– Deonandan cops Player-of-Tournament award

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – Yadram Bogh’s Lara XI carted off the inaugural Canada Softball Bash 10/10 tournament when the two-day extravaganza climaxed at the Greenbriar ground, Brampton Ontario on Sunday.

On a day which saw pulsating and nail-biting finishes take centre stage, Lara XI proved their superiority, playing unbeaten in Saturday’s preliminary round; surviving in a last-ball thriller with Toronto Softball Cricket Club (TSCC) in their semi-final encounter then trumping Northern Warriors with two balls to spare in a heart-throbbing final.

Northern Warriors, who also entered Sunday’s semi-finals unbeaten, stopped upstarts Canadian Legends by 11 runs after the Mohan Singh side had won their two matches on Saturday and harboured thoughts of going home with the $4 000 (Can) first prize and the Prem Punwasi-sponsored winning trophy.

Set 84 for victory, after limiting Northern Warriors to 83 all out in their allotted 10 overs, Lara XI were given a rollicking start of 61 in eight overs by man-of-the-match Bogh (32 not out) and Anil Etwaroo (35) before skipper Shaun Deonandan (15 not out) ensured victory was achieved without any further alarms. Etwaroo, who went via run-out, struck a four and three sixes while Bogh’s knock contained one four and two sixes.

Earlier, Northern Warriors innings never got going, as they lost wickets at regular intervals with Faheer Juman’s 18 (one four and two sixes) being the top score as Shazam Baksh (three for 28), Mohan Harihar (two for 18) and Deonandan (two for 21) were the main destroyers.

One of the main highlights of the day was a brutal display of power-hitting by the burly Farook Hussain who bludgeoned nine huge sixes and three fours in a lightning innings of 74, albeit in a losing cause as his team TSCC failed to defend their 102 for four, made in the allotted 10 overs.

Eventual winners Lara XI reached the target off the last delivery as they rallied to victory in the face of some poor roundarm bowling display by their opponents.

In the other semi-final, Northern Warriors made light work of Canadian Legends, limiting them to 66 for nine, the lowest total of the day as they stoutly defended their 77 for six, made in the allotted 10 overs.

Skipper Loaknauth Ramsuchit led from the front for the winners with an enterprising 37 (one four and four sixes),

At the presentation ceremony, which followed at the Cabana Restaurant & Lounge, Mississsauga, Lara XI collected $4 000 (Can) and the winning trophy while runners-up Northern Warriors were rewarded with $1 000 and the runners-up trophy. Players on the winning team also received medals.

Deonandan was adjudged the Player-of-the-Tournament and received a diamond ring worth $1500, compliments of Omesh Jewelry.

Other incentive prizes were awarded to Nick Sarwan of Double Trouble – best catch; Hussain – best batsman; Anil Mahadeo (Lara X1) – best bowler; Randy Roopnarine (Double Trouble) – best fielder and Zaheer Allard (Lara X1) – best wicketkeeper.

Ramsuchit, Riaz Kadir, Avish Rukhram, Anil Etwaroo and Shazam Baksh received household appliances, compliments of Mohan Singh of I Saw That On TV and more for outstanding performances.

The winning and runners-up captains, who are also members of Softball Cricket Canada (SCC), handed over $1 000 each to the president Rajesh Willie to assist in overseas tournaments.

Willie assured that the tournament will be expanded next year and will be played over the Labour Day holiday weekend with the winners guaranteed a whopping $10 000.

The tournament was played with the white ball, with teams required to bowl two overs using the roundarm method.

Among the several sponsors were Softball Cricket Canada, Tropical Nights, I.R General Contracting Inc., Windies Restaurant & Bar, AP Staffing, Omesh Jewelry, JDG Tooling & Automation, Cabana Restaurant & Lounge, Dent Wizard, I Saw That On TV, Canadian Surplus Guyana, Fusion Restaurant, RR CPA Professional Corporation, RRW Accounting Solutions, Alarm TechZ, Bhowan Persaud – Century 21 Regal Realty and Cynthia Singh – Realtor.