Carib Sunday League bowls off

Defending champions Ceramic Merry Boys Sports are expected to make a winning start when they entertain Caldrac Sports Club in the Carib Sunday League Limited 50 Overs competition at CIC Grounds in Serpentine Road today. Led by discarded T&T batsman, Aneil Kanhai, the Patna-based team captured the coveted title in 2008 when they defeated W Connection Wanderers in the final at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre. According to team manager Patrick Rampersad, they intend to continue in that same vein this season.

In the official launch of tournament on Thursday, Sponsorship and Events Manager of Carib Brewery, Colin Murray revealed that prizes have been almost doubled with the winning team in the Sunday League taking home a massive $110,000, while the runner-up will pocket a handsome $70,000. Merry Boys collected $55,000 for their win last year while runners up, W Connection Wanderers received $35,000. Rampersad, a former executive member of the T&T Cricket Board, said that his club welcomes the increase in prize money.

“We welcome the increase in the prize structure. It is still a long way from where it should be, in respect to the amount of money that is being spent by clubs.” he said. “Nonetheless, it is a positive start and we really do appreciate it.” In other matches in Group A, Police Sports make a return to competitive cricket after a year’s absence and will host Munroe Road Sports at the St James Barrack.

In Group B, Wanderers will square off with Ihsan Invaders at Gilbert Park in California, while FCB Clarke Road United is expected to start on a winning note against Queen’s Park Cricket Club (2) at the Queen’s Park Oval. At Pierre Road Recreation Ground in Charlieville, Alescon Comets will start favourites against the visiting F&E Diamond United in Group C. And in Group D, Central Sports will square-off against Curepe Sports at the Presentation College Grounds in Chaguanas. Matches start at 10 am and are off 50-over per-side.

ROUND ONE FIXTURES
Sunday League 50 Overs Competition

Group A
Merry Boys v Caldrac at Diego Martin; Police Sports v Munroe Road at St James; Defence Force v Sweet Revenge at Chaguaramas; Calcutta Sports v Barataria at Calcutta.

Group B
Wanderers v Invaders at Gilbert Park; QPCC 2 v Clarke Road at Oval; Moosai’s v Valiants at Honeymoon Pk; Endeavour v Victoria at Endeavour.

Group C
Comets v Diamond United at Pierre Road; Preysal v Caroni Sav. at Preysal; Milton v Bamboo at Milton; UTT v Spoilers at O’Meara.

Group D
Central Sports v Curepe Sports at Chaguanas; PowerGen v Evergreen at Syne Village; Aranguez v QPCC 1 at Aranguez; Woodland v Couva Sports at Woodland.
Matches start at 10 am.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian