CANADA-BASED Guyanese Avish Rukhram blasted two fours and six sixes in an enterprising 53 as his team Assassins made light work of Challengers, who failed to challenge, to emerge winners of the Damador Daesrath-organised round-arm softball extravaganza, staged last Saturday at Keele Toronto, Canada. The tournament, which was held in tribute to the late Johnny Bujan, a former stalwart cricket administrator, saw Challengers reach an inadequate 58 for two in the reduced six-over final after being asked to take first strike. It was then the Rukhram show – Daesrath (five not out) was a mere onlooker – as Assassins won with 10 deliveries to spare as their vocal players and supporters celebrated. Skipper Riaz Kadir was Assassins’ best bowler with two for seven from two overs. The tournament, which began with 11 teams, started with ten-over affairs but consistent drizzles throughout the day saw the semis reduced to eight and the championship game to six. Assassins took home $4 000 (Can) and the I&R General Contracting Inc. winners’ trophy while runners-up Challengers received the Dent Wizards silverware.

Rukhram, who was an easy winner for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize in the final, waltzed away with the Canadian Surplus trophy and also copped the best batsman prize for which he was awarded a trophy, sponsored by Tropical Nights Restaurant & Bar.

Kadir captured the most wickets in the final and also the most wickets overall. He copped the Caribbean Lyme Restaurant-sponsored trophy for the former and the B. Roy Transportation Ltd trophy for the latter. Teammate Daesrath won the trophy for the most runs for the day, compliments of Flavour Restaurant. Edward Morrison, who had the distinction of registering the highest individual score, collected a trophy and bat, courtesy of T&S Enterprise while Leguan Boys, who recorded the highest score of the day, received a trophy, compliments of 24 Hour Glass. The prize for the best catch was awarded to Prince Younge and he took home a trophy, sponsored by JDG Tooling, while one of Rukhram’s sixes was also judged to be the biggest, his reward being a trophy donated by PGI. Organiser Daesrath, a former Guyana first-class captain, who also represented Canada at the international lever, thanked the teams for their participation while highlighting the great role played by the several sponsors. The family of the late Bujan also came in for high praise as Daesrath recalled that he was a servant to cricket in Canada.
The Trinidadian-born Bujan died tragically in a vehicular accident in his homeland in 2016. His son Joshua thanked Daesrath and other organiser Tony Ramdass for the fine gesture especially taking into account the current COVID-19 pandemic. As a further token of appreciation, Joshua also took the opportunity to present a cheque for $1 000 (Can) which will go towards charity.