Canada-based Guyanese dominate in CPSCL

Young Warriors are the 2021 Canada Premier Softball Cricket League (CPSCL) Grand Champions, after clinching an engrossing six-wicket win over Toronto Knight Riders on Saturday.
Playing at Andrew McCandless Park in Brampton, Knight Riders set up a respectable 198-5 from their allocation of 20 overs, while Young Warriors replied with 199-4 with ten balls remaining.
Experienced opening batsman Abinash Ramnarayan led the way with an unbeaten 63. He received useful support from the consistent Randy Roopnarine, who made 58 before he was run out. Ramnarayan struck four sixes and three fours, while Roopnarine slammed eight sixes and a four.
In the process, Young Warriors lifted their third trophy for this year’s season, having triumphed at the 10-10 competition and also the 100-ball tournament.
For the final, Ramnarayan and Roopnarine got assistance from Rofel Boodhu and Nishal Singh with 26 and 20 respectively. Senior campaigner Azeez Baksh picked up two wickets for 32 runs from four overs, delivering for the Riders.
Earlier, Toronto Knight Riders were invited to bat. Their innings started off precariously, with them losing the first wicket at 10-1, but Canada-based Guyanese Vijaj Prashad and Baksh stabilised things quickly with a solid 107-run second-wicket stand. Prashad, a stalwart in softball cricket, hit 62. His innings was characterised by seven sixes and a pair of boundaries, while Baksh scored 37.
Later down the innings, the momentum continued in the batting department as hard-hitting middle-order batsman Rawl Scott, a Berbician, blasted seven sixes to make an unbeaten 54. Lindon Persaud also chipped in with 22. There was one wicket each for Satrohan Doodnauth, Joshua Singh, Reshand Badshaw and Nishal Singh.
At the post-match presentation, Ramnarayan was named the Most Valuable Player, and he took home a trophy. The winning team carted off a trophy and $1000 while the runners-up claimed a trophy and $500. The prizes were donated by AP Staffing.