…Latiff steers NYSCL to Masters crown

AFTER witnessing their Over-50 and Over-40 counterparts going down in both of their finals to Regal Legends and New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) respectively, the Ontario Cricket Super League (OCSL) Open All Stars team ensured a victory for the home side in a hard-fought final versus Titans when the three-day OCSL tournament climaxed at Barnett Park on Sunday.

The final, which was billed as the feature event of the day, after Titans sprung an upset with victory over the star-studded Kingsmen of New York in Saturday’s semi-final, simply did not lived up to expectations.

Batting first, Titans, who hail from Schenectady, New York and was featuring in their first international tournament, failed to replicate their performance of the previous day and were shut out for exactly 100, batting first.

The innings never got going as Titans lost wickets frequently with Hemant Persaud hitting three fours in a top score of 24. Rohit Dutchin, who caused the early damage, finished with the impressive figures of three for 12 from 3.3 overs.

Delroy Perreira scored a patient 30 which was decorated with three fours and a six while Dutchin crowned a fine all-round performance, spanking a four and three sixes in an unbeaten 27 when victory was achieved in 13.1 overs. Opener Sachin Singh also supported with 21 (two fours and a six).

The win earned OCSL a trophy and $4000 (US) while the players were recipients of medals. The losing team also collected the runners-up trophy.

Rookesh Mahase of Orlando was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) while Vikash Dhaniram (Hueeicanes) and Greg Singh (Kingsmen) received the prizes for scoring the most runs and grabbing rhe most wickets respectively. The man-of-the-match in the final was Dutchin, who incidentally was playing his first game of the tournament.

Meanwhile, a sensible and somewhat cautious undefeated 41 from Richard Latiff steered New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) to a comfortable four-wicket victory over the Ontario Cricket Super League (OCSL) in the final of the Masters Over-40 category.

Set a tricky 132 for victory after limiting the home team to 131 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, NYSCL reached the required target in 17.1 overs, losing six wickets in the process with the experienced Latiff standing tall as wickets fell around him. He struck two fours and an equal number of sixes. K. Narine supported with 20, which included two fours. K. Karran (two for 22 in two overs) and M. Bodhoo (two for 25 in 3.2) were the best bowlers for Orlando.

Earlier, Orlando’s innings lacked momentum after losing early wickets from which they never really recovered. Bodhoo, showing his all-round skills, hit a top score of 28 which included a solitary boundary while R. Jawahir scored 23. Ian Sanichar ended with three for 22.

NYSCL took home the winner’s trophy and $3000 (US) while all the players collected medals. Losing finalists Orlando received the runners-up trophy. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the category went to Puran Bhira of NYSCL, Amar Singh of OCSL carted off the prize for the player scoring the most runs, Sanichar the most wickets and Latiff, the man-of-the-match in the final. (Frederick Halley)