LOCAL CRICKET ROUND-UP
June 23rd 2008

T&T U19s win again

T&T U-19 cricketers gave another impressive showing ahead of next month’s TCL Group Youth Cricket Challenge in Barbados, when they scored another convincing victory against their National U17s counterparts on Sunday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.

In two specially arranged practice matches to fine tune both teams, ahead of the U-19 Series and the Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Tournament in Barbados, the T&T U19s completed their second victory on the trot against the National U17s.

On Saturday, the U19s led by a superb century from captain Adrian Barath defeated the U17s by 56 runs at the NCC, and followed up on Sunday with a six-wicket win.

In the 50-over-contest , the U17s opted for first strike and tallied a competitive 199 for eight, with skipper Yannick Ottley topscoring with a fluent 38. He received good support from Silus Cooper (32), Nicholas Alexis (25) and Ricardo Maikoo (21). Allrounder Omesh Ramoutar was the leading bowler for the U19s with figures of three for 18 from four overs.

In response, the U19s under a solid unbeaten 53 from Ako George which included three fours and two sixes, reached their target for the loss of four wickets in the the 47th over. Lending good support to George were Ramoutar with 41 and Marc Panchu 32.

The U19s coached by former T&T and West Indies left-handed batsman Larry Gomes started a five- day live camp on Sunday at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre in Balmain.

Summarised Scores

AT NCC:T&T U17s 199-8 (50 overs) (Yannick Ottley 38, Silus Cooper 32, Nicholas Alexis 25, Ricardo Maikoo 21, Omesh Ramoutar 3-18) v T&T U19s 202-4 (47) (Ako George 53 not out, Omesh Ramoutar 41, Marc Panchu 32). U19s won by 4 wkts.

Barath hits superb hundred
.....as T&T U19s prepare for youth series

T&T and West Indies youth opening batsman Adrian Barath warmed up for the up-coming TCL Group Under-19 Challenge with a superb century for the T&T U19s against the National U17s, at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, on Saturday.

In a specially arranged 40-over match, the T&T U19s registered a 57-run-win against their younger counterparts.

The T&T U19s batted first and posted a challenging 223 for four, with the right-handed Barath hitting 118, which included 10 fours and four sixes.

He was well supported by Kareem Jumadeen, who struck 47 with six fours and a six. Also among the runs was allrounder Yannic Cariah who made an unbeaten 27.

In reply, the National U17s were restricted to 166 for five, with skipper Yannick Ottley hitting 45. Other good contributions came from Kelwin Sirju (32) and Nicholas Alexis (31).

Cariah capped off a fine allround performance, claiming four for 31 with his leg-spinners.

The T&T Under-19 cricketers will start their campaign against Jamaica when the 2008 TCL Group Regional Youth Challenge bowls off on July 4 with three matches across Barbados.

The local team will once again be led Barath.

The 17-year-old Barath led the team in last year’s tournament in St Kitts and Nevis which gave a below par performance and the dapper right-handed batsman will be hoping for an improved showing this time around.

Team manager and executive member of the T&T Cricket Board, William Wallace was quite impressed with the team’s performance on Saturday.

“Both openers, Barath and Jumadeen looked the part. Preparations are going according to plans. The guys are rounding into good form for the regional series,” Wallace stated.

He stated that the team started a five-day live-in camp last night at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre in Balmain.

“ The team will have a two-hour session each morning during the camp on mental development. In the afternoon , the focus will be on physical training and net practice,” Wallace added.

Among the facilitators will be National and Resident Coach of the T&T Cricket Board, Kelvin Williams, Physiotherapist, Ronald Rogers and U19 coach, Larry Gomes.

The National U17s will also be using the facilities at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre to prepare for the defence of their Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Tournament title, which starts in July in Barbados.

Summarised scores

AT NCC: T&T U19s 233-4 (40 overs) (Adrian Barath 118, Kareem Jumadeen 47, Yannic Cariah 27 not out) v T&T U17s 166-5 (40) (Yannick Ottley 45, Kelwin Sirju 32, Nicholas Alexis 31, Yannic Cariah 4-31). T&T U19s won by 57 runs.

Preysal lass makes West Indies senior cricket team

THE TINY, sleepy, agricultural district of Preysal, nestled in the foot of the Montserrat hills, has scooted into the spotlight again.

Preysal is noted for producing top class regional and Test cricketers including former left-arm chinaman and googly bowler, the late Inshan Ali, off-spinner Rangee Nanan, and more recently, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and allrounder Ravi Rampaul.

This time around, the well-knitted community has come up trumps by turning out their first female regional player, Gaitri Seetahal.

The 17-year-old spinner and student of Preysal High School is among six T&T players presently attending a three-day camp with the West Indies women’s cricket team in Barbados, before leaving for the Netherlands, Ireland and England for a series of matches in preparation for World Cup 2009, to be held in Australia.

The affable Seetahal was introduced to the game by her dad, Krayshow, five years ago, and currently she is one of the leading players for the Phoenix Sports Club of Couva. The youngster has gone through the ranks of cricket, having represented T&T at Under 17, 21 and Senior levels.

Last year she was the leading wicket-taker in the regional tournement which was held in Barbados, claiming nine wickets.

A lover of dhall, rice and duck, Seetahal is hoping to make her country and by extension, the region proud in the upcoming international matches.

“I feel very elated to know that I have made the West Indies senior team. My immediate goal is to capture the most wickets in the upcoming tour and make the cut to the final 14 for the World Cup in Australia,” said Seetahal, who wants to emulate the success of the legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne.

Seetahal was recently presented with $3,000 by Opposition MPs Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Dr Hamza Rafeeq to assist with her further development in the sport.

Rafeeq praised the youngster’s dedication and commitment to the game and said she has the potential to be a world class player.

“At this tender young age she has done extremely well to represent the T&T senior team and now the West Indies senior side. She comes from a very poor family who has been very supportive of her goals.

“We expect her to do well. And we will be following her career very closely because we feel very confident that she has the ability and potential to make it big in the international arena,” Rafeeq stated.

Seetahal, after completing her CXC examinations last week, joined her West Indies colleagues on Friday.

The West Indies team will leave later this week for Ireland.