By Frederick Halley

STARTING the 2022 season as the firm favourites to make a clean sweep of the tournaments, run by the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL), Mercenary are well on course to achieve that feat. They have already been crowned the T20 regular season champions and last Sunday added the T-15 knockout championship to their collection.

In what was expected to be a fiercely contested final, played at the Ashtonbee Reservoir ground, Scarborough, Canada, Mercenary withstood the challenge of Canadian Legends to emerge winners by 18 runs, much to the delight of their players and supporters.

The victory also meant that Mercenary retained championship honours following their triumph in 2019. No tournaments were staged in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic while the OSCL only organised the T20 version in 2021.

Set 102 for victory, after limiting the defending champions to 101 for eight in their allotted 15 overs, Canadian Legends were left high and dry on 83 for nine when their overs expired.
The innings never got going following the early demise of skipper Chien Gittens (nine), Morrison Edwards (14), Shiv Seeram (one) Mike Kadir (three) and Sudesh Beharry (four). Mohan Harihar (16) hit some lusty blows in his 16 but his effort proved in vain.

Shaun Deonandan, who had earlier played a champion innings of 35, put in an excellent performance with the ball to end with two for nine from his three overs. Rabindra Diaram and Amit Rukhram supported with two for 13 and 16 respectively.

Earlier, the left-handed Deonandan, a former Guyana youth player, slammed a four and four sixes in a top score of 35 while extras contributed a healthy 17. Four batters went via run-out with Beharry effecting three of them.

Seasoned campaigner. Shazam ‘Strike’ Baksh. stood out with two for 17 runs in his three-over spell which earned him the Most Valuable Player on the losing team – a feat attained by Deonandan on the victorious side for his brilliant all-round display. The champion and runner-up trophies were sponsored by Roger Sunich of Trophy Stall (Canada).

OSCL president Shiv Persaud, who was on hand to witness the game, congratulated both teams for reaching the final and urged players to register for the league team which is scheduled to participate in the Open category in the upcoming Canada Cup, set for September 2-4.

Both captains, Looknauth Ramsuchit of Mercenary and Gittens of Canadian Legends, praised the league and sponsors for their efforts in ensuring the success of the tournament.
The teams now turn their attention to the T-10 knockout tournament which gets underway tomorrow at various venues in Scarborough.

Mercenary, who are once again considered firm favourites to wrest the title, oppose Bacchus Ruff Ryders while Canadian Legends take on Leguan Warriors. The other fixtures are: Berbice Vipers vs Essequibo Coast, Carr-Tec vs Ramblers, and Caribbean Sensation vs Enmore.

Fearless Titans have forfeited their game against Better Hope.
Norman Sue Bakery has agreed to be the sponsors.