… Carr Tec cart off B division playoffs

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – Sunshine made hay on a somewhat cloudy and hazy morning to end Dant’s dominance when the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 2018 season climaxed last Sunday at the Ashtonbee playing fields with the Conference A and B playoffs championships.

While Sunshine spoilt archrivals Dant’s chances of winning their fifth consecutive championship, Carr Tec also made light work of Wakenaam to cart off the B division playoffs title.

Both Dant and Carr Tec were already assured of the regular season (20 overs) titles in their respective divisions and were seeking to add the playoffs championships to their collections. However, while Dant lacked their usual firepower, Carr Tec fired on all cylinders before their roaring and adorable fans.

Chasing Sunshine’s modest 125 all out, made in 20 overs on the number two pitch, Dant huffed and puffed their way to 88 all out in 17 overs with former Guyana youth player Harrinarine Chattergoon being the lone standout with 22 (one five and a four).

Five bowlers, skipper Anil Mahadeo, Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth, Kelvin Shivrattan, Azam Haniff and Avinash Sookdeo claimed two wickets each for 14, 16, 19, 20, and 24 runs respectively.

Earlier, Sunshine’s innings was built around the consistent Hemnarine Chattergoon, another former Guyana and West Indies youth player, who hit a top score of 35 (3×4). Anil Etwaroo slammed two sixes and a four in 18 while Mahadeo weighed in with two sixes in his 14.

Aftab Shamsudeen and Bolanauth Sukhu took two for 24 and 26 respectively while there was one wicket each for Satrohan Balkarran and Riaz Kadir for 13 and 23 runs respectively.

The B division final saw Carr Tec bat first and reach a challenging 131 all out in their allotted 20 overs with Rakesh Dyal hitting two sixes and two fours in 34 while Rovendra Mandolall chipped in with 18. Raja Pooran bagged four for 22 while Surendra Persaud (one for 12) and Fizul Haniff (one for 22) were also among the wickets.

Wakenaam, in reply, were bowled out for 103 in 19 overs, going down by 28 runs. Rabindra Persaud made 27 (one four, one six). Dyal crowned a fine all-round performance, capturing four for 19 while Sadeek Khan took three for 27 and Terry Mathura one for 21.

Sunshine’s victory came hot on the heels of their triumph in the Norman Sue Bakery-sponsored 15-over tournament while Dant took top honours in the regular season and were also crowned the Caribbean Sensation 10/10 winners.

The respective Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards went to Hemnarine Chattergoon (Sunshine), Satrohan Balkarran (Dant), Rakesh Dyal (Carr Tec) and Raja Pooran (Wakenaam).

OSCL president Albert Ramcharran thanked the teams for their participation in the 2017 season and also reserved special praise for those who made the final.

The league’s annual presentation dinner and dance is set for Saturday, November 24 at the Eastown Banquet Hall, Scarborough.