…Ramblers cart off consolation title

MERCENARY ended the 2025 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) season in a blaze of glory, registering a clean sweep of all the titles up for grabs in emphatic fashion, a feat they also accomplished in 2022.

Already assured of the Divisional crown, the Vish Jadunauth T10 knockout title and winners of the Albert Ramcharran T15 knockout tournament, they made light work of defending champions Caribbean Sensation to cart off the Kenny Girdharry T20 Championship final, played last Sunday at the St Bede ground in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
The consolation final saw Ramblers getting the better of Bacchus Ruff Ryders in the final, played simultaneously on the adjacent Littles Field.

Mercenary’s victory was engineered by a devastating spell of fast bowling by Avinash “Shines” Sookdeo, who followed up his semi-final burst of five for 11 against Better Hope the previous day with the astonishing figures of six for 12, sending Caribbean Sensation packing for a paltry 45 in 11.5 overs. Richard Latiff supported with two for five.
In reply, Mercenary, despite some anxious moments, reached the required target in 6.5 overs, losing five wickets in the process. Amit Rukhram was undefeated on 16 when victory was achieved with skipper Faheer Juman bagging three for 20 for Caribbean Sensation.

Needing 105 to win the Consolation final, after Bacchus Ruff Ryders were restricted to 104 all out in 19.5 overs, Ramblers cantered to 105 for three in 15.5 overs, winning by five wickets.
Tulsie Ramdyal led the way for the winners with 34 which included five fours and a six while Navin Bhup hit 26 with two sixes.
Earlier, Rofel Boodhu with three for nine, Mokeem Sattaur, two for 13 and Monty Dass, two for 22, were the main destroyers as Bacchus Ruff Ryders struggled throughout their innings. The experienced Ganeshwar Babulall hit a top score of 29 which included three fours.

All four teams were recipient of trophies and medals at the presentation ceremony which followed. Umpires Terry Mathura, Albert Ramcharran, Outar Dindial and Robert Dias were also decorated with medals for officiating in the finals and throughout the 2025 season.

The respective Most Valuable Players (MVP) were Sookdeo (Mercenary), Juman (Caribbean Sensation), Bhup (Ramblers) and Babulall (Bacchus Ruff Ryders).
OSCL President Shiv Persaud, while expressing congratulations to all the participating, also praised the sponsors for their contributions. (Frederick Halley)