TTCB – News

Depleted PowerGen begin title defence vs Connection
January 22, 2010

By KERN RAMLOCHAN

PRESIDENT of the Triniad and Tobago Cricket Board Azim Bassarath, right, and First Vice-President Dudnath Ramkessoon, second from left with Eastern Credit Union officials at the launch of the Premier Division cricket tournament earlier this week

POWERGEN will commence their Eastern Credit Union Premiership Division title defence today against W Connection at Gilbert Park, California.

The defending champions will be without allrounders Sherwin Ganga and Jason Mohammed as well as left arm spinner Dave Mohammed and pacer Ravi Rampaul who are representing the national team against Barbados in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Four-Day tournament.

Despite the loss of the experienced foursome PowerGen will be lead by Samuel Badree who will be supported by wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed and attacking opening batsman Nicholas Sookdeosingh. Wanderers will be difficult to beat on their home ground and has a decent bowling attack lead by Theodore Modeste and also includes spinners Sanjiv Gooljar and Nicholas Ramjass.

WIPA Club Champions League Twenty20 winners, Queen’s Park will open their campaign to First Citizens Clarke Road at Wilson Road, Penal.

The Parkites will be without skipper Justin Guillen and off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth who are on national duty as well as Kieron Pollard who is playing with South Australia at the KFC Big Bash.

However, Queen’s Park has retained a strong team which has Daron Cruickshank, Kevon Cooper and Darren Bravo. First Citizens Clarke Road will be tough opposition with an experienced squad captained by former national player Gregory Mahabir.

Clarke Road has an excellent spin attack which includes Mukesh Persad, Dane Teelucksingh and Hoomchan Pooran.

Clico Preysal will be at home to newly promoted Rahamut’s Evergreen at Inshan Ali Recreation Ground in Preysal. Currently Preysal’s captain Yannick Ottley and allrounder Yannic Cariah are representing the West Indies team at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

Despite missing the duo Preysal will be favourites to clinch victory with experienced players such as Shazan Babwah and Keshava Ramphal available.

Alescon Comets have a tough opening match at home to Ceramic Merry Boys at Pierre Road in Chaguanas. Comets, who will be without allrounder Imran Khan who is on national duty, will be depending on leg-spinner Kissondath Magram to lead its bowling attack.

Ceramic Merry Boys starts the season as one of the favourites to clinch the Premiership Division title. They have a powerful batting lineup which includes Mario Belcon, Lincoln Roberts, Kenton Thompson and Samuel Felix. The bowling attack has been bolstered by the arrival of Atiba Allert who will compliment Kieron Lynch.

Tile Depot Central Sports will start at favourites to defeat newly promoted University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) at Omera.