LOCAL CRICKET ROUND-UP
April 8th 2009

Fatima crowned North-East champions in 2009

For the first time in 24 years, Fatima College was crowned North -East U-19 Champions U-19 in the PowerGen Secondary Schools Championship in 2009.

Outstanding performances for the season came from the team's captain Jordan Sadler who picked up 35 wickets , Akeal Hosein got 27 wickets as well and in the batting department Ricardo Maikoo scored 255 runs thus far at an average of 51. Also doing well with the bat is Dwight Joseph with 247 runs.

During this 24- year gap between trophies however Fatima has produced some fine young cricketers like young Darren Bravo who presently plays for the national team. Also there is Milton Dookeran and Brent Cameron who have both successfully played for the national U-19 team . The present crop of players are a budding young team with the likes of Akeal Hosein, Christian Herrera, Savion Lara, Ricardo Maikoo, Marcus Pollard and Keston Malchan all of whom have represented Trinidad at either U-15 or U-17 levels thus far.

Fatima has been beaten semi finalist in 2007,2008 and 2009 in the league competition and beaten semi finalist in Intercol both in 2007 and 2008. They hope to see an improvement in the intercol this season which gets going when school re-opens.

Fatima College U-13 and U-14 teams coached by Miguel Paty have performed well at the lower levels where they have won seven of the last eight North U-14 titles, and six of the last seven U-13 titles. The present crop of players have some young promising talent to note for the future. Kelly Rosalis, John Barkley, Joshua Ramdoo, Jonathan Hirst and Camillo Carimbocas have all tasted success with the national U-13 squads already and a bright future ahead for them.

The team U-19 coach is Michael Carew and manager Paty.

Dinsley, Las Lomas battles in East 35-over ‘semis’

Defending champions Dinsley Cricket Club will take on Las Lomas Sports in one of the semi-finals of the East Zone of the T&T Cricket Board 35 overs competition at the Las Lomas Ground on Saturday, starting at 12.30 pm.

In the other semi-final, it will an Arima ‘Derby’ with Agents Sports Club battling Fulham Sports at the Agents Ground in Tumpuna Road in Arima. The final is carded for Easter Monday at the UTT Ground in Arima starting at 12.30 pm.

The teams will be battling for a top-prize of $5,000, with the runner-up talking home $2,500.

Officials of the T&TCB including President Deryck Murray and CEO and General Secretary, Forbes Persaud, along with Sports Director of UTT, Ken Butcher will meet the players before the scheduled start.

The final at UTT is being used to proudly highlight and support the development of another First- Class Cricket facility in the country, following the already established UWI Spec. facilities. Two premier Tertiary Level Institutions with two premier cricket facilities, both proudly are residing within the East Zone.

Semi Final #1:Agents Sports Club vs Fulham Sports Club at Agents Ground, Tumpuna Road, Arima.

Semi Final #2: Las Lomas Sports vs Dinsley Cricket Club at Las Lomas Ground, Las Lomas.

Final : Winner SF #1 vs Winner SF# 2 at O'Meara UTT Campus Ground, Arima.

Esperanza eyes limited overs double

Ali Roadstars Esperanza Sports will be eyeing the coveted limited overs double in the Central Zonal Council of the T&T Cricket Board.

On Saturday, the well oiled and disciplined Esperanza outfit will take on arch-rivals Balmain Sports in the Sunday League 40-over final at the Exchange Recreation Ground in Couva, starting at 10 am.

The Esperanza team is managed by Rasheed Ali and includes several promising players including ex-Wanderers allrounder Jimmy Rampersad and the immensely talented Gareth Ali.

Balmain has countered with top allrounders — Bobby Sookoo and Ramdeen Bidhesi.

On Monday, Esperanza will meet the winner of McBean Sports and Supersonic Sports in the final of the Ramsingh’s Sports Twenty20 competition, at the Edinburgh Recreation Ground from 1.30 pm.

T&TCB’s President, Deryck Murray, CEO and General Secretary, Forbes Persaud along with Nal Ramsingh of Ramsingh’s Sports World will meet the players just before the start of the what is expected to be a thrilling encounter.