstand the onslaught, claiming four for 17 from two overs.
Once Our Own Skeldon lost their batsmen in former Guyana national players Jaimini Singh and Shivnauth Seeram early, their hopes faded and they never recovered as only Suresh Bodhoo with 26 provided any noteworthy resistance while Gavin Rampersaud was unbeaten on 15. Danny Singh took two for 18.
Singh, who congratulated both teams at the presentation ceremony, also copped the MVP for the winning side.
OMSCC vice-president Azeem Khan, who was also in attendance, praised both teams for reaching the final and urged the winners to continue their winnings ways at the Toronto Cup, set for the Labour Day weekend here. (Frederick Halley)