North v South in cliff hanger at QP Oval

The 12th edition of the annual Pizza Hut/QPCC Gerry Gomez Memorial North/South Cricket Cup Classic is heading for a blanket finish with the odds seemingly favouring the Southerners. At the end of an extended and enthralling third’s play yesterday at Queen’s Park Oval, defending champions North, with an important first inning lead of 135 runs were tottering on 84 for seven in their second turn at the crease, an overall lead of 219 with three wickets remaining. Wicketkeeper Anthony Balgobin is not out on three and Yannic Carriah one.

SCORES: North 289 & 84-7 South:154.

Led by inspirational captain Daren Ganga, South who is chasing their third title since the inception of the Classic in 1997, clawed their way back into contention through the efforts of a four-pronged spin attack led by West Indies out-of-favour bowlers Dave Mohammed and Amit Jaggernauth. Mohammed (D) is the leading bowler for South with three for 23 from 17 overs. Jaggernauth who was the top wicket taker in North’s first innings chipped in with one for 24 off 19 overs.

Lending good support to his more established colleagues was former T&T U-19 batsman and leg-spinner Imran Khan who bowled superbly to grab two for seven from eight overs. Skipper Rayad Emrit who made 22 is the leading scorer for North thus far. Emrit was the seventh, wicket to fall when he was brilliantly stumped by in-form wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed off Mohammed’s (D) bowling. Earlier, South resumed on the overnight position of 72 for three in their first innings and crashed to 154 all out just after the lunch interval.

Injured fast bowler Ravi Rampaul who was ruled out of action for the next six weeks did not bat for South. Doing the damage for North was medium-pacer Emrit who bagged five for 35 from 17 overs. It was the 15th five-wicket haul in the Classic and Emrit’s first. North’s debutant right-arm leg-spinner Carriah picked up two for 21. In South paltry first innings, the Ganga brothers were leading scorers. Ganga (D) topscored with a polished 42 compiled in 133 minute from 99 balls and which contained four fours, while younger brother Sherwin was unbeaten on 39 made in 228 minutes, from 136 balls with one six. Final day’s play starts at 9.30 am.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

PIZZA HUT/QPCC GERRY GOMEZ MEMORIAL CRICKET CUP CLASSIC

When impressive left-haned batsman Darren Bravo struck a brilliant 113 for North against South on Sunday in the 12th edition of the Pizza Hut/QPCC Gerry Gomez Memorial Cricket Cup Classic, he became the first batsman to score back to back centuries since the inception of the tournament in 1997. It was the seventh century scored in the series. Bravo has joined T&T and South captain Daren Ganga with two hundreds in the tournament.

World’s double record holder Brian Lara is the highest scorer with 206 not out which he made in 2006. And also writing his name in the record books was North’s skipper Rayad Emrit who became the fifth bowler to take five or more wickets in an innings. Former T&T off-spinner Mukesh Persad has taken five-wicket hauls on four occasions and is the only bowler to take 10 or more wickets in a match in the Classic. Bowlers with two five-wicket hauls are former West Indies fast bowler Mervyn Dillon and off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth. Dillon also has the best return in an innings with six for 19 in 2007.

CLASSIC FACTS

Centuries
206* Brian Lara 1998
112 Lincoln Roberts 1998
100 not out Daren Ganga 2002
107 Daren Ganga 2005
101 not out Richard Kelly 2006
103 Darren Bravo 2007
113 Darren Bravo 2008.

Five or More Wickets in an Innings
5-44 Mukesh Persad 1997
5-23 Mukesh Persad 1997
6-30 Asif Jan 1997
5-9 Ken Hazel 1998
5-61 Mukesh Persad 1999
5-67 Avidesh Samaroo 1999
5-28 Marlon Black 2002
5-53 Mukesh Persad 2002
5-38 Dinanath Ramnarine 2003
5-80 Amit Jaggernauth 2004
6-63 Richard Kelly 2005
5-57 Mervyn Dillon 2006
5-74 Amit Jaggernauth 2006
6-19 Mervyn Dillon 2007
5-34 Rayad Emrit 2008.

Ten or More Wickets in Match
10-67 Mukesh Persad 1997.


Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Rampaul out for six weeks

T&T cricketers quest for top honours in the 2009 Regional four-day tournament received a major setback when fast bowler Ravi Rampaul was ruled out for the next six weeks due to a fractured finger on his left hand. Rampaul injured his finger while attempting to take a return catch from Darren Bravo on Sunday during the Pizza Hut/QPCC Gerry Gomez Memorial Cup Cricket Classic between North and South at the Queen’s Park Oval. Rampaul is expected to miss at least four matches in the regional competition, which bowls off on January 9. T&T will play Barbados in their opening round match.

According to manager/coach of the South team, Baldath Bodoe, Rampaul was sent to the St Clair Medical Centre yesterday and will visit Dr Terry Ali on Friday. Bodoe who is in his first stint as coach of the South team said that Rampaul is disapointed about the injury. “Ravi (Rampaul) is disappointed. He was looking forward to a good regional tournament to earn a place back on the West Indies team,” Bodoe said. Rampaul has joined West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo on the injured list. Bravo underwent surgery to his left ankle in October and is targetting a return to competitive cricket in February. So far, Bravo has missed the Stanford 2020 Super Series, the tri-nation series in August, the ODI series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and the current tour of New Zealand. NY

Trinidad Guardian

Brilliant Bravo hits Classic century

National left-handed batsman Darren Bravo hit a stroke-filled century to lead defending champions North into a position of strength against South, on the opening day of the 12th edition of the Pizza Hut/QPCC Gerry Gomez Cricket Classic, yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval. A carbon copy of former West Indies captain, Brian Lara, Bravo scored 113 as North closed on 273 for six. It was Bravo’s second consecutive century in the Classic, having scored 103 in last year’s contest at the Oval. His innings spanned 251 minutes and 152 balls and contained nine fours and two sixes.

Bravo shared in three 50-run partnerships that tilted the balance in his team’s favour. He featured in a third wicket stand of 53 with out of favour West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons (24), 67 for the fifth wicket with skipper Rayad Emrit who made 28 and 56 with Richard Kelly who is unbeaten on 27. Bravo was the sixth wicket to fall in the 89th over, when he was bowled by allrounder Imran Khan. It was Khan’s first delivery of the match. T&T and West Indies left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed was the leading wickettaker for South with two for 47 off 21 overs. Earlier, North won the toss and opted for first strike. Making his debut for North was 16-year-old T&T’s Under-19 allrounder Yannic Cariah.

North’s opening batsmen Justin Guillen and Mario Belcon started cautiously against the opposition’s pace attack of Ravi Rampaul and Shannon Gabriel. The pair posted 53 in 70 minutes before Belcon (27) who looked in good knick was run out after a terrible mix-up with Guillen. Eleven runs later, Guillen (26) who looked the part was deceived in flight by discarded West Indies off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth and was stumped by wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed. North went to lunch on 81 for two with Simmons on 10 and Bravo nine. On the resumption, the duo pushed the score along to 117 before the third wicket fell, when Simmons was caught by Jaggernauth at slip off Mohammed’s (D) bowling.

North lost another wicket before the tea break when Kervon Cooper (13) was caught at short fine-leg by captain Darren Ganga off Mohammed (D), which left the home team in s spot of bother on 146 for four. In between Bravo reached his century with a single off Jaggernauth to square-leg. His milestone came off 120 balls and 137 minutes and contained one four and a six. After the break, Bravo continued to dominate the bowling with a wide array of shots on either side of the wicket. He brought up his century with a towering six over the long-off boundary off Jaggernauth’s bowling.

The landmark was achieved in 243 minutes and 203 balls with eight fours and two sixes.Manager/coach of the North team, Richard Kelly Snr said that he is quite satisfied with his side’s position and the decision to bat first was justified. “ I am pleased with the team’s position thus far. Young Bravo showed a lot of composure and maturity which is a good sign. Looking at the pitch, we could not take the chance to bat last against the Southerners potent spin attack,” Kelly Snr said. Day two starts at 10 am.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Action expected in North/South Classic

Action is expected to be piping hot, when the 12th edition of the Pizza Hut/QPCC Gerry Gomez Memorial Cricket Cup North/South Classic bowls off at the Queen’s Park Oval from 10 am today. The four-day contest is scheduled to run until Wednesday and it will be the last chance for the players to address the national selectors ahead of the Regional four-day championship which bowls off on January 9. T&T and Barbados clash in the opening round. Defending champions North will be seeking to wrest the Cup for the third consecutive year.

All-rounder Rayad Emrit is at the helm of the defending champion team that includes teenage spin bowler Yannic Cariah. Also included in the bowling attack are spinner Sunil Narine, pacers Richard Kelly, Kevon Cooper, Navin Stewart and Rishaad Harris. While the batting department comprises Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo and Justin Guillen. South will be led by national captain Daren Ganga, his brother Sherwn, 18-year-old Adrian Barath and Imran Khan. Leading the bowling charge for the Southerners will be Test spinners Dave “Tadpole” Mohammed, Amit Jaggernauth, Magnum Nanan and Sanjiv Gooljar. Emrit said that his team would be going all out to secure a hat-trick of wins as his team was up to the task.

“Obviously it is a big game and it will be very competitive and I am looking forward to it. We are going after a hat-trick of wins and the pressure will be on us to achieve that feat. But the guys have been hard at training for the past three weeks and they are up to the task,” Emrit said. Newly-appointed coach of the South team, Baldath Bodoe said that his side was going to change the result from last year. Bodoe said: “We are confident. We lost last year and we need to change that result. Last year the problem was with the batting but this year it has been bolstered by the inclusion of captain Darren Ganga and opening batsman Adrian Barath. We have a strong bowling attack and it only for us now to go out there and execute our plans.”

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Triumphant T&T returns

The triumphant T&T cricket team returned home yesterday after winning the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Cup against Barbados on Sunday night in Guyana. The Daren Ganga-led team touched down at around 12.15 pm and was met by chief executive officer (CEO) of the T&TCB, Forbes Persaud and executive member of the TTCB, Richard Ramkissoon. Minister of Sport Gary Hunt was, however, a no show.

It is understood that the minister asked the TTCB to provide a podium at the VIP Lounge at the Piarco International Airport, as he wanted to address the cricketers. Guardian understands that this was done but the minister never showed.

Persaud in his address to the players said the board and the people were very proud of their achievements. “You all have done us very proud at the Cricket Board and you have also made the people of T&T very proud.” Persaud also made a case for the inclusion of T&T skipper Daren Ganga on the West Indies cricket team.

“We continue to dominate cricket at the regional level and it still amazes me that we have only one pick on the West Indies team. “Our captain Daren Ganga has shown that he is the best leader in the Caribbean and I am calling on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to re-think their position on Ganga.

“While we continue to do well at the regional level, the West Indies cricket team continues to languish at the bottom of the international table. “It is time that the WICB take note of what is going on in Trinidad and Tobago and try to correct the problems in West Indies cricket.”

Vinode Manchan
Trinidad Guardian

Phillip named T&T cricket selector

Claude Phillip, the former T&T, Crompton and Harvard batsman, has been named a national senior team selector by the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB). This was revealed yesterday by administrative manager of the TTCB, Rambhai Patel. He said Phillip will join the other selectors in Narine Bideshi (chairman) and Alec Burns to comprise the selection panel.

Patel also said that as a result of Phillip’s elevation, he would not be able to perform the role of manager/coach for the North team at the annual Gerry Gomez Classic, which gets underway on December 28. He has been replaced by Richard Kelly Snr the father of national player Richard Kelly. Patel said: “If Claude is allowed to keep his position as manager/coach of the North team then there could be a conflict in holding the two positions and Kelly is seen as an ideal replacement at this time.”

Phillip comes into the panel to replace another former national cricketer Dudnath Ramkessoon. The former West Indies Under-19 skipper resigned earlier this month after he was removed as chairman of the selection panel. The first duty for the new panel will be to select the team for the upcoming regional First Class season. They will do this at the end of the Pizza Hut Gerry Gomez Classic next week.

Trinidad Guardian

$40,000 for Sunday Cricket winner

Prosport Sports Wear will in 2009, join the Nationwide Sports League in promoting the 13th edition of the Grand Slam Sunday 30 Overs Cricket League Championships. Nal Ramsingh, managing director of Prosport Sportswear & Equipment and Ramsingh Sports World said at the launch at his office in Couva, that his Company was joining hands with the NSL once again as the championships truly represented development of cricket in every community in South and Central Trinidad and more importantly the NSL embodied what community driven sport was about.

He said with the downturn in the economy, cricketers and clubs could be assured that his company would continue to provide the cheapest and the most affordable equipment in the country which was his primary goal when he came into the sporting business. Lincoln Persad, chairman of the league said clubs would be vying for over $ 75,000 in cash and $ 25,000 in other team incentives. The competition will have the largest minor league cash prize of $40,000 for the winner of the championships.

The league semifinals and finals be played under lights at Guaracara Park in 2009. Persad said the league would be played in the communities first in order to eliminate travelling to distant areas with the top four teams from each group qualifying for the top 16. The quarterfinals will be played in a knockout format with the league semifinals only playing for the first time in a best out of three series, with winner qualifying for the grand finals at Guraracara Park Pointe-a-Pierre.

Trinidad Guardian

Barbados snaps T&T U-17 winning streak

T&T cricketers had their winning streak snapped by Barbados in the final round of the T&T Cricket Board Regional Under-17 Development Series, yesterday, at Gilbert Park in California. T&T gave an inept batting display and were prized out for a disappointing 81 in 29 overs, chasing 121 for victory.

However, the result was only of academic interest, as T&T were already assured of the title after the penultimate round of competition on Monday, when they defeated the Leeward Islands by nine wickets at Wilson Road Recreation Ground in Penal.

T&T ended the series with eight points, followed by Barbados on seven. In the feature attraction of the final round, T&T won the toss and inserted the opposition. The young Bajans failed to come to terms against the potent spin attack of the T&T youngsters and folded for a miserable 120 in 46.2 overs.

Leading the bowling charge for T&T was skipper and left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley who bagged four for 20. He was well supported by right-arm leg-spinner Yannic Cariah who picked up two for 20.

All-rounder Roston Chase continued his rich form with the bat for Barbados, scoring a solid 63 off 99 balls, which included eight fours and a six. Impressive Kraigg Brathwaite was the next top-scorer with a patient 22.

In reply, T&T batsmen were undermined by intelligent bowling from Jomal Warrican (3-14), skipper Jason Holder (3-26) and Chase (3-36) and went under by 39 runs. For another fine all-round display, Chase was named “Player of the Match.” At the Queen’s Park Oval, Guyana crushed the Leeward Islands by seven wickets to record their second win of the championship.

The Leewards after being asked to take first strike were bundled out for a meagre 82 in 37.3 overs. Top bowlers for Guyana were spinners Joemal La Fleur (3-18), Ricardo Devers (2-2) and Amir Khan (2-24). Medium-fast bowler Seon Daniels chipped in with two for 13.

It took the Guyanese only 14.1 overs to reach their victory target, closing on 83 for three, with Quincy Richardson (26) and Horell Green being the principal scorers. La Fleur copped the “Player of the Match” award.

Guyana ended the series with five points, while the Leewards were at the bottom of the six-team standings—pointless. In Chaguanas, at the Invaders Cricket Ground in Felicity, Jamaica whipped the Windward Islands by six wickets in a match reduced to 20 overs because of rain.

The Windwards’ team had first strike and were restricted to 95 for nine in the allotted overs. Sunil Amris topscored wit 30, while Rudolph Paul made 25. Jamaica’s John Campbell was again impressive with the ball, taking four for 22, while Coi Thompson showed promise with two for six.

In reply, Jamaica led by a top-score of 25 from Campbell reached their target in 18.1 overs. Jamaica were joint runner-up with Barbados on seven points, while the Windwards were one from last in the table on three .

A gala prize awards function was held for the six participating teams last night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain.
Final standings—T&T 8 pts, Barbados 7, Jamaica 7, Guyana 5, Windwards 3, Leewards 0.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Cricket braces for Stanford fallout

Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire underwriting much of West Indies cricket, is reportedly set to pull the plug on his investment in the game. If the news—published in the England’s Daily Mail—is true, it will have serious implications for the future of cricket in England as well, with several joint ventures underway and in the pipeline between Stanford and the ECB.

In a press release yesterday the Stanford Group said a full review of the 2008 Stanford 20/20 cricket programme is being undertaken in light of the well publicised contractual issues with the West Indies Cricket Board which arose prior to the start of the Stanford Super Series.
The Stanford 20/20 Board was dissolved on Monday pending the review and Sir Allen Stanford personally thanked each of the legends of West Indies cricket for their involvement, guidance and counsel over the past three years.

The Board has been integral to Stanford 20/20’s commitment to the development of West Indies cricket and the board members continue to play an important role in the review process.
“Stanford 20/20 and the efforts of its board have reinvigorated widespread interest in the game throughout the Caribbean and have enhanced the image of West Indies cricket globally. The board has been instrumental in developing a whole new fan base in the region,” said Sir Allen.

Contrary to some recent negative press speculation, in relation to Stanford’s broader involvement with cricket and specifically the future of the Stanford 20/20 for 20, the Quadrangular Tournament at Lords and the English Premier League, Sir Allen reaffirmed his desire to continue to work with the England and Wales Cricket Board and discussions are currently ongoing between Stanford 20/20 LLC and the ECB.

Sir Allen confirmed that it was his intention to announce the programme for 2009 and beyond by the end of January 2009.

It is reported that Stanford lost more than US$40 million on the inaugural Stanford 20/20 for 20 and failed to break into the lucrative US television market, one of his core objectives.
Stanford signed a five-year deal worth $100 million with the ECB last summer for the Stanford 20/20 for 20, an annual match where each member of the winning XI is guaranteed $1m.

If Stanford were to pull out at this stage it would have a serious impact on cricket in the Caribbean. Most of the islands have been boosted by Stanford's investment—with Antigua, the venue for the Stanford Super Series, the largest beneficiary—and the cash-strapped West Indies Cricket Board is increasingly reliant on his money to stay afloat.

He has contributed to each of the individual territories, giving as much as $200,000 each year for the last two or three years, so everybody is going to lose if he is removed from the equation.
Stanford’s high-profile relationship with English cricket - he sealed the deal after landing at Lord's in a helicopter, and with a trunk full of $20m in banknotes - hit a rocky patch in the first of the week-long Super Series - including the inaugural Stanford 20/20 for 20 - which was held in Antigua in October-November.

He was caught on camera in the stands with several of the England players’ wives and girlfriends, which only heightened the off-field tensions.
The ECB subsequently said it would review the Stanford Series but the process has been delayed by the complications over touring India.

Trinidad Guardian

U17 Series deemed a success

High praises are being sung on the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB) for staging the inaugural Regional Under-17 Series. An initiative of the T&TCB, teams from the traditional six territorial boards are taking part in the week-long 50-over-per-side tournament, including host country T&T, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands and Windward Islands.

This tournament is the brain child of Forbes Persaud, CEO and General Secretary of the T&TCB, which has ploughed close to $500,000 to stage the series, which started last Thursday. Robert Adonis, coach of the Guyana U-17 team said that the West Indies Cricket Board must make this tournament a permanent fixture on its annual cricket calender.

Adonis who played in two first-class matches for Guyana and captured two wickets for 126 runs, said that full credit must be given to the T&TCB for staging this well organised tournament.
“This tournament bridges the gap between the Under 17 age group and the Under 19 for our regional players, and T&T is not only concerned about the development of their own players, but they are investing in players from throughout the region as well. This augers well for West Indies cricket.” Adonis said.

According to second vice-president of the T&TCB and newly appointed chairman of the Regional Matches Committee, Leo Doodnath, the local board have recognised that there is a vacuum regionally at the U-17 level, and they have decided to carry their developmental thrust from national to regional level. (NY)

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

iPods, cellphones, tickets for cricket spectators

In an effort to attract greater spectator interest in the game, Nishi Ramharrack, vice-president of Pizza Hut will offer incentives and features in each of the four days of the annual Pizza Hut/Gerry Gomez Cricket Classic at the Queen’s Park Oval. This was revealed by Ramharrak at the official launch yesterday at Oval. The 2008 Pizza Hut/Gerry Gomez Classic will take place from December 28-31.

Ramharrack,said her company has added entertainment during the intervals with steel bands, at what is the final opportunity for players to address selectors, for the National team for next year’s regional championships. And spectators who choose the correct 14 selected for the T&T team, will have the opportunity to win iPods, cellphones or tickets for two to Barbados to see the match between T&T and Barbados, and several prizes of snacks.

In addition, transport will be provided for children to come to see the match and to begin to recognise and appreciate the country’s best players. Earlier, Bryan Davis cricket advisor at Queen’s Park CC gave a short history of the match which has been running since 1907, first as the Decle Cup which North won for three years in succession. That brought in the Beaumont Cup which was played in alternate years in North and South.

It was moved to South when the TTCBC came into existence and was then sponsored by Trintoc. QPCC then took sponsorship and control of the match in 1996, the year in which Gerry Gomez, a former T&T and West Indies allrounder and later a respected administrator, died. It became known as the Gerry Gomez North-South Classic. The sponsorship of the match was considerable and in came Pizza Hut to make sure that an exciting and important sporting event continues.

Colin Borde, manager of the T&T team, was pleased with the progress and with the competitive spirit of what is now the dominant team in regional cricket. He is confident that the match would produce sparkling cricket as players seek to impress the selectors, while the WICB tries to have the game’s first class status revived. Play on each day is scheduled to begin at 10 am.


Trinidad Guardian

T&T win U-17 championship

T&T cricketers won the inaugural T&T Cricket Board Regional Under-17 title when they registered another resounding victory in the penultimate round of the series, yesterday. The well executed victory has crowned the home team champions of the tournament, as they hold an unassailable lead in the series with a maximum eight points from four matches.

The remaining two matches yesterday were affected by rain.
Led by another fine all-round performance from T&T Under-19 player, Yannic Cariah, the homesters crushed the lowly-rated Leeward Islands by nine wickets at Wilson Road Recreation Ground in Penal. The decision by the Leewards team to bat first at the First-Class venue in South Trinidad, backfired as they were routed for a meagre 64 in 34 overs.

Right-arm leg-spinner Cariah emerged as the top bowler for T&T with figures of four for 18 from ten overs. He received admirable support from captain and left-arm orthodox spinner Yannick Ottley with three for 13 off nine overs and left-arm spinner Darron Beekha two for 14 from eight.

T&T led by a polished unbeaten 38 from in-form opening batsman Evin Lewis raced to victory in 13 overs, losing one wicket in the process. The left-handed Lewis struck two fours and two sixes off 42 balls in his well-compiled innings. Cariah was unbeaten on 13 when the landmark was achieved.
Cariah copped the “Man of the Match” award.

T&T will come up against Barbados in their final round match tomorrow at Gilbert Park in California. Down South at Syne Village in Penal, the contest between Barbados and the Windward Islands was abandoned in mid-afternoon through rain. Led by a solid half-century from skipper Jason Holder, Barbados reached 173 for seven in 42.3 overs, when the rain intervened, leaving the outfield water-logged, which prompted the umpires Peter Nero and Mark Santana to call off play for the remainder of the day.

Holder hit a stroke-filled 75 off 101 balls and was laced with four fours and one six. He shared in a fifth wicket partnership of 58 with Kyle Mayers who contributed 22. Medium-pacer Josh Thomas was the leading bowler for the Windwards with four for 52.
At Honeymoon Park in Tacarigua, the match between Jamaica and Guyana was abandoned through rain.

In the remaining two matches of the final round tomorrow, Windward Islands will come up against Jamaica at Invaders Ground in Felicity, while the Leeward Islands and Guyana will clash at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

Scores
Round Four

AT WILSON ROAD: Leeward Islands 64 all out (34 overs) (Yannic Cariah 4-18, Yannic Ottley 3-13, Daron Beekha 2-14) v T&T 65-1 (13 overs) (Evin Lewis 38 not out, Yannic Cariah 16 not out). T&T won by 9 wkts. Y.Cariah (MoM).

AT SYNE VILL.: Barbados 173-7 (42.3 overs) (Jason Holder 75, Roston Chase 26, Josh Thomas 4-52) v Windward Islands. (match abandoned through rain).

AT HONEYMOON PK.: Jamaica v Guyana (match abandoned through rain).


Trinidad Guardian

Work ethic the key - Ganga

Successful Trinidad and Tobago skipper Daren Ganga has pinpointed his team’s work ethic as the reason behind their capture of the WICB Cup one-day title. T&T whipped arch rivals Barbados by seven wickets in the final of the competition on Sunday at the National Stadium at Providence, to emerge with top honours in the nine-team tournament.

“We came here to play cricket and everyone was eager to bring success for our country because that was our objective,” Ganga said. “Our preparation was good. I think we just started the right way and tried and play hard cricket, and I think we deserved this victory. I must say congratulation to all the guys for playing their part in winning this prestigious Cup.”

T&T dismissed Barbados for a modest 142, and then achieved the target with Ganga stroking an unbeaten 48 and Adrian Barath getting 31. Trinidad, who were the losing finalists in last year’s final against Jamaica at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados, again look organized and better equipped to meet the demands of the tournament. With the triumph, they joined Guyana as the teams with nine limited-overs titles since the competition was inaugurated in 1976.

CMC
http://www.cananews.net

T&T U-17 beat Australia U-16

T&T Under-17 team led by a solid knock of 43 by West Indies U-15 captain Steven Katwaroo, cruised to a comfortable eight-wicket-win against the touring Australia U-16 side at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, yesterday.

Chasing a victory target of 116, T&T achieved the feat in 25 overs for the loss of two wickets. Katwaroo who led the regional team to victory in the Clico World Cup U-15 Championship earlier this year in the Caribbean, shared an opening stand of 79 with T&T U-19 left-handed batsman Evin Lewis, to lay the foundation for T&T’s easy victory .

Katwaroo’s score came off 74 balls and was fashioned with four fours, while Lewis’ knock of 26 off 41 balls contained five fours.
Katwaroo was later named Player of the Match. Other good scores came from allrounder Yannick Cariah with an unbeaten 20 and skipper Yannick Ottley on 11 not out.

Left-arm spinner Joshua Clarke was the leading bowler for the young Aussies with two for 15. Earlier, the Australians won the toss and opted for first strike. They were restricted to a modest 115 for nine off the allotted 50 overs. The Aussies struggled against the potent spin attack employed by captain Ottley.

Only Bean Smith with a pain-staking 28 off 60 balls with one four and Daron Smith with a swashbuckling run a ball 18 including two sixes offered resistance. Right-arm leg-spinner Cariah (3-15) and pint-sized “mystery” bowler Kissoondath Magram (2-18) two members of the T&T Under-19 team which won the TCL West Indies Cricket Challenge Limited Overs competition against Barbados at Banks Brewery, earlier this year, were the chief wickettakers for the local team.

This was the second match for the Australians in their two-week tour of T&T and Barbados. They won the opening game on Sunday, when they defeated PowerGen Sports Club by six wickets at Syne Village in Penal.

Tomorrow, they will play a Caribbean All Star team in a two-day fixture on the University of the West Indies ground in St Augustine.

Summarised Scores

AT NATIONAL CRICKET CENTRE

Australia Under-16
115-9 (50 overs)
Bean Smith 28,
Daron Smith 18,
Simon Trulorf 14,
Yannic Cariah 3-15,
Kissoondath Magram 2-18

T&T Under-17
119-2 (25 overs)
S Katwaroo 43,
Evin Lewis 26,
Yannic Cariah 20 Not Out:
Yannick Ottley 11
Joshua Clarke 2-15.

T&T won by 8 wkts.


Trinidad Guardian

Simmons century propels T&T to easy win

GEORGETOWN—Out-of-favour West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons stroked a masterful, undefeated century to guide T&T to an easy nine-wicket win over the Leeward Islands yesterday at Bourda. Set a victory target of 220 after dismissing the opposition for 219 in 42.5 overs of the stipulated 43 overs, T&T reached 221 for one with Simmons stroking an unbeaten 112 from 102 balls.

He smashed slow medium bowler Gavin Tonge straight into the Media Box at the northern end of the ground to fittingly end the one-sided contest. The right-hander, ignored by the West Indies in recent time, slammed 10 fours and four sixes in a brutal display with the bat, while captain Daren Ganga, who belted three fours and one six in 25, remained with him at the end.

Simmons shared an opening stand of 156 with Adrian Barath who slammed 76 from 79 balls before giving his wicket away attempting one big shot too many, and held out to Wilden Cornwall at long-on off Tonito Willett’s bowling. The two openers launched a vicious attack on the Leewards bowlers posting the 100 partnership in 18 overs through some explosive batting. Barath, in particular was severe, hitting Willett for six over square leg.

He raised his half-century off 55 balls, striking three fours and two sixes, while Simmons achieved his off the next delivery with a single. He took 64 balls to attain the landmark and reached the boundary five times. Earlier, morning showers delayed the start of play by one hour and a short drizzle shortly after the match commenced, caused another interruption and forced umpires to reduce the overs to 43.

The Leewards top order batsmen all got good starts, but none of them went on to make a significant score. They were cruising at 204 for four, before Keiron Pollard struck with a hattrick, removing Cornwall (45), Devon Thomas (5) and Justin Athanaze (0), to send the innings into decline.

CMC
http://www.cananews.net

Central Zone cricket executive disbanded

The executive of the Central Zonal Council of the T&T Cricket Board has been disbanded and and a three-man interim committee was appointed by the local board to run the affairs of the zone for the remainder of the term ending September 2009.

This was revealed by CEO and General Secretary of the T&CB, Forbes Persaud, following the board’s monthly executive meeting held last Thursday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva. Persaud said that numerous attempts were made by the board to facilitate an amicable resolution to the problem affecting the zone but it proved unsuccessful.

He said that officers and representatives of the zonal council agreed that an arbitrator be appointed to deal with the issue with the arbitrator’s decision to be accepted by all. Persaud said Dr Claude Denbow was appointed arbitrator.

“The executive of the T&TCB at its monthly meeting last Thursday accepted the decisions of Dr Denbow, which stated (a)—An independent committee should be appointed to run the affairs of the zone for the remainder of the term; (b) Members of the present executive should take no further part in the running the affairs of the zone; (c) No persons who was a member of the zone in any period during the past five years, should be a member of the interim committee to run the affairs of the zone. Against this background Samuel Saunders (chairman), Lennox Sankersingh (vice-chairman) and Rambhai Patel (secretary/treasurer) were appointed to form this committee,” Persaud stated.

Patel who is the Administrative Manager of the T&TCB told the Trinidad Guardian that the players and clubs are mostly affected and are the ones that are helpless at the moment. “After serious deliberation and taking everything into consideration—the love and the over 10 years I served as secretary—I just could not turn my back on the zone. I have accepted and will do my utmost in the best interest of the zone. My main concern at the moment is to seek the best interest of the zone for its clubs, players and other stakeholders,” Patel said.

Patel was voted ‘Administrator of the Year’ in 1993 by the T&TCB and in 2002 he was awarded the Humming Bird Silver Medal by the government of the T&T in recognition for his outstanding contribution to cricket and by extension sport.

Former chairman of the zone, Lalman Kowlessar has endorsed the move by the T&TCB to appoint the three-man committee to oversee the affairs of the Central Zonal Council. “It was a necessary step taken by the board to appoint the three-man committee. Within the last four years, Central Zone has witnessed a dramatic decline in the the leadership of the council,” Kowlessar said.

The zone which was headed this season by UNC A County Councillor Narsingh Rambaran, has been riddled with controversy with allegations of misappropriation of funds, among other accusations. When contacted yesterday, Rambaran refused to comment on the matter.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian