TTCB – Results

Leaders PowerGen face tough job in Penal derby
March 27, 2010

By KERN RAMLOCHAN

PowerGen will have a tough task to maintain their lead in the Eastern Credit Union Premiership League today when they take on arch rivals First Citizens Clarke Road in the Penal Derby at Wilson Road, Penal.

The defending champions took the top spot in the Premiership Division after claiming first innings points over Ceramic Merry Boys in the previous round. PowerGen have been guided by the experienced trio of captain Samuel Badree, Sherwin Ganga and Dave Mohammed.

Badree has been consistent for PowerGen with both bat and ball throughout the season and will be key to ensuring his team retains the top spot.

However, Clarke Road would fancy their chances of spoiling PowerGen’s title aspirations. Despite conceding first innings points to Clico Preysal and W Connection Wanderers in their previous two matches Clarke Road captain, Gregory Mahabir is confident of rebounding after historically having the better of the exchanges in the Penal Derby.

“Clarke Road and PowerGen is always an important rivalry but most of the times we have come out on top. Last year we declared which gave them first innings points because we only wanted two points to finish second in the league since we had no chance of winning the league,” said Mahabir yesterday.

The former Trinidad and Tobago batsman felt that the experience of the Clarke Road team would overpower the youthful PowerGen lineup. He added that home advantage as well as the batmen’s form especially that of Sean Siloch would be decisive if Clarke Road are to win.

“We have always played better at home especially if you look at the ODI games” said Mahabir. “It is very important for our openers to give us a good start. Sean Siloch and Mahadeo Moonasar got a 100 odd partnership against Preysal. Mahadeo Moonasar has been in good form scoring 40s and 50s but he needs to carry on with Sean Siloch,” said Mahabir.

Second placed Merry Boys will have difficult match against third placed Queen’s Park at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. Merry Boys will be aiming to rebound against the Parkites to keep the pressure on PowerGen in the title race. Queen’s Park can move into second place with a victory. Off-spinners Sunil Narine and Amit Jaggernauth expected to play an important role.

Alescon Comets will host Preysal in a mid-table clash at Pierre Road in Chaguanas. Allrounder, Imran Khan is coming off a swashbuckling century against the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) in the Carib Twenty20 League and will pose a major threat along with the Bajan duo of Javon Searles and Kird Edwards.

Youthful Preysal captain, Yannick Ottley will have a stern test at the helm and will need a team effort to be successful. SIS Central Sports Invaders will be at home to Rahamut’s Evergreen at Invaders Ground in Felicity. Allrounder, Gary Mathurin has been the standout player for Central Sports Invaders throughout the season and is expected to lead the attack.

A win for Central Sports Invaders would see them return to the top three. Evergreen will be looking for a victory which would take them out of the relegation zone.

Former West Indies Under-19 allrounder, Steve Jacobs has been outstanding for Evergreen and much depends on him for Evergreen to claim vital points.

Wanderers will be away to UTT at Omera as both teams try to avoid relegation. UTT are bottom of the standing with 39 points while Wanderers are third from bottom with 50 points.

Standings*Points

• PowerGen*133
• Ceramic Merry Boys*122
• Queen’s Park*105
• SIS Central Sports Invaders*96
• Alescon Comets*91
• First Citizens Clarke Road*90
• Clico Preysal*70
• W Connection Wanderers*50
• Rahamut’s Evergreen*48
• UTT*39