TT wins WICB Cup
November 24th 2008

Ganga leads T&T to One-day title

T&T cricketers under the astute captaincy of Daren Ganga captured the WICB Cup One-day title, when they defeated arch-rivals Barbados by seven wickets in the final of the 50-over day/night contest at the Guyana National Stadium in New Providence.

Chasing the opposition modest total of 142 made in 45.5 overs, T&T romped home to victory with 23 overs left in the game. Leading the victory charge for T&T was skipper Daren Ganga who hit a polished unbeaten 48 and talented opening batsman Adrian Barath who contributed an important 31.

Other good contributions came from Lendl Simmons who was on 26 not out, and young Daren Bravo who made 20.

Batting first on a competitive track, the Bajans failed to cope with the probing pace and spin attack employed by Ganga and were skittled out for a measly total.

Right-arm leg-spinner Samuel Badree who has the revelation of the tournament, emerged as the leading bowler with three wickets for 14 runs.

The PowerGen Sports captain received admirable support from West Indies allrounder Rayad Emrit with three for 36 and Sherwin Ganga two for 18. For his tremendous bowling effort, Badree copped the ‘Man of the Match’ title.

Only Jonathan Carter with 36 and Dwayne Smith 29 offered resistance to the well-oiled T&T bowling attack.

The success was sweet for Ganga and his crew after they were defeated by dethroned champions Jamaica in an historic final last year at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados.

On Friday night at the same venue, T&T exacted revenge on the Jamaicans in the semifinal with a hard-fought three wicket win.

It was T&T’s fourth limited final in five years.

Former T&T middle-order batsman Narine Bidhesi who was recently elevated to the senior national selection panel was elated at the victory.

“It was a good allround team effort. The guys worked very hard at their game starting three months ago prior to the Stanford Super Series. This is the reward for hard work, “ Bidhesi said.

The T&T team is expected to arrive from Georgetown at 12.25 pm today.

SCOREBOARD

At New Providence
T&T vs Barbados – Final 
BARBADOS (50 overs maximum)
D. Richards c wkpr Perkins b Emrit*8
*J. Haynes c Pollard b S. Ganga*18
R. Hinds c S. Ganga b Emrit*0
K. Stoute lbw b Badree*14
D.R. Smith c Pollard b Badree*29
K. Williams c S. Ganga b Pollard*5
J. Carter c Bravo b Badree*36
+P. Browne lbw b Emrit*16
T. Best run out (Badree)*1
P. Collins st Simmons b S. Ganga*1
C. Collymore not out*0
Extras (b3, lb4, w6, nb1)*14
TOTAL (all out – 45.5 overs)*142
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-41, 4-77, 5-77, 6-106, 7-138, 8-140, 9-142.
Bowling: Rampaul 7-1-36-0, Emrit 8-1-36-3, Badree 10-3-14-3, S. Ganga 7.5-2-18-2, Jaggernauth 8-0-22-0, Pollard 5-1-9-1.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (target: 143 runs off 50 overs)
A. Barath c and b Smith*31
+W. Perkins c wkpr Browne b Collins*1
*D. Ganga not out*48
D. Bravo run out (D.R. Smith)*20
L. Simmons not out*26
Extras (b4, lb2, w8, nb3)*17
TOTAL (3 wkts – 27 overs)*143
S. Ganga, K. Pollard, R. Emrit, S. Badree, R. Rampaul, A. Jaggernauth did not bat
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-51, 3-83
Bowling: Collins 4-0-24-1, Collymore 4-1-10-0, Smith 5-0-33-1, Hinds 7-0-22-0, Best 3-0-24-0, Williams 4-0-24-0
Result: Trinidad & Tobago won by seven wickets
Series: Trinidad & Tobago win WICB One-day Cup
Toss: Barbados
Umpires: G. Greaves, N. Malcolm, Reserve: C. Duncan
Man-of-the-Match: Samuel Badree (Trinidad & Tobago)