By Frederick Halley
DESPITE losing both of their matches to the same
opponents, Toronto Blizzards emerged as the best
Canadian team on show at the 16th edition of
the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL)
tournament played in the Sunshine State on March
31, April 1 and 2.
Competing in the Legends Over-50 category,
Toronto Blizzards ended as creditable runners-up
to the rampaging Regal Legends of Guyana
who were unstoppable in the six-team category.
Having lost to Regal Legends on the opening day,
the Canadian-based side were hoping to turn
the tables in the final, but that hurdle proved
insurmountable.
The three other Canadian teams, Softball Cricket
Canada (SCC), which fielded sides in both the
Open All Stars and Masters Over-40 and Canadian
Legends in the Masters Over-40, failed to reach
the semi-final stages in their respective categories.
Winning the toss and opting to field in the final and
in what can be described as a tale of two halves,
Toronto Legends had Regal Legends on the ropes
at 56 for four after the first 10 overs. A brutal
assault by robust left-hander Eric Thomas who
slammed nine sixes and a four in a brutal innings
of 62 off 14 deliveries completely changed the
complexion of the innings.
Thomas took a special liking to former
Canadian World cup player Desmond
Chumney, blasting six sixes in his lone over
while Rudolph Baker also joined the party
with a quick-fire 35, laced with four sixes and
a four.
In the end, Regal Legends ended on an
imposing 196 all out in their allotted 20 overs,
which meant 140 runs came in the final 10
overs for the loss of six wickets. Jesh Parasnauth,
who caused the early damage and later came
back to claim the scalp of Thomas, ended
with the impressive figures of three for nine
from his four overs, amidst the carnage.
Toronto Blizzards started impressively with
former Guyana players Shivnauth Seeram and
Sunil Dhaniram adding 53 for the first wicket
but once the partnership was broken, there
was a steady procession of wickets which saw
them being bowled out for 117 in 17.4 overs.
Dhaniram’s top score of 32 included four
fours and a six.
Ramesh Deonarine bagged four for 17 from
four overs, skipper Mahendra Hardyal two for
22 from 2.4 and Tony Singh, who engineered
the early collapse, two for 24 from four.
The semi-final saw Toronto Blizzards
rattled up 180 for five in the allotted 20
overs versus Orlando Legends with Mohan
Harihar spanking two fours and four sixes in
an undefeated 52 while Chumney’s brilliant
45 contained two fours and five sixes.
Orlando Legends could muster only 165 for
six in return, despite a spirited effort, led by
opener Motiram Singh who hit a top score
of 40 which included three fours and a six.
Chumney returned to bag three for 29 from
his four overs while there were two wickets
each for Parasnauth and Fazil Rasool for 22
and 32 runs respectively.
The well-organised three-day tournament
was somewhat dampened by the death of
Lakhram “Mike” Singh whose team Wellman
participated in the Legends Over-50
category and got the blessings of his wife to
still compete despite his passing on the first
day of the tournament.
The 60-year-old Singh, who was also the
proprietor of Mike’s Pharmacy in Guyana,
reportedly suffered a massive heart attack
while playing and died later in hospital.