Carib Challenge Shield Practice Match
April 17th 2008

T&T cricketers show form ahead of Challenge final

T&T’s cricketers warmed-up for their up-coming Carib Challenge Shield against Jamaica with several noteworthy performances in a specially arranged three-day practice match which concluded yesterday at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain, Couva.

Following Darren Bravo’s elegant 153 on the opening day of the match, skipper Daren Ganga and West Indies youth opening batsman Adrian Barath hit half-centuries yesterday, in the contest which petered out into a tame draw. Among the bowlers discarded West Indies left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed ended with a match-haul of eight for 137.

SCORES: Ganga’s X1 393 & 233-8 dec.: Dillon X1 345 & 167-4.

Starting the final day with a lead of 48, the Ganga’s team went to declare at 233 for eight, with Darren Ganga scoring 83 which included seven fours and three sixes, while Barath hit an enterprising 59 with nine fours. Mohammed (D) was the top bowler for his team with five for 54.

Set a victory target of 279 in 46 overs, Dillon X1 ended on 167 for four, with former T&T youth batsman Justin Guillen hitting a robust unbeaten 87 laced with 11 fours and three sixes. Also among the runs was opening batsman Imran Khan who made 36. Medium-pacer Rishaad Harris grabbed two wickets for 36 runs for Ganga’s X1.

The T&T cricketers will take part in this weekend’s fifth round matches of the Eastern Credit Union National Cricket League, and will leave for Jamaica on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Bravo, the younger brother of West Indies Test allrounder Dwayne Bravo lashed 10 fours and seven sixes to set alight the venue in Central Trinidad.

Bravo who represented the West Indies in the ICC Youth World Cup in Malaysia earlier this year, batted for 266 minutes and 173 balls and received good support from Gibran Mohammed with 48 and Sherwin Ganga 43, which helped the Ganga’s X1 to tally a competitive 390.

Leading bowlers for the Dillon’s team were pacer Richard Kelly with three for 43 and out-of-favour West Indies left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed 3-83.

In response, the Dillon team totalled 345 with allrounder Samuel Badree hitting a breezy 86.

Other good contributions came from Kelly who hit an unbeaten 46, skipper Mervyn Dillon 42 and youth batsman Akiel Cooper 40.

Pacer Navin Stewart had figures of three for 42, while fringe West Indies Test off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth picked up three for 57 and fast bowler Atiba Alert three for 87.

Summarised Scores

AT NATIONAL CRICKET CENTRE: Ganga X1 390 & 233-8 dec. (Darren Bravo 153, Darren Ganga 83, Adrian Barath 59, Gibran Mohammed 48, Sherwin Ganga 43, Dave Mohammed 3-83 & 5-54, Richard Kelly 3-43) v Dillon X1 345 & 167-4 (Justin Guillen 87 not out, Samuel Badree 86, Richard Kelly 46 not out, Mervyn Dillon 42, Akiel Cooper 40,Imran Khan 36, Navin Stewart 3-42, Amit Jaggernauth 3-57, Atiba Alert 3-87, Rishaad Harris 2-36). Match drawn.