T&T CRICKET BOARD REGIONAL U-17 SERIES
December 18th 2008

T&T beaten by B’dos
... but still champions

T&T cricketers had their winning streak snapped by Barbados in the final round of the T&T Cricket Board Regional Under-17 Development Series, here on Wednesday, at Gilbert Park in California.

T&T gave an inept batting display and were prized out for a disappointing 81 in 29 overs, chasing 121 for victory.

However, the result was only of academic interest, as T&T were already assured of the title after the penultimate round of competition on Monday, when they defeated the Leeward Islands by nine wickets at Wilson Road Recreation Ground in Penal.

T&T ended the series with eight points, followed by Barbados on seven. In the feature attraction of the final round, T&T won the toss and inserted the oppostion.

The young Bajans failed to come to terms against the potent spin attack of the T&T youngsters and folded for a miserable 120 in 46.2 overs.

Leading the bowling charge for T&T was skipper and left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley who bagged four for 20. He was well supported by right-arm leg-spinner Yannic Cariah who picked up two for 20.

Allrounder Roston Chase continued his rich form with the bat for Barbados, scoring a solid 63 off 99 balls, which included eight fours and a six.

Impressive Kraigg Brathwaite was the next top-scorer with a patient 22.

In reply, T&T batsmen were undermined by intelligent bowling from Jomal Warrican (3-14), skipper Jason Holder (3-26) and Chase (3-36) and went under by 39 runs.

For another fine allround display, Chase was named ‘Player of the Match.’

At the Queen’s Park Oval, Guyana crushed the Leeward Islands by seven wickets to record their second win of the championship.

The Leewards after being asked to take first strike were bundled out for a meagre 82 in 37.3 overs.

Top bowlers for Guyana were spinners Joemal La Fleur (3-18), Ricardo Devers (2-2) and Amir Khan (2-24). Medium-fast bowler Seon Daniels chipped in with two for 13.

It took the Guyanese only 14.1 overs to reach their victory target, closing on 83 for three, with Quincy Richardson (26) and Horell Green being the principal scorers. La Fleur copped the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

Guyana ended the series with five points, while the Leewards were at the bottom of the six-team-standings — pointless.

In Chaguanas, at the Invaders Cricket Ground in Felicity, Jamaica whipped the Windward Islands by six wickets in a match reduced to 20 overs because of rain.

The Windwards’ team had first strike and were restricted to 95 for nine in the allotted overs. Sunil Amris topscored with 30, while Rudolph Paul made 25.

Jamaica’s John Campbell was again impressive with the ball, taking four for 22, while Coi Thompson showed promise with two for six.

In reply, Jamaica led by a top-score of 25 from Campbell reached their target in 18.1 overs.

Jamaica were joint runner-up with Barbados on seven points, while the Windwards were one from last in the table on three.

A gala prize awards function was held for the six participating teams on Wednesday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain.

Final standings— T&T 8 pts, Barbados 7, Jamaica 7, Guyana 5, Windwards 3, Leewards 0.

Round Five - Summarised Scores

AT INVADERS: Wiindward Islands 95-9 (20 overs) (Sunil Amris 30, Rudolph Paul 25, John Campbell 4-22, Coi Thompson 2-6) v Jamaica 98-4 (18.1 overs) (John Campbell 25, Krishna Graham 18 not out, Kaveem Hodge 3-15). J’ca won by 6 wickets. John Campbell (MoM).

AT QP OVAL: Leeward Islands 82 all out (37.3 overs) ( Joemal La Fleur 3-18, Ricardo Devers 2-2, Seon Daniels 2-13, Amir Khan 2-24) v Guyana 83-3 (14.1 overs) (Quincy Richardson 26, Horell Green 23). Guyana won by 7 wkts. Joemal La Fleur (MoM).

AT GILBERT PARK: Barbados 120 all out (46.2 overs) (Roston Chase 63, Kraigg Brathwaite 22, Yannick Ottley 4-20, Yannic Cariah 2-20) v T&T 81 all out (29 overs) (Jomal Warrican 3-14, Jason Holder 3-26, Roston Chase 3-26). B’dos won by 39 runs. Roston Chase (MoM).

Minister Hunt praises T&TCB youth series
..... Holder takes top prize

Sports Minister Gary Hunt has labelled the just concluded T&T Cricket Board Regional Under-17 Development Series a success.

Hunt made the remark at the prize awards function on Wednesday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain.

He said that cricket is the only sport which is making full use of all the government facilities and for that high praises were sung on the officials of the T&TCB.

Hunt assured that gathering that government will continue to support the local board in its effort to help restore the West Indies team back on top of the ladder.

“ It was good developmental series, which was well organised by the T&TCB. And with the support of the Government, we will continue to build cricket together in Trinidad and Tobago, and by, extension, the Caribbean,” Hunt said.

Also addressing the gathering was Chief Executive Officer and General Secretary of the T&TCB, Forbes Persaud, who said that he was overwhelmed by the success of this inaugural series.

He said that staging a tournament of this nature was a dream come true for him.

“ I want to thank President Deryck Murray, who saw the wisdom that the future of any sports lies with the schools,” Persaud said.

He said that when the idea was thrown out to Murray, he readily welcomed it.

Murray said that the T&TCB was extremely proud to facilitate this initiative and is certain that young talent will emerge and go on to play the sport at regional and international level.

He said that the T&TCB recognises that the development of young players is critical to the long term future of the game.

Murray said that recognising that there are gaps in the cricket calender, the T&T Cricket Board arranged this series to provide such competitive games for the Under-17 players.

“However, ‘development’ is not about coaching and academic learning and it is important that there must be a balance with the playing of competitive games. This will provide an opportunity for many of these youngsters to gauge their progress since they competed at the Under-15 and before they enter into the Under-19 team,” Murray said.

He said that winning at any sport is important, but the real purpose of the series was for the players to learn, to experiment, to test new skills and to measure their progress against their peers in the other territories.

T&T led by Yannick Ottley won the championship with eight points ahead of Jamaica and Barbados with seven points apiece.

However, the organisers decided to give the runner-up spot to Jamaica, because they defeated the young Bajans.

Stealing the spotlight at the gala function was the impressive and talented allrounder Jason Holder from Barbados.

The well-spoken youngster walked away with four awards, including the ‘Overall Most Valuable Player’.

In to the ‘OMVP’ Holder won the prize for the ‘Most Runs’, the team’s choice of MVP and Best Allrounder.

T&T’s Rixon Manniram was voted the ‘Best Wicketkeeper’, T&T’s Under-19 leg-spinner Yannic Cariah and the Windward Islands skipper Kaveem Hodge shared the prize for the most wickets.

The Best Batting and Bowling Averages went Evin Lewis and Yannick Ottley respectively.

Both players are members of the T&T team.

The 17-year-old Holder, a student of the Barbados Community College said that he was quite pleased with his allround performance in the series.

“ This tournament was basically well organised and most of the players relished the opportunity taking part. I have learnt a lot from the series and hope that it will help me in upcoming tournaments,” Holder said.

The affable youngster has his eyes on making the West Indies youth team and the Barbados senior national team next year.

“ I want to make cricket my professional career. So with that in mind, I will work hard at my game, learn from the more experienced players and maintain a high standard of discipline at all times,” Holder said.

T&TCB Regional Under-17 Development Series Honour Roll

• Final point standings— T&T 8 pts, Jamaica 7, Barbados 7, Guyana 5, Windwards 3, Leewards 0.
• Champion Team - T&T.
• Runner-up - Jamaica.
• Most Runs - Jason Holder (189 runs) - Barbados.
• Most Wkts - Yannic Cariah (11)-T&T and Kaveem Hodge (11)- Windwards
• Batting Ave. - Evin Lewis (62.33) - T&T.
• Bowling Ave. - Yannick Ottley (7.1) - T&T.
• Best Wicketkeeper - Rixon Maniram -T&T.
• Most Valuable Player of Each Team - Evin Lewis (T&T), Vandare Rowe (Jamaica), Jason Holder (Barbados), Seon Daniels (Guyana), Rudolph Paul (Windwards), Tevin Osbourne (Leewards).
• Most Valuable Player of the Tournament - Jason Holder (Barbados).