DEFENDING Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Legends Over-50 champion, GTA Storm, is already assured of the Divisional title following the completion of the preliminary round of matches in the 2025 tournament.
Having suffered a 33-run defeat at the hands of Canadian Legends in June, their only loss of the season, GTA exacted revenge on the same opponents in their highly anticipated return clash, played last Saturday at Dean Park, Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.
The five-wicket win was achieved despite missing a few key players, with GTA Storm now setting their sights on the playoffs which are set to get underway on Saturday.
Set 147 for victory, after Canadian Legends were restricted to 146 for nine in their allotted 20 overs, GTA Storm reached the required target with five balls to spare, losing five wickets in the process.
It was a tense affair with GTA Storm losing the key wicket of their skipper Troy Gobin for a top score of 28 in the 16th over and still needing 27 for victory.
Mixing aggression with solid defence, the experienced Orlando Deonarine flayed Mohan Singh for two huge sixes in the 19th over and with solid support from Jito Narine (seven not out), GTA Storm romped to victory in 19.1 overs. Deonarine’s unbeaten 23 included three sixes off a mere 14 balls.
Bowling for Canadian Legends, Junior Azizudin finished with two for 23 from his three overs.
Earlier, Canadian Legends were pinned down by accurate bowling by the GTA Storm attack and despite a stubborn 41, with one four and two sixes from Abdool Azeez, the innings failed to gain momentum after they won the toss and elected to bat first.
Apart from Azeez, only two other players reached double figures with Ricky Badshaw hitting 26 with two fours and a six and Roy Brittania scoring 19 which included a four and a six.
GTA’s captain Gobin ended with the impressive figures of three for 10 from three overs.
The schedule for the quarter-finals, which will see all the eight participating teams involved, will be released shortly.