CARIB SUNDAY LEAGUE LIMITED OVERS COMPETITION
January 12th 2009

Merry Boys start with home advantage

Title-holding Ceramic Merry Boys Sports are expected to make a winning start, in defence of their Carib Sunday League Limited 50 Overs title, when they entertain Caldrac Sports Club on Saturday at CIC Grounds in Serpentine Road.

Led by out of-favour T&T left-handed 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 manager of the Merry Boys Sports team, 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 $110,00 while the runner-up will pocket a handsome $70,000.

Last year the champion team—Ceramic Merry Boys Sports collected $55,000, while beaten finalist—W Connection Wanderers received $35,000. A former executive member of the T&T Cricket Board, Rampersad 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. Nonetheless, it is a positive start and we really do appreciate it,” Rampersad said.

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 on the road to 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.

Prize Structure

Carib Twenty20

Winner - $100,000; Runner-up - $60,000; Losing Semifinalists - $12,000 each; Losing Quarterfinalists - $6,000 each; Winning Club in Each Rouns (48) - $500 each; Round of 16 Losers (8) $2,000 each.

Carib Sunday League 50 Overs

Winning Club in Each Round (112) - $500; Round of 16 Losers (8) - $2,000; Losing Quarterfinalists (4)- $6,000 each; Losing Semifinalists (2) -$12,000; Runner-up - $70,000; Winner - $110,000.

MoM (final) - $2,500; MoM -Semifinals (2) - $1,000 each; MoM -Quarterfinals (4) - $500.

Reserve League

Winner - $10,000; Runner-up - $7,000; Losing Semifinalists (2) - $4,000; Losing Quarterfinalists (4) - $2,000.

Sunday League 50 Overs Competition -Round One Fixtures - January 10 (today).

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.