By Frederick Halley
TWO-time winners, GTA Storm who suffered a crushing defeat to newcomers and eventual title-holders Warriors in last year’s semi-final, returned to winners’ row in emphatic fashion to claim the 2026 title when the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Legends Over-50 tournament climaxed at the St Bede ground in Scarborough, Toronto, Canada, on Saturday.
In what was considered a run fest, which saw an amazing 467 runs being scored for the loss of seven wickets in 38.4 overs, by the two teams, GTA Storm turned back the challenge of archrivals Toronto Blizzards who were making their eighth consecutive appearance in the final.
The victory was also achieved despite a scintillating, boundary-studded unbeaten 118 from the experienced Mohan Harihar, who treated the GTA bowlers with disdain as his team reached an amazing 232 for four in the allotted 20 overs, after being inserted by GTA skipper Troy Gobin.
Clearly unfazed by the huge total, GTA Storm set about their task decisively with openers Jito Narine and Ian Baldeo blasting 99 off a mere eight overs before the latter went caught by Khemraj Bhudai off Khem Singh, who was summoned from his commentary duties to stop the onslaught. Baldeo’s knock of 45 contained three fours and four sixes.
Bent on capturing his third title as skipper of GTA Storm, Gobin entered the fray as Narine continued to bat with gay abandon, adding a further 37 with his captain before “picking out” Sunil Dhaniram at long-on. Narine’s superb 69 was laced with two fours and eight huge sixes.
GTA suffered a minor setback with the departure of Richrard Driffield (14) at 157 for three in the 13th over but that was to be Toronto Blizzards final success as Gobin found a useful ally in former Canadian player, Austin Codrington who made his softball debut in this year’s regular season tournament.
Gobin, who smashed one four and five sixes in his unbeaten 63, was fittingly at the helm when victory was achieved, dominating an unbeaten 76-run fourth-wicket partnership with Codrington who contributed 18 not out.
Earlier, Gobin’s decision to insert Toronto Blizzards yielded immediate dividends as Bhudai was sent packing off the first ball of the match, brilliantly caught by Baldeo at long-off, off the bowling of Suren Persaud. Thereafter, Harihar and Dhaniram took centre stage adding 99 for the second wicket before Dhaniram, who was dropped on 22, went caught and bowled to Orlando Deonarine for 52, which included one four and six sixes.
Dhaniram’s dismissal seemed to have fuelled Harihrar who went on a six-hitting spree, with no bowler being spared. When the 20 overs expired, he was unbeaten on 118 which was laced with four fours and an incredible 14 sixes, which seemed a winning effort but it proved otherwise eventually. Jaimini Singh also lent support with a useful 33, adding 104 for the third wicket with Harihar.
At the presentation ceremony which followed, GTA Storm copped the winners’ trophy, while the two Most Valuable Players (MVP) trophies went to Narine of GTA Storm and Harihar of Toronto Blizzards. Runners-up Toronto Blizzards were also the recipients of a trophy while players from both teams collected medals.
GTA Storm skipper Gobin, while obviously pleased with the performances of his players, pointed out that cricket was the winner.
Among the OMSCC executives in attendance were – President Azeem Khan, Vice-president Hardatt Ramcharran, Secretary Amit Bacchus, Treasurer Khem Singh, Player Management/Statistician Terry Mathura and Umpires Coordinator Bobby Ramlagan.
Meanwhile, the OMSCC annual presentation ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 26 at Windies Restaurant & Bar, Scarborough, Toronto.
