TTCB – News

Parkites roll into T20 quarterfinals
May 25, 2011

BARBADIAN spinner Sulieman Benn, left, collects his First Citizens "Man of the Match" trophy and $500 from Don Asgarali, president of the North Zone of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB) at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre. Benn had earlier captured three wickets for 14 runs for Queen's Park against Moosai Sports.
Photo courtesy T&T Cricket Board

QUEEN'S Park Cricket Club kept their dreams alive of a unique treble victory this season when they headed a list of impressive quarterfinalists in the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board's Premiership T20 Cricket Festival 2011being played at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre.

The Parkites, who topped Group "A" are already crowned Sunday League 50-Overs champions and ECU National League winners. They will clash with WC Wanderers, runners-up in Group "C" in the first match of the quarterfinals on Thursday, May 26, 2011.

Also in the knockout round of eight are the surprise team of the tournament SIS Central Sports who emerged winners of Group "C". They play Clico Preysal, runners-up in Group "A" in the second match of the double-header on Thursday.

PowerGen Sports is one of three south Trinidad teams in Friday's double-header and will face TTEC in another Penal derby which is expected to generate great interest. In the other quarterfinal for a place in the semis, UTT, 2011 Championship winners will play Clarke Road.

The T&TCB organized tournament has so far been marked by exciting cricket and several close finishes with the top score so far established by Nicholas Sookdeosingh who hit 77 for PowerGen in their first round victory against Aranguez, a recently promoted championship side playing in the Premier League next season.

Bowlers continue to dominate the bat with PowerGen again stealing preliminary round honors as Varoon Samaroo starred snaring six wickets in two matches with his off breaks.

The Premiership T20 offers the biggest prize money ever in a tournament of this type with $150,000 going to the winner and $80,000 for the runners-up including trophies and medals.

The National Gas Company (NGC), the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) along with First Citizens are among the primary sponsors of the T20 with also Amstel Beer and Gatorade contributing significantly to make the competition a great success.

The TTCB have provided cricket fans with a large replay screen at the eastern end of the ground and for the first time in local history an entire tournament was broadcast live by WI Sports on cable TV.

The third-placed team in the T20 will pocket $50,000 while $30,000 will go to the team finishing position. The losing quarter-finalists get $40,000 each while all winners in the preliminary round earn $2,000 while the losing sides collect $1,000 each for completing their programme.

There are also several valuable monetary awards for individual excellence as "Man of the Match" performances are rewarded with a trophy and $500 (preliminaries); $750 (quarterfinals); $1,000 (semifinals); $1,000 (third place) and final.

In the final there are also at stake $500 awards for best batsman, bowler and fieldsman. Tournament incentives are $1,500 each are also on offer for the best batsman, bowler, fieldsman, umpire; the player striking the most sixes and the "Most Valuable Player."

Every night of the T20 the winning team and the losers collected $2,000 and $1,000 respectively courtesy NGC and the NLCB while the "Man of the Match" prizes of $500 were sponsored by First Citizens.

Premiership T20 Cricket Festival Semi-finals:

• Thursday, May 26, 2011:
  • Queen's Park vs WC Wanderers (3 pm)
  • SIS Central Sports vs Preysal (7 pm)
• Friday, May 27, 2011:
  • PowerGen vs T&TEC (3 pm) UTT vs First Citizens Clarke Road (7 pm).