Regal Legends stave off Blizazrds challenge to retain crown

By Frederick Halley

DEFENDING champions Regal Legends continued their winnings ways when the New York Softball Cricket League (NSCL) 18th Independence Cup climaxed at Baisley Park, 150 Rockaway Boulevard, Queens, New York on Sunday.

The Guyanese Over-50 outfit however had to withstood a spirited challenge from their Canadian opponents, Toronto Blizzards, before emerging winners by nine runs in the high-scoring encounter. It was also a repeat of the 2022 South Florida Softball Cricket League final, played in Fort Lauderdale, when Regal Legends also came out winners.

Set a formidable 218 for victory, after Regal Legends reached 217 for six in their allotted 20 overs, after being inserted to take first strike, Toronto Blizzards were left high and dry on 208 for four when their overs expire.

Toronto Blizzards’ chase was engineered by a brilliant even hundred from former Guyana National player and opener Vejai Seonarine but an equally fine knock of 82 from Regal Legends’ Ramesh Deonarine put paid to their hopes of stopping the Guyanese who played unbeaten in the three-day tournament which was staged in conjunction with One Guyana 57th Independence Anniversary.

The right-handed Seonarine, who also represents the West Indies Over-50 side as an all-rounder, shared an opening stand of 99 for the first wicket with Sunil Dhaniram (26) and a further 40 with Ramo Malone (36 not out) for the third wicket but once he departed at 162 for three in the 17th over, his team’s hopes of victory faded despite some lusty hitting towards the end from Malone and Jaimini Singh who was undefeated on 17 at the end.

While the partnership between Seonarine, who’s knock was laced with six fours and eight sixes and Dhaniram flourished, it was evident that the latter wasn’t as fluent in his stroke play, his 26 containing three fours before he was outfoxed by Laurie Singh for the second time in the tournament.

Desmond Chumney, who batted at number three, soon departed without scoring as Regal Legends fought back gallantly. Seonarine, in trying to up the tempo after reaching a richly deserved century, went caught off the bowling of Throy Kippins while Mohan Harihar (one) was sent packing by Deonarine.

Malone’s quick-fire 36, which included two fours and three sixes and Singh added an unbeaten 33 for the fifth wicket but their efforts were in vain as Regal Legends celebrated another championship triumph.

Earlier, Regal Legends suffered an immediate setback when opener Uniss Yusuf went caught by wicket-keeper Seonarine off the first delivery of the innings, bowled by Malone.

Aided by a few dropped catches, they recovered admirably through a second wicket partnership of 79 between Deonarine and Mohendra Arjune (19) with the former dominating the stand. The usually reliable Rudolph Baker failed to get going, being comprehensively bowled by Dhaniram for three, paving the way for John Sumair’s pulsating fireworks. The strongly built right-hander clobbered two fours and seven sixes in his 58 while sharing an important fourth wicket partnership of 68 with Deonarine who smashed five fours and seven sixes in his innings,
Eric Thomas, ensured Regal Legends passed the 200-run mark with a breezy unbeaten 29 which included one four and three sixes as they reached 217 for six which proved a winning total in the end. Malone finished with two for 28 while Fazil Rasoool ended with two for 45.

Deonarine was adjudged man-of-the-match for his 82 and figures of two for 34. Dhaniram took away prizes for scoring the most runs in the category, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and for scoring a century (104 not out versus Trophy Stall) while Rasool was awarded trophies for the most wickets and the best bowling figures in a game.

The winners carted off the winning trophy and $3 000 (US) while the runners-up received a trophy. All 15 players and officials of both teams collected medals,
In Saturday’s semi-final clashes, played at Seaview Park, Canarsie in Brooklyn, Regal Legends defeated Orlando while Toronto Blizzards won from BYSCL 1 in a close encounter.

A proud and delighted Regal Legends skipper, Mahendra “Anil” Hardyal told Chronicle Sports, following the victory, that he and his charges achieved what they had set out to do, that is to win five matches from the onset of the tournament on Friday. Asked what was responsible for their successes over the years, a modest Hardyal summed it up very succinctly, pointing out that “winning has become a habit.”