Essequibo confident of retaining OMSCC inter-county trophy

Essequibo are confident of retaining the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) four-team 20-over competition trophy on Sunday at Ashtonbee Ground, Scarborough, Toronto.
The Essequibians’ Coach, Rudy Bhoopaul has expressed optimism that his boys would once again be the dominant side at the end of the one-day event.
According to Bhoopaul, Essequibo have won the competition for the past five consecutive years and that has given him great motivation in the Khan-Memorial sponsored competition.
The other teams participating are: Demerara, Berbice and an All-Stars XI.
“We [are] definitely confident of winning the trophy again; the guys are all pumped-up and ready to go; I know last year only three teams took part, but the addition of Berbice this year would be even more competitive, but we are ready for any challenge,” the Canada-based Guyanese l related.
The skipper of the side, Rovendra Mandolall was equally confident. The right-handed former Essequibo and Guyana youth player stated that they were not the ‘whipping boys’ in this annual tournament, and he was very upbeat about Essequibo doing well for the sixth time in succession.
“I think we have a balanced team to play against these strong Berbice, Demerara and All-Stars sides, but we just have to go out there and play competitive cricket from ball one again. Obviously, it is a new year and everyone will want to come out on top,” noted Mandolall, who skippered Essequibo at the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior inter-county competition.
Apart from Mandolall, Essequibo can pin their hopes high on veteran batsman Jaimini Singh, Azeez Baksh, Radesh Monasar, and Amarnauth Sookoo among others.
Berbice are expected to feature an experienced side as well, and the players include former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batsman Hemnarine Chattergoon, Canadian player Aftab Shamsundeen, Yadram Bogh, Sunil Dhaniram, and Muniram Karran just to name a few.
Demerara seem to have a formidable line-up with some high-profile softball players including Shiv Seeram, Troy Gobin, Bobby Parasnauth, Zaheer Haniff, Satrohan Balkarran, Ian Baldeo, and Eion Katchay.
The All-Stars side are yet to release some of the cricketers’ names as the side will be picked soon, according to reports. The team comprise players from the three counties of Guyana. The action bowls off at 09:30h. (Ravi Madholall)