By Ravi Madholall in Toronto
After triumphing by a comfortable seven-wicket margin on Sunday at the Maple Leaf facility in King City, Toronto, skipper of the side, Royston Crandon, was understandably overwhelmed in the 2016 Toronto and District Cricket Association (T&DCA) Super6 T20-over final.
Royston Crandon
JB Masters had much to remember and to settle the issue with Ontario Cricket Association/Overseas for the late Johnny Bujan memorial trophy.
They won the toss and asked their opponents to take first knock on a pitch that was quite animated but Overseas could only have mustered an inadequate 130-6 from the allotment of 20-overs.
JB Masters, in reply, coasted home with six balls to spare. Usman Limbada and Ruvindu Gunasekera, both Canada’s seasoned international players, scored 37 runs apiece.
Their manager Bujan passed away earlier this year via a vehicular accident in his native Trinidad and Tobago but owing to his yeoman service to Toronto cricket over the past two decades, the Association decided to name the competition in his memory.
In addition to the T20 success, JB Masters also already lifted the Super6 50-over trophy having emphatically thrashed Mississauga Ramblers by 187 runs at the same venue, approximately two months ago.
According to Crandon, who is a past Guyana and West Indies player, the team is still saddened by his passing but was jubilant to emerge as the champion.
“We were more than happy to win the T20 championship; everyone was delighted to dedicate the win to Johnny’s memory,” Crandon related.
Johnny’s widow and two children were hand to witness the action and also participated in the post-match presentation.
Crandon, who claimed two wickets, felt the team showed great character from the commencement of the T20 competition and the hard work and excellent commitment paid great dividends.
“I think we played good cricket from the beginning and as I said we had wanted to win the tournament because we know Johnny will be proud of this achievement in [heaven],” Crandon, who only appeared in a solitary 50-over game for West Indies, commented.
Since 2010, JB Masters, formerly known as Brampton Masters, have been in dominant position reeling off the 50-over competition on three occasions and still remain the defending champion.
He feels with the experience of some experienced Canadian professional cricketers and overseas imported players is a testament to their continued phenomenal performances.
“I think we have got the experience and quality in our side to be the champion; in the 50-over, we batted and bowled well and the T20 we just played smart and good cricket again,” the right-handed batsman said.
Notably, Crandon, the younger brother of former Guyana fast-bowler Eusan and currently the head coach for the senior team, is among a bulk of other ex-Guyana youth and first-class cricketers plying their trade in Canada and by large, throughout North America.
In another stint in Canada’s cricket, Royston is leading the JB Masters side for the first year and stated that captaincy is enjoyable and liked the support he gets from his fellow colleagues since responsibly taking the armband.
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