TORONTO, Canada — Two teams with contrasting missions will clash in what is expected to be a classical showdown when the Conference A final of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) takes place on Saturday at the Ashtonbee ground here.Defending champions Dant, after a dream debut season in 2014 when they played unbeaten, carting off all the major trophies including the 10/10, 15/15, 20-over regular season and the Grand championship, have found the going tough this time around.
Having already surrendered both the 10/10, which saw the introduction of the white ball and the 15-over tournaments, Dant are aiming to salvage some lost pride when they battle with Caribbean Sensation in Saturday’s 20-over final.
A victory will also earn them the right to compete for the Grand championship against the Conference B winners.
Caribbean Sensation, on the other hand, are seeking their second title of the season, having broken a five-year losing streak after reaching five consecutive finals in the East Division and failing to win any. They finally got over the hurdle with a thumping 21-run win over Masters at the same venue last month during the OSCL family fun day.
Significantly, Caribbean Sensation also defeated Dant in the semi-finals but failed to impress in the recently-concluded Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Toronto Cup 1 Open category, losing all three preliminary round matches, leaving the tournament unceremoniously before the semi-final stages.
Dant, however, had the unique distinction of qualifying for the final of the Toronto Cup before succumbing to eventual winners New York Enforcers in a lop-sided affair. It should however be noted that both the 10/10 and Toronto Cup tournaments were played with the white ball while Saturday’s final is being contested with the smaller Supreme ball.
Both teams are brimming with confidence after last Sunday’s semi-final victories, Dant turning back the challenge of Cricketers Cove and Caribbean Sensation making light work of Rems.
Among the big names featuring for Dant are former Guyana captain Damodar Daesrath, former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batsman Hemnarine Chattergoon, Farook Hussain, Yadram ‘Lara’ Bogh, skipper Looknaught Ramsuchit, Shaun Deonandan, Riaz Kadir, Avi Singh and Satrohan ‘Blade’ Balkarran.
Caribbean Sensation are being led by seasoned campaigner Jagdeo ‘Navin’ Singh and include Hawaiian Artic Cricket Club stalwarts in all-rounders Zaheer Allard, Reyaz Prahlad and Rishi Samuel who was the Most Valuable Player in the 10/10 final, opener Sheik Khan, Anand Balwant and the wily Zakir Khan.
The Conference B final features rivals Rebels and Wakenaam Sports Club, the former getting past Cougars and the latter winning from Restoration Warriors in last Sunday’s semis.
Both teams had decisive victories over the other, Rebels winning the 15-over final while Wakenaam bounced back to capture the 10-over title.
Rebels have been boosted by the Guyanese pair of former Guyana Under-19 batsman Troy Gonsalves and Freddy Pestano, with both recording centuries during the season while they also sit at the top of the team averages and lead the aggregates.
All-rounder Mahesh Richard, also with a century, has been Wakenaam’s best player, turning in some fine performances with both bat and ball and like he did when they won the 10/10 title, will be required to play a major role if his team hope to stop the rampant Rebels.
Meanwhile, the OSCL is advising all clubs that its annual presentation dinner and dance is set for Saturday, November 21, at the Eastown Banquet Hall, Scarborough.

By Frederick Halley