A BRILLIANT 115-run second wicket partnership between opener, Anand Balwant (57), and Sheik Khan (34 not out) spurred Caribbean Sensation to an eight-wicket victory over defending champion, Mercenary, in the final of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 2024 Kenny Girdharry 20-over regular season A Division final, played on Saturday at St Bede’s ground, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.

Set 122 for victory, after Mercenary were restricted to 121 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, Caribbean Sensation achieved the required target in 17.3 overs with the flamboyant Balwant hitting an attractive 57, decorated with two fours and five towering sixes.
Unflustered by the loss of his opening partner Anil Ramotar (0), brilliantly caught by wicket-keeper Zaheer Allard off the fifth ball of the reply, off Richard Latiff, Balwant and Khan mixed aggression with the defence as they withstood the Mercenary varied attack.
When Balwant, departed, caught at long-off by Amit Rukhram off the bowling of Rabindra Diaram in the 17th over, the match was good as over, as his team needed a mere six runs to complete the formalities. Khan was left unbeaten on 34 off 47 balls, which included one four and two sixes. Diaram ended with one for 24 and Latiff one for 25.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Mercenary found the going tough on a somewhat wintry morning, losing wickets at regular intervals. Apart from opener Azam Haniff (23 with one four and a six) and Richard Dias (20 with two fours), the only other player to reach double figures was Avinash Sookdeo with 14.
Skipper Faheer Juman grabbed two for 12 from his four overs and Kelvin Shivrattan two for 17, also from four. There was also one wicket each for Jagdesh Narayan and Andy Persaud for 16 and 17 runs respectively.
Balwant copped the player of the final award for Caribbean Sensation while Bobby Parasnauth, who bowled four frugal overs for just 10 runs, was the recipient for Mercenary despite not taking a wicket.
Both teams were rewarded with the respective winner and runner-up trophies and medallions.

Mercenary topped the regular season standings with 60 points in the five-team A Division tournament while Caribbean Sensation placed second on 42, the same with Better Hope but with a superior net run rate. Enmore registered 18 points while Leguan Warriors, who found the going tough in their inaugural year in the A Division, after dominating the B Division, ended on 12 points.

OSCL President, Shiv Persaud, congratulated both teams for reaching the final and for putting up a good show. He also showered praises on sponsors Norman Sue Bakery and Trophy Stall of Toronto for their contributions to the Vish Jadunauth 10/10 and Albert Ramcharran 15-over tournaments respectively.

Both Girdharry and Ramcharran were former long-standing Presidents of the OSCL while the late Jadunauth served as the Chief Financial Officer of the league until he passed away in February, 2022. (Frederick Halley)