TCL Group Regional Under-19 Cricket Challenge
Round 3 Day 2
July 18, 2009

T&T youth cricketers under an exciting hundred from Evin Lewis tightened their grip against Barbados and the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge three-day title with another impressive batting display yesterday at Up-Park Camp in Jamaica.

At the end of the second day’s play in their crucial Round Three fixture, the left-handed Lewis stroked an effortless 109 as T&T in response to Barbados’ first total of 183 were bowled out for 307, to establish an important 124-run-lead and put themselves in a strong positon to force their third consecutive outright win in the tournament.

Left-arm spinner Jamil Warrican was the main destroyer for Barbados with six for 86.

Left with five overs batting, Barbados closed on 21 without loss, with Anthony Alleyne on 13 and Kraigg Brathwaite eight.

It was Lewis’ second Regional U-19 century , to follow his 140 not out against Jamaica last year in Barbados. He achieved the feat with a single off Roston Chase. It came in 205 minutes, from 141 deliveries and included 11 fours and five sixes.

Lewis also shared in an important second wicket partnersip of 148 with opening batsman Nicholas Alexis who made a stroke-filled 85.

Earlier, T&T resumed on its overnight position of 37 without loss with Marc Panchu on 15 and Alexis 13.

In pursuit of first innings lead, T&T lost the early wicket of Panchu, who played through the wrong line to leg-spinner J Warrican and was stumped by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich for 19 with the total on 46.

This brought together Alexis and Lewis and the duo plundered a lak-lustre Barbados’ bowling attack to all parts of the field with a wide array of shots.

In between, Alexis brought up his first 50 of the series with a single off pacer Jeremy Marshall. The landmark came in 189 minutes from 139 balls and was enriched with seven fours and one six.

Lewis chose the last ball in the morning session to bring up his 50. It came with a towering six off Warrican over the square-leg boundary, which had armed members of the Jamaican Defence Force scampering for cover.

The milestone was achieved in 69 minutes from 73 balls and was garnished with five fours and three sixes.

T&T went to the lunch break in the healthy position of 135 for one, with Lewis on 55 and Alexis 53.

After the break, Alexis was unfortunate to be given out leg before to Jason Holder. He batted for 231 minutes, faced 180 balls and struck 13 fours and a six.

“ Player of the Series” so far, Yannic Cariah joined the free-flowing Lewis and the pair carried the total to 246 , before Lewis just after reaching his century was caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Brathwaite from the bowling of Warrican. He batted for 212 minutes, faced 148 balls and cracked 11fours and five sixes.

T&T went to tea on 246 for three with Cariah on 15 not out and skipper Yannick Ottley yet to score.

After the break, T&T middle and lower-order failed to click and were dismissed just before the close.

Cariah was last be out for a well played 59 which included seven fours from 134 balls.

Former T&T allrounder Kelvin Willams who replaced ex-West Indies left-handed batsma Larry Gomes as coach of this Under-19 team said that he is quite happy to work with this bunch of immensely talented players and it is always nice to be associated with members of this team.

“ What is so pleasing about them is the way they execute all game and team plans. If you look at them closely, they are very special talent and if they can stay focused, they can go on beyond regional cricket. If I am to identify some of the better players, I will have to include Yannic Cariah, Evin Lewis, Yannick Ottley and Akiel Cooper among others,” Williams told the Trinidad Guardian.

The burly right-arm fast bowler and right-handed hard hitting batsman said that T&T chances looks good to lift the coveted trophy.

“ The type of cricket we are playing now make us hard to beat,” Williams added.

SCOREBOARD

At Up-Park Camp
Barbados v T&T
Barbados 1st Inns 183
T&T 1st Inns (o/n 37-0)
N Alexis lbw Holder*85
M Panchu stp Dowrich b Warrican*19
E Lewis c Brathwaite b Warrican*109
Y Cariah c b Chase *59
Y Ottley b Chase *3
A Cooper c Alleyne b Warrican*
S Boodram b Warrican*2
T Castro c wkpr Dowrich bWarrican*1
R Maniram c Alleyne b Chase*4
J Boodram c Reifer b Warrican*
K Magram not out*0
Extras (6b, 2lb, 9nb, 3w)*20
TOTAL (all out 103.4 overs)*307
Wkts: 46, 194, 246,256, 269, 279,295, 300,307, 307.
  
Bowling: Jeremy Marshall 7-0-26-0, Jason Holder 17-4-56-1,
Kyle Myers 7-3-25-0, Jamil Warrican 36-12-86-6, Roston Chase
19.4-3-55-3, Mario Miller 8-1-26-0, Dario Cummins 9-1-25-0.
Barbados 2nd Inns
K Brathwaite not out*8
A Alleyne not out*13
TOTAL ( for no wkt - 5 overs)*21
Bowling: Teshawn Castro 2-1-8-0, Sachin Boodram 2-0-5-0,
Javed Boodram 1-0-8-0.