By Frederick Halley

THE 19th edition of the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Independence Masters and Legends Cup tournaments are set to bowl off today at venues in Brooklyn and Queens and according to the organisers, they are endeavouring to make this year’s extravaganza more attractive to all the visiting teams.
Once again, the Over-50 category is likely to take centre stage as in the past few years with defending champions Regal, hosts NYSCL and Toronto Blizzards battling for supremacy.
In a closely-fought encounter, played at Baisley Park, Queens, last year, Regal got home by nine runs despite a valiant even hundred from former Guyana player Vejai Seonarine, whose knock was trumped by Regal’s Ramesh Deonarine’s 84 which earned him the player of the final award. Both players are slated to be in action once again for their respective teams.
Since the 2023 NYSCL tournament, Regal and NYSCL Legends have met in two finals, firstly in the 2023 Prime Minister’s Cup tournament at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown where Regal won handsomely by eight wickets and in Fort Lauderdale, playing under the Regal Hustlers New York banner, NYSCL Legends triumphed by with five balls to spare in a low-scoring game.
In Guyana, Regal were led to victory through a brilliant second-wicket stand of 108 between opener Uniss Yusuf (68) and Ramesh Deonarine (66 not out) as they chased down the challenging 179 for five made by NYSCL. The former also copped the player of the tournament award while Deonarine was adjudged man-of-the-match in the final.
NYSCL’s Erapali Sahadeo was the hero in Fort Lauderdale in February where his team got home in a close battle. After restricting Regal New York Hustlers to 122 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, NYSCL huffed and puffed their way to the target with five balls to spare. Sahadeo was the standout with a fine 63, taking the player of the match title while Deonarine took the MVP award.
Missing this year’s tournament because of an injured foot, long-standing Regal skipper Mahendra Hardyal, who will serve in the capacity of manager, is extremely confident that his charges will return to winners’ row despite the “mishap’ in Florida.
According to Hardyal, the team still possess most of its core members who are intent on correcting what went wrong in Fort Lauderdale. Veteran Mohendra Arjune will lead the side.
In an invited comment, newly-appointed captain of Toronto Blizzards skipper, Mahendranauth “Bobby” Parasnauth, pointed out that his side have a great chance of lifting the Cup.
According to Parasnauth, “we have quite a few regular season campaigners along with new entrants to the team. Players such as Shiv Seeram, Vejai Seonarine Sunil Dhaniram, Jaimini Singh, Mohan Harihar, Jesh Parasnauth, Ramo Malone, Wally Bacchus Lalo Dingo Singh along with new entrants such as the dynamic Imran Ali and all-rounder Avinash Singh.

“We have a very balanced side in both batting and bowling and the guys are all eager to get on the park and compete at this level.”
Interestingly, Parasnauth led the Regal Over-40 team in last year’s final, losing to NYSCL Over-40 in cliffhanger but has since changed his allegiance.
Apart from Sahadeo, other big-name players expected to be on show in the Over-40 category are the big-hitting Essequibian Patrick Rooplall, Richard Latiff and Chien Gittens among others..
Following a meeting of all the participating teams last night, the action gets underway at 10:00 hrs today.