TT/Guyana Day One Match Report
July 24th, 2008

T&T's youth cricketers severely hampered by the absence by six of their key players because of disciplinary reasons, gave a creditable performance against defending champions, Guyana, on the opening day of their final round match in the TCL Group West Indies U-19 series at Lester Vaughan, yesterday.

Guyana who were asked to take first strike were dismissed for a challenging 227 runs. Opener Trevon Griffith top-scored with 48, while there were useful batting performances from Anthony Bramble (41), Dilon Heliger (36), and skipper Eugene La Fleur (30).

Debutant left-arm spinner Yannic Ottley was the leading wickettaker for T&T with three for 24. He was well supported by elder brother Kjorn with two for 37 and off-spinner Omeshwar Ramoutar two for 39.

In reply, T&T left with four overs batting closed on 22 without loss. Skipper Adrian Barath is not out on 12 and Evin Lewis unbeaten on eight.

T&T are faced with a must win situation to stay in contention for championship honours.

Management of the T&T team together with officials of the West Indies Cricket Board, took a decision yesterday to send home five players, including top leg-spinner Yannick Cariah, Kareem Jumadeen, Nicholas Rampersad, Marc Panchu and Ako George.

Left-arm spinner Javed Boodram was sent home on Tuesday also for disciplinary reasons.

This allowed three National U-17 players to make their debut at this level, including skipper Yannic Ottley, Nicholas Alexis and Rixon Maniram.

And the usually lively T&T dressing room was in a sombre mood.

Several officials of the T&T U-17 team, including manager Narsingh Rambaran, coach, Tarrandath Sammy, and liason officer, Sharaz Mohammed held pep talk and offered advice to the Adrian Barath -led U-19 side.

Earlier, the title-holding young Guyanese made good use of the docile batting track at the facility in Cane Garden.

There were useful contributions with the bat from opening batsman Griffith who made a polished 48 in 158 minutes off 120 balls and included seven fours, while Heliger contributed a solid 36 off 69 balls in 98 minutes with four fours.

Also among the runs was wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble who made a solid 41 in 100 minutes off 71 balls with five fours.

Guyana opened with Royan Frederick (14) and Griffith and added 43, before off-spinner Omesh Ramoutar made the breakthrough, having the latter caught at the wicket by Maniram.

At lunch, the Guyanese were cruising along comfortably on 83 for one.

On the resumption, with the addition of one run the much needed breakthrough came. Griffith and Seon Hetmyer (27) featured in a second wicket stand off 41, before the latter had his stumps shattered by pacer Sheldon Dogan.

Guyana went to tea at 155 for five, and on the resumption, the T&T youngsters lifted their game to dismiss the opposition for 227.

The last three wickets fell for no run.

T&T's debutant wicketkeeper Maniram had a good day behind the stumps figuring in four dismissals.

SCOREBOARD

At Lester Vaughan
Trinidad and Tobago v Guyana
Guyana 1st Inns
R Frederick c wkpr Maniram b Ramoutar*14
T Griffith c Barath b Ramoutar*47
S Hetmyer b Dogan*27
D Heliger c wkpr Maniram b K Ottley*36
J Foo c wkpr Maniram b Mitchell*13
*E La Fleur c Barath b Y Ottley*30
R Alkins run out*1
+ A Bramble c Ramoutar b K Ottley*41
H Latcha c wkpr Maniram b Y Ottley*5
K Joseph c Barath b Y Ottley*0
L Scott not out*0
Extras (5b 5lb, 2nb)*12
TOTAL (all out - 83.1 overs)*227
Wkts: 43, 84, 110, 131, 150,163, 201, 227, 227, 227. 
Bowling: Sheldon Dogan 18-4-56-1 (1nb), Hakeem Mitchell 12-3-44-1 (1nb), Akeil Cooper
8-4-17-0, Omesh Ramoutar 20-2-39-2, Yannic Ottley 13-5-24-3, Kjorn Ottley
12.1-2-37-2.
Trinidad and Tobago 1st Inns
*A Barath not out*12
E Lewis not out*8
Extras (2nb)*2
TOTAL (for no wkt - 4 overs)*22
Bowling: Leon Joseph 2-1-13-0 (1nb), Deon Scott 2-0-9-0.
Trinidad and Tobago- Adrian Barath (captain), Aaron Alfred, Evin Lewis, Kjorn Ottley,
Omesh Ramoutar, Hakeem Mitchell, Sheldon Dogan, Akeil Cooper, Yannic Ottley. Nicholas
Alexis. Rixon Maniram.
Toss: Trinidad and Tobago