PLAYING consistent cricket throughout the three days, New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Over-50 team emerged winners of the Legends category when the 2024 Florida Cup
climaxed in Fort Lauderdale last Sunday.
Led by a brilliant knock of 63 off 45 balls from Erapali Sahadeo, an innings which included five fours and an equal number of sixes, the New Yorkers defeated their more fancied counterparts,
Regal New York Hustlers, by six wickets in a closely fought encounter.

Set 123 for victory, in the 20-over affair, after restricting their opponents to 122 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, NYSCL Legends reached the required target with five balls to spare.
The consistent Sahadeo added 40 in six overs with opener Tony Fernandez and a useful 38 with Sudesh Deodat for the third wicket, with the latter contributing 11. By the time Sahadeo was
dismissed in the 15th over with the score on 98 for three, the damage was almost completed.Thakur Kumar (19) and Nandalall Doodnauth (six) ensured there were no further alarms as the
New Yorkers celebrated a memorable victory.

Earlier, the Regal New York Hustlers innings lacked momentum after they won the toss and decided to take first strike. They lost wickets at regular intervals as the top and middle-order
batters struggled to score at a reasonable rate. Opener Shameer Sadloo top scored with a patient 35 off 42 balls with three fours while there were two wickets each for Doodnauth, Amad Shahzaman and Rafiq Sattaur for 20, 27 and 28 runs respectively.

NYSCL Legends reached the final after defeating Trophy Stall Lions by four wickets while Regal New York Hustlers registered a resounding 10-wicket victory over Orlando Legends.
Chasing 101 for victory, after restricting Trophy Stall Lions to 100 all out in 18 overs, NYSCL Legends won in 18.1 overs, losing six wickets in the process. Sahadeo was again among the runs,
hitting 43 off 33 balls with three fours and three sixes. Anand Persaud (32) and Vishwanauth Lutchman (28) were the top run-getters for the losing team.

The other semi-final saw Regal New York Hustlers humbling Orlando Legends by nine wickets,reaching 131 for one in 11.5 overs in reply to their opponents 127 all out in 18.5 overs.
Ramesh Deonarine slammed 75 off 32 balls for the winners, an innings spiced with four fours and eight sixes.

Deonarine, who was later named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Legends category, also blasted 109 (51 balls) versus Marine Legends and an undefeated 85 off 37 balls off Shaw Realty,
spanking seven fours and an equal number of sixes as his team won by eight wickets. The veteran left-hander also hit a top score of 69 against Orlando Legends on the opening
morning (Friday) of the tournament, the game ending in a tie with Orlando Legends making 142 for nine in their 20 overs and Regal New York Hustlers replying with 142 for eight.

The winners took home $2000 (US) and a trophy while Sahadeo copped the Player of the final award.Apart from the MVP award, worth $300 (US), Deonarine also collected a further $100 (US) for scoring a century, an Indian outfit, compliments of Kushara Collections and a pair of Clarks shoes from Latch Shoes. Amad Shazahman collected $300 (US) for claiming the most wickets.
(Frederick Halley)