EASTERN CREDIT UNION NATIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE
May 17th 2008

4-way battle for national league honours

THE BATTLE for championship honours in the Eastern Credit Union National Cricket League is heading to the wire, with at least four teams still in contention for the top prize of $60,000.

At the end of the first day’s play in the final round of the competition, yesterday, defending champions FCB Clarke Road United and former winners Queen’s Park and PowerGen Sports and current leaders Ceramic Merry Boys Sports are the front runners for the prestigious title and the coveted ECU trophy.

At the Oval, Queen’s Park, fourth in the standings going into the match with 82 points was nicely poised to secure an outright win against bottom of the table Munroe Road Sports.

The visitors batted first and were routed for a miserly 133, in reply, the ‘Parkites’ were dismissed for 244 to establish an important 111- run lead going into today’s final day’s play.

At Gilbert Park in California, W Connection Wanderers were routed for 147 by Clarke Road United, who is second place with 88 points. Left-arm bowler Mahadeo Moonasar bagged four for 15.

In reply, Clarke Road closed on 76 for two with Adrian Barath unbeaten on 49.

At Pierre Road Recreation Ground in Charlieville, leaders Merry Boys Sports on 96 points were involved in a close tussle for first innings points against Alescon Comets.

Batting first, Merry Boys made 208 and in response, Comets were battling on 159 for seven.

Elsewhere at Syne Village in Penal, PowerGen Sports declared at 307 for four against Clico Preysal Sports who closed on 55 for one.

In Division Two, Moosai’s Sports have overtaken long-time leaders Central Sports after they defeated an eight-man Defence Force team by an innings and 41 runs at Honeymoon Park in Tacarigua.

Led by a century from Christopher Bachu (103) and a match-haul of 10 for 93 by Michael Bharath Moosai completely dominated the game and collected 27 points from the encounter to surge into the lead in the seven-team standings with 127 points.

At Chaguanas, British/American Aranguez thanks to 105 from Michael Brown scored a mammoth 378 against Central Sports, who in reply ended on 43 for one.

Point standings after six rounds

Division One - - Merry Boys 96 pts, Clarke Road 88, PowerGen 83, Queen’s Park 82, Comets 77, Preysal 67, Wanderers 57, , Munroe Road 36.

Division Two - Central Sports 110 pts, Moosai’s 100, Aranguez 87, Invaders 61, Endeavour 49, Defence Force 48, Couva 46.

Division One - Summarised Scores

AT QP OVAL: Munroe Road Sports 133 all out (Stefan Ramjohn 19, Travis Karim 19, Ricardo Paty 3-55, Kervon Cooper 2-16, Kervon Cooper 2-17, Rishaad Harris 2-24) v Queen’s Park 244 all out( Darren Bravo 41, Petrock Nicholas 39, Rishaad Harris 38, Sunil Narine 33, Justin Guillen 31, Dharry Balgobin 4-63.

AT PIERRE ROAD: Ceramic Merry Boys Sports 208 (Lincoln Roberts 52, Ken Hazel 37, Aneil Kanhai 33, Imran Khan 5-54, Rakesh Maharaj 2-29, Kashri Singh 2-45) v Alescon Comets 159-7 (Vishal Singh 53, Suruj Ragoonath 50.

AT GILBERT PARK: W Connection Wanderers 147 all out (Navin Stewart 56, Nicholas Ramjass 26, Mahadeo Moonasar 4-15, Kenroy Peters 2-27, Jeewan Ramroop 2-28, Mukesh Persad 2-50) v FCB Clarke Road United 76-2 (Adrian Barath 49 not out).

AT SYNE VILLAGE: PowerGen Sports 307-4 dec. (Jason Mohammed 78, Samuel Badree 62 not out, Nicholas Sookdeosingh 47, Dave Mohammed 44, Sherwin Ganga 44, Anderson Bryce 2-86) v Clico Preysal Sports 55-1.

Division Two -Summarised Scores

AT HONEYMOON PARK: Defence Force 125-7 & 98-7 (Kerwin Gonzales 47, Michael Bharath 5-45 & 5-48) v Moosai’s Sports 254-5 dec. (Christopher Bachu 103, Brian Sackan 3-54). Moosai’s won by an inns & 41 runs. Moosai’s 27 pts, Defence Force 1 pt.

AT CHAGUANAS: British/American Aranguez Sports 378 (Michael Brown 105, Isaac Kennedy 62, Valmikee Deonarine 3-46, Orin Forde 2-56, Lennox Cush 2-82) v Central Sports.

EASTERN CREDIT UNION NATIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE

Kanhai using team’s success for motivation

T&T batsman Aniel Kanhai said that he will be using his team’s success in the Eastern Credit Union National Cricket League, for motivation in getting back on the national senior side for the new season. Led by the left-handed Kanhai, Merry Boys captured the ECU NCL Division One title, last Sunday by a mere three points in which the winner was determined in the last over of the tournament.

Merry Boys won on first innings against Alescon Comets at Pierre Road Recreation Ground in Charlieville, to end at the top of the table with 114 points, but had to hold their nerves as dethroned champions FCB Clarke Road United who needed 12 runs in the last over for an outright win and a chance to retain their title, could only manage eight against W Connection Wanderers at Gilbert Park in California.

The ECU championship is the second major title under the captaincy of Kanhai. Under his guidance, Merry Boys won the Carib Sunday League 50 Overs competition beating W Connection Wanderers earlier this year in a day/night encounter at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre.

“This victory and the ECU title means a lot to me and the supporters of Patna Village in Diego Martin. This is the first time I am leading the team, so obviously I am proud of my success. We have a well-knitted team, and I knew once we play to our true ability that we will come out on top,” Kanhai said.

Kanhai who has 13 First-Class matches under his belt including three centuries, with a highest score of 223 for West Indies ‘B’ against T&T said he is eager to get back on the national team.

“I am using the team’s success for motivation to get back on the national team. Also I want to thank the supporters and the senior players ­ Neil McGarrell, Ken Hazel and Lincoln Roberts for their valuable support throughout the season,” the 26-year-old Kanhai said.

It was Merry Boys’ third championship title having previously been victorious in 2002 and 2003, and manager Patrick Rampersad has paid glowing tribute to Kanhai for his excellent leadership qualities.

“Under the leadership of Kanhai the team has excelled. His captaincy was second to none and he did really well to motivate the side. The team really deserve to win the title because of their discipline approach to the game, together with their commitment and dedication when faced with various challenges,” Rampersad said.

He said a small celebration party will be ahead shortly, ahead of the major one in December.