…Toronto Blizzards, NYSCL, Trophy Stall assured of semi-final places
By Frederick Halley
PERENNAIAL Over-50 champions, Regal Legends suffered a shock exit from the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Independence Cup on Friday, losing both of their games on the opening day of the 19th annual three-day tournament.
Unbeaten Toronto Blizzards, NYSCL 1 and Trophy Stall, with two wins each, were however assured of semi-final places heading into the second day of the tournament, yesterday.
Competing in what can be described as the “Group of Death,” the defending champions were thrashed by Toronto Blizzards by six wickets in the day’s opener and later by NYSCL Legends 1 by nine wickets in the second game, sending shock waves among the players and loyal supporters.
The defeats marked the first time since their phenomenal reign over the last six years that the Guyana-based Regal Legends have failed to reach the semi-final stages of tournaments of these natures held in Guyana, New York, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. They are still to compete in Canada.
The first 10 overs of the day surely didn’t give an indication of what was to unfold later as Regal Legends, asked to take first strike by Toronto Blizzards, reached a comfortable 88 without loss on a sunlit day at Canarsie Park with openers Asif Ali and Uniss Yusuf successfully negotiating the Canadian-based team attack.
The loss of Yusuf, brilliantly run out from a direct throw, set the stage for a procession as Regal Legends found the going tough, and were restricted to 150 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.
Apart from Yusuf, who struck four fours and six in his 40, fellow opener Ali also contributed 40 (two sixes). However, the usually formidable middle-order offered token resistance,
Debutant Avinash Singh bowled brilliantly to finish with the impressive figures of two for 16 from his four overs while Jesh Parasnauth supported with two for 28.
David Harper, with the first ball of the reply, gave his team a bright start, knocking back the leg stump of Shiv Seeram. Undaunted by that setback, Toronto Blizzards made light work of the total with former Guyana player Sunil Dhaniram spanking a fine undefeated 72, spiced with six fours and four sixes. Ramo Malone blasted a quick-fire 27 off eight balls with five fours and a six while Imran Ali, playing in his first Over-50 game, raced to 25 with a four and three sixes.
The consistent Dhaniram was once more to the fore, in the second game, hitting a fine undefeated 71, decorated with five fours and six sixes as the Bobby-Parasnauth led Toronto Blizzards defeated Shaw’s Realty by eight wickets in a one-sided affair.
Vejai Seonarine chipped in with 34 (three fours and two sixes) while Imran Ali was again among the runs with an unbeaten 38, hitting three fours and an equal number of sixes and sharing and unbeaten 71-run stand with Dhaniram as the Canadian-based team reached 160 for two in reply to Shaw’s Realty 158 for nine. E. DeFreitas slammed an unbeaten 50 (seven fours and two sixes) for the losers.
NYSCL 1 had earlier won from Shaw’s Realty, posting 166 for three in their 20 overs with Ravi Sahadeo (50 with four fours), Ravi Singh (42 retired hurt) and Erapali Sahadeo (35) being the main scorers for the winners.
Trophy Stall started off on a bright note, whipping NYSCL 2 by six wickets and Marine Legends in their afternoon fixture. Needing 149 after NYSCL reached 148 for six, Trophy Stall reached the target in 16.3 overs with Fazil Shakoor hitting a top score of 48 (three fours) and Khemraj Budhai (34 with two fours and two sixes).
A. Lutchman with a fine unbeaten 63, containing seven fours and two sixes, Budhai (29) and Shakoor (20) were the main run-getters in their win versus Marine Legends.
Semi-final action in all three categories – Open, Masters Over-40 and Legends Over-50 were scheduled to take place yesterday while the tournament climaxes today with the finals.
