TTCB – Results

TT/Jamaica Final Day Match Report
July 6th, 2008

LEFT-handed opening batsman, Evin Lewis, notched an unbeaten century for T&T but could not prevent his team from going under to Jamaica on first innings in a drawn encounter on the final day in the opening round of the TCL Group Regional Youth Challenge at Banks Brewery, yesterday.

The 18-year-old Lewis lashed a stroke-filled 140 as T&T chasing Jamaica's challenging total of 328 for nine declared, were dismissed for 232 after one hour in the first session of the day's play.

Left-arm spinner Patrick Harty with five for 61 and right-arm leg-spinner Jermaine Blackwood four for 42 were the top bowlers for Jamaica.

With a lead of 96 runs, Jamaica opted for batting practice and closed on 256 for five, as the match petered out into a tame draw, with Kennar Lewis and John Ross-Campbell hitting contrasting hundreds.

Kennar Lewis struck a swashbuckling 106 in 130 minutes off 122 balls, which was enriched with seven sixes and six fours, while the more patient Ross-Campbell unbeaten innings of 100 was compiled in 241 minutes off 167 deliveries and included six fours.

Left-arm spinner Javed Boodram was again T&T's leading bowler with four for 58 from 19 overs.

It was a historical occasion for T&T's Lewis, as he became the first debutant opening batsman to carry his bat throughout the innings since the inception of the TCL Group tournament in 2003.

The soft-spoken and affable player from Rio Claro in the South-Eastern part of Trinidad batted for a marathon 373 minutes, faced 300 balls and struck 12 fours and two sixes.

Earlier, T&T resumed on 189 for six, needing a further 140 runs for an unlikely first inning lead. They lost overnight batsman Omesh Ramoutar (13) with the total on 199 and soon it was 219 for eight with the dismissal of Nicholas Rampersad (4).

The innings thereafter folded with Javed Boodram (2) and Sheldon Dogan (0) failing to offer any resistance leaving Lewis stranded.

Former West Indies middle-order batsman and current coach of the T&T team, Larry Gomes, was not too pleased with the side's below par performance but said that there is always room for improvement.

" The team did play as they should but there were decent performances from Evin Lewis and Javed Boodram. Hopefully, they will be an inspiration for the other team members in the remaining matches,"Gomes stated.

Manager of the T&T Under-19 team, William Wallace, who is also an executive member of the T&T Cricket Board, paid glowing tribute to Lewis for his mental and disciplined approach to the game.

" From back at U-15 level, where I was privilege to manage the youngster, I have seen his potential. So I am not surprised at his development over the last few years. He is certainly one for the future, if he is harnessed and nurtured properly," Wallace said.

T&T picked up three points from the contest, while the Jamaicans collected six for their first innings lead.

T&T's next match of the series starts on Wednesday against hosts Barbados at the Kensington Oval.