Eric Thomas’ innings, along with tight bowling, saw Regal Legends defeating Toronto Blizzards by 79 runs in the final of the Over-50s category of the 2022 Florida softball competition Saturday in Fort Lauderdale.
The other Regal team in the three-day tournament, Regal Masters, defeated SVC Corriverton by 67 runs to win the Over-40 title at the Brian Piccolo Park.
Regal Legends, batting first, were 57-4 at the half way stage with Captain Mahendra Hardyal (04), Ramesh Narine (00), Unis Yusuf (10) and David Harper (17) sent back by the magical fingers of Rabindra Parasnauth (3-9).
Regal Legends lost Mohendra Arjune for 22 (4×3) in the 12th over, and, at 65-5 were in danger of being bowled out.
At that stage the Canadians were well ahead but then the power hitters from Guyana walked to the crease.
Eion Abel hit 28 (4×1; 6×3) from 11 balls while `Tamo’ Thomas knocked the wind out of the sails of the Blizzards. The powerful left-handed batsman hit six sixes in the 16th over bowled by Desmond Chumney in a display of power hitting never seen before.
In all, Thomas hit nine sixes and one four from 14 balls in 62 as the Legends regained the advantage.
Thomas was bowled in the 17th over at 158-7 but Rudolph Baker smashed a 14-ball cameo of 33 (4×1; 6×4) to finish the innings on a high at 196-9.
Bowling for the Blizzards, Shazam Baksh picked up 4-48 to support Parasnauth.
In reply, the Blizzards openers put on 53 runs for the first wicket in 6.5 overs before things started to fall apart. Laurie Singh got the break through when Sunil Dhaniram was sent back for 32 (4×4; 6×2) from 19 balls followed by the brilliant run out of Shivnauth Seeram for 19 at 53 for 2. It was the point of no return for the Canadians and they were eventually bowled out for 117 in 17.4 overs. Singh finished with 2-24 while Ramesh Narine was pick of the bowlers with 4-17. Mahendra Hardyal supported with 2-22.
Regal Legends played unbeaten in the tournament to lift another overseas title.
Narine was named Best Bowler, Best Batsman and Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Thomas was the Player of the Match in the final.
In the Over-40s final, on the back of half centuries from Chien Gittens and Lennox Mark, Regal Masters completed a Regal double.
Gittens carried his bat to finish on 76 not (4×8; 6×1) but it was a pugnacious knock from Lennox ‘Assassin’ Mark which took the match away from SVC Corriverton. Mark hit eight towering sixes and a solitary four to finish on 63 from 17 balls.
SVC Corriverton picked up the wickets of Samuel Kingston (17), Mohamed Ayume (16) and Khemchandra Dindyal (0) at regular intervals to keep the scoring in check until the 98-run fifth wicket partnership between Gittens and Mark. Sydney Jackman Jr., (1/16) and Feroze Karimullah (1/42) were the successful bowlers for SVC Corriverton who were then limited to 121-6 from their 20 overs. Karimullah returned to hit the top score of 37 but no other batsman passed 17 to threaten the target. Tyrone Sanasie wrecked the innings with 3-20 while Gittens for 1-14.
Gittens later collected three individual prizes; Player of the Match, Most Valuable Player of the Tournament and most runs in the tournament. Bowler of the Tournament was Kayume Mohammed of South Florida Masters.
In the Open category, Kingsmen All-Stars lead by former Guyana and West Indies youth player Zamal Khan defeated South Florida All Stars by eight wickets in the final match of the day.
At the presentation ceremony, John Ramsingh, speaking on behalf of Regal champion teams and the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc., (GSCL), said their sides played the tournament in honour of Lakeram ‘Mike’ Singh of Mike’s Wellman. Ramsingh said the teams dedicated the victories to the late great ‘Mike’ who died in the line of duty doing what he loved.
This year’s Florida Cup was the 16th tournament organized by the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFCL) led by President Dave Singh and assisted by former President Anoop Basdeo. The three-day tournament started last Thursday with 22 teams in the three categories.
