Gobin, Dhaniram highlight opening rounds of OMSCC tournament
FORMER Guyana Under-19 batsman, Troy Gobin and former senior player Sunil Dhaniram highlighted the opening rounds of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) 2023 season which got underway two weekends ago.
Playing in the Over-50 Division last Saturday, at the Dean Park ground, Gobin slammed a belligerent undefeated 108 to take his team Pegasus Storm to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Dirty Dozen.
Set a challenging 186 for victory, after Dirty Dozen reached 185 for six batting first, Pegasus Storm rushed to victory in 16.3 overs with skipper and opener Gobin leading from the front, smashing four fours and 10 huge sixes.
After adding 31 for the first wicket with Surendra Persaud (nine), Gobin, who led the Over-50 aggregate in 2021 and 2022, featured in three other useful partnerships. He added 41 for second with Ramo Malone, who’s quick-fire 33 was punctuated with five towering sixes, 40 for the third with Jito Narine (10) and an unbeaten 62 for the fourth with Jai Singh (15 not out) as Pegasus Storm canter to an easy win.
Earlier, opener Charlie Yakoob was the star for Dirty Dozen, top scoring with a fine 62, laced with three fours and six sixes while Suresh Persaud hit three fours and two sixes in 37 and skipper Khemraj Budai 34 with one four and four sixes. Khem Singh was the best bowler for Pegasus Storm with three for 26 from his three overs.
In the opening round, played at the same venue, Dhaniram ensured Toronto Blizzards maintained their stranglehold over Pegasus Storm with a dazzling 75 as defending champions Toronto Blizzards made 184 for two in their allotted 20 overs. The elegant left-hander, playing handsomely through the leg-side, stroked three fours and nine sixes and received fine support from Jaimini Singh (36) and Mohan Harihar (25).
Pegasus Storm were restricted to 145 for eight with Malone hitting four fours and three sixes in an even half-century. Jito Narine’s 28 included one four and three sixes as Lal “Dingo” Singh ended with three for 17.
Dhaniram was again among the runs on Saturday, his unbeaten 55, which contained three fours and six sixes piloting Toronto Blizzards to their second win of the season, this time over Remax All Stars at Littles Park. Dhaniram is also the proud owner of the Orange Cap, introduced by the OMSCC for the new season, an initiative of President Orin O’Neil.
Set a paltry 97 for victory, Toronto Blizzards raced to the target in 9.4 overs. The tournament continues this Saturday. (Frederick Halley)
