“A BOUNDARY-studded unbeaten 114 from debutant Navindra Buchana of Ramblers Rampage
halted the two-game winning streak of defending champions GTA Storm when the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-50 tournament continued last Saturday at the Dean Park ground, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
The stockily built Buchana, who came in at number three after his side had elected to bat first, went on a rampage from the onset of his innings and when the dust had settled, his ferocious 50- ball knock was decorated with an incredible two fours and 15 mighty sixes as Ramblers Rampage reached a challenging 200 for five off their allotted 20 overs.
Opponents, GTA Storm, led by a brilliant 91 from opener Ian “Russian’ Baldeo, seemed on course after the first 10 overs, when they rushed to 115 for one but an inexplicable collapse saw them ending on 179 for seven at the end of 20.
The right-handed Buchana dominated two important partnerships, adding 39 for the third wicket with Monty Dass (19) and 89 for the fourth with the veteran Suresh Persaud whose contribution was 26 (four sixes).
Bowling for GTA Storm, Jerry Brittania and Rakesh Dyal claimed one wicket each for 26 and 46 runs respectively while the other three wickets went via the run-out route.
Baldeo, whose knock was spiced with three fours and nine sixes, shared a fine opening stand of 94 with former Guyana Under-19 batsman Troy Gobin, who hit two fours and three sixes in his 37 but once the GTA Storm skipper departed the innings catapulted.
From a position of dominance at 115 for one after 10 overs, the defending champions were restricted to 69 in the next 10 while losing six wickets.
Dass led the way with three for 19 from his three overs while there was one wicket each for captain Patrick Shivrattan, Mokeem Sattaur, Buchana, and Polly Shivrattan.
GTA Storm had started the season on a winning note, defeating Dirty Dozen and Canadian Legends.
The match versus Canadian Legends, played at St Bede, saw opener Gobin registering a fine unbeaten 77 and leading his team to an eight-wicket victory.
Batting first, Canadian Legends recovered from a precarious position of 57 for seven after ten overs, to reach a respectable 142. Former GTA Storm player Hazari Girdhari led the way with 33 (three fours and three sixes). Jai Singh took three for 15 and Rakesh Dyal three for 25.
GTA Storm raced 143 for two in 17.1 overs with Gobin lashing three fours and eight sixes in his 77 while Surendra Persaud made 26 (three fours and a six).
The nine-team tournament continues Saturday, July 6. (Frederick Halley)
