Francis crowned East Zone’s top cricketer

The inclement weather failed to dampen the spirit of the invited guests and members of the zone’s Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 teams which swept the 2016 TTCB sponsored Inter Zone competitions.

The East Zone narrowly missed out on a clean sweep of the four Inter Zone titles, a feat they accomplished in 2015, when they finished runners- up to Central Zone in the Under- 13 final.

Delivering the feature address at the event was president of the TTCB, Azim Bassarath, and among the dignitaries present was Member of Parliament for St Augustine Prakash Ramadhar, Paul Leacock, chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation, Kurt Connell, representing Tunapuna MP Esmond Forde, and Parasram Singh, president of the TT Umpires and Scorers’ Association.

Also, taking pride of place on Saturday was Leonardo Francis of Agents Sports Club who was adjudged Senior League “Cricketer of the Year.” His impressive statistics included an aggregate of 298 runs, with a highest score of 165 not out for an average of 59.60. Francis also claimed 27 wickets for the season.

He was chosen among the “Five Senior League Cricketers of the Year” which also included Clevon Frederick of Curepe Sports, Andy Goseyn of Brazil Progressive, Marlon Bharath of Curepe Sports, and Anil Ragoonath of Squadron Sports.

Sharing the East Zone spotlight was Yousuf Ramlogan of Curepe Sports who was crowned “Senior Limited Overs Cricketer of the Year” with outstanding performances in the 40-Overs, and Twenty20 competitions.

Ramlogan accumulated 294 runs in the 40-Overs competition for an average of 58.8 with a highest score of 125 runs, and took nine wickets for 121 runs for an average of 13.44.

In the Twenty20, he got 150 runs for an average of 37.50 and a top score of 71.

But the night undoubtedly belonged to the future generation of East Zone cricketers who emerged triple crowned champions in the TTCB Inter Zone competitions which brought “Youth Cricketers of the Year’’ honours to Sion Hackett, Sameer Ali, Leonardo Julien and Kirstan Kallicharan.

Several of the age group stars also were honoured for being selected on national and regional teams, headed by batting prodigy Kalicharran who was on the West Indies under-19 team which won the ICC U19 Championship for the first time last year; and Sameer Ali who was picked for the regional U-16s.

The East Zone, whose new chairman is David Hunte, also rewarded for their contribution during the 2016 season: Carlyle Lewis, voted “Umpire of the Year,’’ and coaches/ managers Kazim Mohammed, Aslim Mandol, Rajesh Persad, Rajendra Ramadhin, Kelvin Arneaud, and Tarandath Sammy.

Sunday League (40 Overs): 1.Squadron Sports Club; 2. Burnley Sports Club; (Losing Semi-finalists) Agents Sports, Brazil Progressive Sports

Senior Division (Three-Day): 1.Curepe Sports Club; 2. Agents Sports Club; 3. Spartan Sports Club Division I League (Three-Day): 1.Burnley Sports Club; 2. Prisons Sports Club

Senior Division Reserve League (Two-Day): 1. Spartan Sports Club

Twenty20 (20 Overs): 1. Curepe Sports Club; 2. Dinsley Cricket Club; (Losing Semi-finalist) Brazil Progressive Sports Club

Five Senior Cricketers of the Year: Clevon Frederick; Andy Gosyne; Leonardo Francis; Anil Ragoonath; Marlon Bharath

Senior Limited Overs Player of the Year: Yousuf Ramlogan

Senior Division Cricketer of the Year: Leonardo Francis

Umpire of the Year: Carlyle Lewis

Four Youth Cricketers of the Year: Sion Hackett; Sameer Ali; Leonardo Julien; Kirsten Kallicharan

Coaches/Managers of the Year: Kazim Mohammed; Aslim Mandol; Rajesh Persad; Rajendra Ramadhin; Kelvin Arneaud; Tarandath Sammy

Representatives on National Teams: Under-15: Sameer Ali, Rivaldo Ramlogan, Aryan Sammy

Under-17: Kirsten Kallicharan, Sameer Ali, Te-Shawn Alleyne, Leonardo Julien

Under-19: Keagan Simmons, Kirsten Kallicharan, Nathaniel McDavid

West Indies Under-19: Kirsten Kallicharan

West Indies Under-16: Sameer Ali

Primary Schools Player of the Year: Rondell Ramlogan, Aleena Ramharack

Secondary Schools Player of the Year: Te-Shawn Alleyne, Ann-Marie Perreira.