Inaugural Canada Cup

By Frederick Halley
A BLISTERING undefeated 49 from Richard Latiff, coupled with disciplined bowling, led Canadian Legends to an easy eight-wicket victory over Hawaiian Sensation in last Sunday’s Masters Over-40 final of the Ontario Twilight Softball Cricket League (OTSCL) inaugural Canada Cup, played at the Ashtonbee Reservoir ground, Scarborough, Canada.

Playing in overcast conditions, Hawaiian Sensation were restricted to a disappointing 96 for nine in their allotted 20 overs after skipper Damodar Daesrath opted to take first strike.

Canadian Legends strolled to the required target in 16 overs with Latiff, who batted at number three, ensuring the star-studded combination claim the coveted title.
The tall right-handed Latiff, known in softball circles as ‘Mr Cricket’, dominated a fine undefeated third-wicket partnership of 41 with Hemnarine Chattergoon (seven not out) after Canadian Legends lost the wickets of openers Anil Ramoutar (two) and skipper Chien Gittens (18) and were 56 for two after 10 overs.

Latiff, whose heroics are well known in Guyana and North America, was in a no-nonsense mood, smashing three fours and five towering sixes as Chattergoon was content to play second fiddle in the winning chase.

Mahendra ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth was the best bowler for the losers, claiming one for 11 in his four overs while the other wicket went to Jagdeo Singh who conceded 23 in his four.

Earlier, Hawaiian Sensation innings never get going after Anil ‘Ambi’ Kumar sent back openers Imran Ali (two) and Anil Mahadeo (eight) in quick succession as they struggled to 12 for two after two overs.

Kumar was forced to leave the field following an injury after bowing just 1.4 overs. This, however, didn’t help Hawaiian Sensation’s cause as wickets continued to tumble at an alarming rate.

Skipper Daesrath and the left-handed Yadram ‘Lara’ Bhoj tried desperately to revive the situation with a sixth-wicket partnership of 21, but once Bhoj departed for 18, which included three fours and Daesrath was bowled by Gittens for 12, there wasn’t much resistance from the lower order.

Kumar finished with two for eight, Gittens two for 16 while there was one wicket each for Nishal Das, Latiff and Zaheer Ali.

Latiff deservedly copped the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the winners while Parasnauth was adjudged the winner for Hawaiian Sensation. Gittens also received a trophy for hitting a century (117 not out) in a preliminary round fixture.

A delighted Thalchnd ‘Mohan’ Singh, owner of Canadian Legends, was extremely proud of his charges’ performance, pointing out that he had no doubt they would have come out victorious. Still somewhat disappointed after they were eliminated in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-40 Division 1 semi-final, Singh said it was gratifying to emerge winners in the Canada Cup.