Canadian-based Guyanese Montfort elated to represent Canada

By Ravi Madholall in Toronto

Canadian-based Guyanese cricketer Mark Montfort has expressed elation after winning two caps last week having represented a Canadian High Performance team against a touring Bermuda side at Maple Leaf ground, Toronto.

The former Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and Demerara Senior Inter-county all-rounder produced a sterling bowling display in his debut game with a five-wicket haul to lead Canada to a comfortable two-wicket victory.

In the second scheduled fixture, Montfort produced a fine batting performance by hitting an attractive 69 to help his team pull off an emphatic 54-run win.

In an exclusive interview, Montfort stated that he was more than joyful to wear the Canadian cap despite the match was an ‘unofficial’ limited-over contest.

“I was delighted with my performances on both days and now looking forward to get into the senior team for international assignments,” Montfort declared.

Having known to bowl off-break, Montfort was influenced by his coach Henry Osinde to share the new ball and he did not disappoint after claiming 5-40 from ten penetrative overs on a responsive track in the first encounter.

“I was just running up and bowl medium pace in the practice session and my coach (Osinde) said to me you can just try your hand with some pace in the game and was happy to grab the opportunity with both hands but more importantly my team had come out victorious,” the 31-year-old Montfort mentioned.

In addition to that, the left-handed batsman and right-arm bowler divulged he was very confident of doing well and to great extent satisfied with his contributions.

“I was pretty confident going into the match and to do well; thankfully I was able to take wickets with my medium-pace, scored some runs and the team won the two matches,” Montfort cited.

Montfort stated that he is grateful for the opportunity to stake a very strong claim for national selection and expressed deep optimism of getting there soon.

“Obviously, I am satisfied with those performances and I had wanted to impress the selectors to gain a place in the national side for upcoming series; I will continue to work hard and score runs,” Montfort related.

Since his emigration to North America in 2010, Montfort has been plying his trade for JB (Brampton) Masters Cricket Club in the annual Toronto and District Cricket Association Elite competition.

Montfort was one of the two Guyanese-born cricketers in the HP side.

The other person was all-rounder Dilon Heyliger, who only played in the second game but failed to make an impression scoring six runs and bowled four wicket-less overs.

However, Heyliger was selected to represent the Nation’s Select X1 against the Bermudians and rattled up an impressive all-round showing by first making a steady 27 and then returned with his right-arm medium to snap up two wickets in their handsome 207-run victory via the Duckworth/Lewis (D/L) method.

Heyliger represented Guyana at the regional youth tournament and also featured for Essequibo at the highest level.

Meanwhile, Bermuda was in Canada mainly to enhance their preparations just ahead of the forthcoming International Cricket Council Division 4 League limited-over tournament, which is billed for late next month in California.