TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge
July 20, 2009

T&T, Leewards in big battle today

Leaders T&T will be seeking an outright win to tighten their grip in the 2009 TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge, when they take on the consistent Leeward Islands in Round Four today at Chedwin Park on the outskirts of Spanish Town in Jamaica.

Led by the inspirational Clico Preysal cricketer, Yannick Ottley, T&T were victorious in their opening two matches against Jamaica and the Windward Islands respectively, and gathered first innings points against defending champions, Barbados on Sunday at Up-Park Camp.

And a win in this game will enhance their chances for championship honours.

There have been impressive performances by several players in the T&T team, including Ottley, Yannic Cariah and Evin Lewis.

After three rounds of matches in the series, Lewis is the leading run-getter with 287 runs, while Cariah has tallied 201 and Ottley 137.

Among the bowlers, Cariah is the top wickettaker in the tournament with 19 wickets, while Ottley has snapped up eight victims and 16-year-old pint-sized right-arm leg-spinner Kissoondath Magram has accounted for seven wickets.

The Leewards have shown great improvement since their poor showing in the 2008 tournament.

They started the series with a bang securing two outright wins against Guyana and Barbados but were stunned by Jamaica in their Round Three match on Sunday at Melbourne.

T&T will have to pull out all stops to get the better of the Islanders in their effort to lift the prestigious three-day league title.

T&T are expected to make a few changes but will do so just before the scheduled start at 10 am local time.

Wicketkeeper Rixon Maniram who is suffering with a groin injury is expected to give way to Aaron Alfred, while Amir Khan can make his Regional Under-19 debut at the expense of the out-of-touch Marc Panchu.

And the Technical Staff of the team, headed by former T&T allrounder, Kelivin Williams is convinced that if the youngsters take that sort of form in today’s game, they can be all alone at the winning pole.

Williams said that this bunch of players is extremely competitive and definitely give a good showing against the opposition.

“ We expect a good test from the Leewards but given the quality of cricket that we are playing, I see no reason that why we should not come out on top,” Williams said. The team had a light training session at the Police Ground.

The match will also give the players a chance to show of what mettle they are made, since West Indies selectors Raphick Jumadeen of T&T and Robert Haynes of Jamaica are witnessing the tournament to select the Regional Under-19 squad for the Youth World Cup in New Zealand in 2010.

T&T TOP BATTING PERFORMERS

Evin Lewis v Jamaica (90), v Barbados (109), v Windwards (77 & 11 not out). Total -287.

Yannic Cariah – v Jamaica (28), v Windwards (196 & 8 no), v Barbados (59). Total -201.

Yannick Ottley v Jamaica (126), v Windwards (9), v Barbados (2). Total 137.

TOP BOWLERS

Yannic Cariah v Jamaica (8-77), v Windwards (4-64), v Barbados (7-103). Total 19 for 244.

Yannick Ottley v Jamaica (1-19), v Windwards 4-21, v Barbados (3-44). Total 8-84.

Kissoondath Magram v Jamaica (2-61), v Windwards (5-66), v Barbados (0-51). Total 7-178.