Thurton lifts Central into Shell U-19 semis

In other matches contested, East, beaten in two 50-over finals (Under-17 and Under-15) this season, remained in contention for silverware when they thrashed North Zone for a place in the last four.

Playing at Gilbert Park in California, Central made a daunting 276 all out in 44.4 overs, fired by Thurton’s 103 and aided by Saiba Batoosingh’s 42 and opening batsman Shawn Vialva with 26.

Despite the Central run-feast, South’s Dennis Ramnath grabbed five wickets for 45 runs in his allotted ten overs, while Xavier Ganga took two for 30 in seven overs and four balls.

And in response, the South team, already winners of the Under-17 and Under- 15 titles, could not replicate their success and were bundled out for just 76 in 26.4 overs with Rajiv Gosine, batting at No.

9 top-scoring with 14.

Aaron Sinanan made 13 as they plunged from 12 for one wicket to 29 for five, and never recovered in their run chase.

Doing the destruction for Central Zone were Jayden Seales who snared four for 28 in six overs, and Emilo Gopaul who returned bowling figures of four for 16 in five overs as their team romped to victory by a massive 200 runs.

At the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, East Zone kept their nerve and booked their place in the semi-finals with impressive batting and bowling performances to defeat North by 60 runs after posting 244 all out in 49.5 overs.

In reply, North capitulated for 184 all out in 45.4 overs.

For East, in with a chance to reach their third Shell Inter Zone final of the 2017 season, Sachin Seecharan blasted 86 and got valuable support from Aaron Mairam (36) and Nathaniel McDavid (25).

The North bowlers worked in tandem and were well-rewarded, with Joshua Dookie (3/32), Wendell George (4/46) and Joshua Wilson (3/46) combining to give their team a chance of victory on the historic Oval ground.

But their batting once again failed to live up to expectations, with No. 8 batsman Joshua Dookie leading a rear-guard display to top-score with 40 and put on an eighth wicket partnership of 59 with Joshua Wilson who made 19.

Wendell George also vindicated himself with a knock of 40 batting higher up in the order.

But the spoils belonged to the East bowlers, led by Mairam with the astonishing figures of three wickets for ten runs in seven overs and four balls with one maiden; while Sameer Ali snatched two for 40 in eight overs.

They were well-supported by Te-Shawn Alleyne, McDavid and Kristan Kallicharan claiming one wicket apiece to complete an emphatic victory.

And South-East Zone staked their claim for a berth in the championship match with a five-wicket win against South-West at the Sancho Recreation Ground in St Julien Village in Princes Town.

Batting first, South-West reached 137 all out in 35.4 overs helped by Jamal Ramnath who made 33 and Rodney Sieunarine (22), but it was not enough for South-East who reached their target of 138 in just 23.3 overs for the loss of five wickets.

Jace Assoon struck an undefeated 54 to lead the run chase while Antonio Bebe contributed 33.

The top South-East bowlers were Michael Dindial who had figures of four for 34, while Justin Gangoo took two for 28 and Tariq Abdul claimed two for 24.

In the other semi-final on Friday, South East will play Tobago who will enjoy home advantage at Shaw Park in Tobago.

The Shell Under-19 Inter Zone final is carded for April 28 at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.