… Defending champions Toronto Blizzards aiming for repeat

THIS year’s Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-50 final, set for the Ashtonbee Reservoir on Sunday, will see a repeat of last year’s finalists defending champions Toronto Blizzards come up against Ramblers Rampage.

In last Saturday’s semi-finals, played on adjoining grounds, Toronto Blizzards continued their stranglehold over Pegasus Storm, inflicting a 30-run defeat over their opponents at Littles while Ramblers Rampage made light work of Dirty Dozen, defeating them by the huge margin of 110 runs in a lop-sided affair.

Led by consistent scores by their top-order, Toronto Blizzards reached a challenging 242 for five in their 20 allotted overs and restricted Pegasus Storm to 212 for seven when their 20 overs expired.
Asked to take first strike, Toronto Blizzards were given a rollicking start by the experienced opening pair of former Guyana players Shiv Seeram and Sunil Dhaniram, who piled on 67 before the former departed for 26 (three sixes) in the sixth over.

There was no letting up as Dhaniram stroked 40 with three fours and three sixes off 29 balls, Roy Brittania 30 with one four and three sixes off 20 balls, Mohan Harihar 35 off a mere 16 balls with two fours and three sixes while Jaimini Singh scored 35 not out with four fours and two sixes and Gerard Austin a quick-fire 31 which was laced with three fours and an equal number of sixes off 13 balls.

The last three overs went for 52 runs as the Pegasus Storm bowlers wilted under the pressure and a barrage of boundaries.
Bowling for Pegasus Storm, Ken Itwaru took two for 23 from his three overs while there was one wicket each for skipper Troy Gobin, Orlando Deonarine and Dan Patram.

In reply, Pegasus Storm suffered an immediate setback, losing the key wickets of Surendra Persaud (0) and Jito Narine (three). A brilliant third-wicket partnership of 119 between veteran Jai Singh, who hit a composed 65, which included two fours and seven sixes from 47 balls and 39 from Gobin with four fours and two sixes revived whatever hopes their team had of overhauling the total.

Once Gobin went, bowled by the wily Bobby Parasnauth, the innings quickly subsided as Pegasus Storm are still to defeat their opponents after four attempts. Lal ‘Dingo’ Singh claimed two for 21 and Roy Brittania two for 34.

In the other semi-final, Ramblers Rampage batted first and reached a commanding 184 for eight against an eight-man Dirty Dozen side.
Kerwin Ganouri hit an undefeated 40 with five fours and a six off 35 balls, Polly Shivrattan 37 from 24 balls with five fours and a six and Mark Massiah 32 from 19 with five fours and a six. Rakesh Monasar bagged three for 21 and Naresh Bodo two for 38.

Dirty Dozen were limited to 74 for seven in 8.4 overs with Junior Azizudin and Ron Etwaroo being the main wicket-takers with two for seven and two for 22 respectively.
The Consolation final, set for the same venue on Saturday, will see Pegasus Storm do battle with Remax All Stars since Dirty Dozen, based on reports, are unable to field a team. (Frederick Halley)