THE Guyana 57th Independence Festival Sports Day, under the auspices of the Toronto Consulate General of Guyana, came off with a bang at the Ashtonbee Reservoir sports field last Saturday with the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) team and Amazon Masters of the Canadian Premier Softball Cricket League (CPSCL) sharing the day’s honours.

Witnessed by a crowd, which included Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Keith George, Consul General (ag) Grace Joseph and members of the Guyana Festival Committee, the OSCL team trounced the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC) in their 10-over flick bowling affair while Amazon Masters whip OSCL in their 10-over round-arm clash.

Led by a brilliant all-round display by seasoned campaigner Sunil Ramkissoon, who blasted 2x4s and 5x6s in 51 off 25 balls and later returned to pick up one for three in his two overs, OSCL reached a challenging 125 for four in their allotted 10 overs. Mahesh Ramroop supported with a quick-fire 29 off a mere 11 balls, decorated with 4x4s and 3x6s. There was one wicket apiece for Desmond Ram, Subash Hiralal, Richard Rossan and Anil Veerasammy.

In reply, the OMSCC stuttered to 73 for two in their 10 overs, going down by 52 runs. Murray Morrisson top scored with a defiant 23, hitting 1×4 and 2x6s. Apart from Ramkissoon, Steven Ramdass took the other wicket to fall, conceding 11 runs in the process.

The round-arm encounter saw Amazon Masters batting first and reaching 114 for seven in their 10 overs with Roopnarine Lalbeharry leading the way with an attractive 40 off just 14 balls, laced with 3x4s and 4x6s while Munir Bashir lashed 38 from 20 balls, an innings that contained 2x4s and 4x6s. Satrohan Doodnauth was also among the runs, contributing 21 (one four and two sixes).

Bowling for OSCL, Rawl Scott bagged three for 31 while Ramkissoon, Ramroop and Ramdass each claimed a wicket.
OSCL, in reply, could only muster 67 for five when their 10 overs expired with Ramkissoon hitting a breezy 26 from nine balls, spanking 1×4 and 3x6s. Salman Khan took two for 12, Suresh Ragoonauth one for nine and Azeez Baksh one for nine.

Both teams were recipient of winners’ trophies while several players received incentive prizes for outstanding performances. Ramkissoon collected $500, compliments of High Commissioner George for being adjudged the most outstanding player of the day. He also got the runner-up Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for his performance in the round-arm game and a bat, sponsored by Black Ash. Bashir of Amazon Masters took the MVP prize in the round-arm category.

The winners of Caribbean Airlines tickets to Guyana were Anil Veerasammy of Amazon Masters and Mahesh Ramroop of OSCL.
Secretary of the Guyana Independence Committee, Amanda Nandkissore, in acknowledging the overall support, declared that “we had ample support from our wonderful community, tons of laughs and great memories made. Special shout out Shiv Persaud – President of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA), Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) and Secretary of Cricket Ontario for his incredible organisation of today’s entire event and Nazie Mohamed of Caribbean Airlines who generously gave two lucky team members of the winning teams airline tickets to Guyana.”

Nandkissore also praised Consul General (ag) Grace Joseph and High Commissioner George for their roles, the latter for donating $500 (Canadian) to Ramkissoon who was adjudged the most outstanding player of the day.

This year also saw Shiv Persaud, President of both the SCA and OSCL taking over the role of chair of the Guyana Independence Festival after long-standing chair Albert Ramcharran stepped down. (Frederick Halley)