By Orin Davidson | Photo Gallery
As expected, New York Softball Association League squad and Bronx Dream Team muscled their way to the final of the Independence Cup series following impressive victories on Saturday.
Eon Ellis 66 help dispose Guyana All Stars. Photos by Shiek Mohamed.
Both teams posted 100 percent records after two days of action in which last year’s runners up Guyana All Stars was ousted at the semi-final stage.
Bronx Dream team ensured they will have a chance to regain the title by pounding Guyana All Stars by a massive 169-run margin in the first semi- final at Foch Park.
Bronx amassed a possible record score of 244 runs for nine wickets in their allotted 25 overs and then limited Guyana All Stars to 180-6.
Eon Ellis led the runs splurge for the Dream Team, hammering 66 while hard hitting Andrew Gonsalves chipped in with 49. Brian Maniram added 28 and Roger Parsram 24. Trevor Ramoutar was South Florida’s best bowler with figures of 2-35. Deo Samaroo took 2-37 and Parm Ivan 2-44.
Vijai Seonarine showed he can hit the ball just as well in the softball format, as he usually does with conventional competition, by amassing a game high topscore of 82. He got some support from Ronald Khan with 35 and Bobby Prahalad 34. But their strong response was far from enough.
Vijai Seonarine 82 couldn't save Guyana All Stars.
The other semi-final saw defending champions, New York League team dispatch South Florida by six wickets at the 150th Street ground.
Another valuable innings by the prolific Kris Shobai of 54 steered the League Team to 138-4 after they reduced South Florida to 136-7 in a game reduced to 20 overs due to a late start. Sunil Panday was part of a good partnership with Shobai in which the former made 20 not out.
Kayume Mohamed gave South Florida hope with an entertaining 47 but none of the other batsmen showed much mettle. Ajay Muniram and Masood Mohamed brightened the light at the tunnel’s end somewhat with 27 and 27 runs respectively. But it eventually it was only a mirage as Pooran Beria led a disciplined League team bowling attack, taking 2-18.
The League won its fourth and final preliminary game by beating NY Muslims while Bronx Dream Team eliminated Ocala to post their record identical records on Saturday.
So the stage is set for an exhilarating final Sunday at Floyd Bennett Park in Brooklyn.
In the Over-45 series the New York League Legends waited several years to win their first Independence Legends series, and they defeated Better Hope Legends in the final to cart off the title for the first time, on Saturday.
Spurred by useful scores from Tony Fernandes with 40 and Steve Sookhoo 28, New York Legends scored 131-7 in their 20 overs after Better Hope Legends only posted 130-9. Uton Giddings captured 3-13 for Better Hope whose top scorer was Augustus Gordon with 35. Ivor Chan was exemplary with the ball for the League Legends, bagging 2-10.