A report by Ravendra Madholall

Versatile all-rounder Roopnarine Lalbehari captured several trophies at this year’s Canada Premier Softball Cricket League (CPSCL) presentation and award ceremony, which was held last Saturday at Kalypso Hut Restaurant and Lounge in Mississauga, Toronto.

Lalbehari, who represented Albion Sports Club in Guyana, also took home the Most Valuable Player prize after topping the batting average.

From six matches, Lalbehari made 265 runs including a best of 117 not out in the Red Zone category. He proved his all-round capability by dominating with the ball claiming 15 wickets from six games as well. He also got the award for the most economical bowler attested to by figures of 6-8, 5-14 and 5-20 bowling his team Cambridge Boyz. He also took home a prize for hitting 21 sixes in the 20-overs competition.

In the Blue zone category, Jack Mohabir was the top batsman, having accumulated 216 runs with a highest score of 101. He played for Shawson while his teammate Mohan Budhram led the bowling with 12 scalps in the same zone.

Young Warriors came out the champion side having won the T-10, 100-ball and Grand champion competitions. The Purple Cup trophy went to Leguan Boyz.

President of the CPSCL Patrick Singh, in his remarks, congratulated the champion teams and the awardees. Singh also thanked the sponsors and revealed that their generosity was a testament to their profound love for the game. Singh added that this year was quite challenging owing to the global pandemic but stated his executives had done an excellent job in running off the tournament and getting the presentation organised.

Acting Consul General for the Guyana Consulate in Toronto, Gerald Whyte, also congratulated the awardees and spoke about the unity cricket normally brings.

“It [is] an activity that brings people from different backgrounds together, be it religion, race/ethnic make-up, culture, social status, political persuasion and so forth; although it may be competitive, it creates an atmosphere of camaraderie and possesses a unifying element which brings our diaspora and segments of the society closer together,” Whyte told the gathering.

Tracey Ramsubagh-Mannette, the Consul General for the Trinidad and Tobago in Toronto was also in attendance and she echoed Mr Whyte’s sentiments. All the sponsors received a plaque while a number of special awards went to individuals for their support in a variety of ways.