CLICO PREYSAL were crowned 2003 Carib Sunday League cricket champions after whipping PowerGen by an emphatic 101 runs in the final at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.
Scores: CLICO PREYSAL 296/7. POWERGEN 195.
After Preysal openers Dinesh Ramdin and Andy Jackson posted 83 runs for the first wicket in Saturday night’s match, there was little doubt that the Central team would walk away with the $30,000 winner’s prize. Electing to bat on winning the toss, Preysal got off to a great start with Ramdin and Jackson flaying the wayward PowerGen bowling to all parts of the ground. Ramdin played some beautiful strokes allround the wicket, while Jackson was typically brutal. The left-handed Jackson was the first to go for a whirlwind 40 which came off only 29 balls with seven fours.
Enter Keith Arthurton and the massacre continued, as the ex-West Indies batsman scored a rapid 21 including a towering six off Amit Jaggernauth, before the West Indies ‘B’ team bowler out-foxed him in the same over. His dismissal slowed the run-rate and Ramdin fell soon after trying to accelerate. He fell for 41 off 70 balls with eight fours, one of which smashed a window in the PowerGen Sports Club and ended on a pool table. Skipper Babwah came and went for only 19, but former West Indies Under-15 batsman Aaron Ragoonath and the very talented Hollister Pajotte played sensible cricket to ensure PowerGen never got back into the game. Ragoonath fell near the end for 58 off 76 balls with seven fours and one six. Pajotte entertained the small crowd with some superb hitting, none better than a six driven over extra-cover. His 43 was scored off 46 balls and included three sixes.
CLICO Preysal were 267 for seven wickets with one over to be bowled by Dave Mohammed. But the West Indies spinner received one of the worst beatings of his short career, as Tobagonian Nevin Stuart clobbered him for four sixes and a four in an over which cost 29 runs. Facing the daunting task of getting 297 runs at 5.84 runs per over for victory, PowerGen were always struggling and were eventually all out for 195, despite Guyanese batsman Hemnarine Chatergoon with 54, and player/coach David Williams 30. Skipper Samuel Badree got 22 in his team’s disappointing display. Ramdin was later named Man of the Match for his 41 and five catches he took behind the wicket.
Jubilant CLICO Preysal general manager Rangy Nanan said the team has played good cricket all season and they deserved the victory. “The boys really trained hard and it is nice to see them with the trophy. “We are not yet finished as we still have an excellent chance in the National League.” But a disappointed Chaitram Ranjitsingh of PowerGen said: “Firstly I would like to congratulate CLICO Preysal who were the better team on the night. “They batted us out the game and batting under the lights was not going to be easy chasing such a huge total.”
Summarised scores:
CLICO PREYSAL 296/7 (50 overs) — A Ragoonath 58, D Ramdin 41, A Jackson 40, H Pajotte 43, N Stuart 26 not out, K Arthurton 21, S Babwah 19, S Badree 2/67 vs POWERGEN 195 (39 overs) — H Chatergoon 54, D Williams 30, S Badree 22, Marlon Black 3/20, Eugene Antoine 3/38, Ravi Rampaul 3/44.
Honour roll — Man-of-match: Dinesh Ramdin; Best Batsman: Aaron Ragoonath; Best Bowler: Marlon Black; Best Fieldsman: Dinesh Ramdin.
NATIONAL swimmer Kemi George erased a ten-year-old Harvard record at the Ivy League Swim Championships in Long Island, New York, recently.
The former Marlins representative created a new mark in the 50-yard freestyle race in 20.02 seconds, well inside the previous time of 20.10 seconds. The lanky George was also involved in the 4×100 metre freestyle relay with his Harvard University team and Princeton University where, swimming the anchor leg, he clocked 43.35 seconds to enable his team to jump from fourth to second spot. And, in related news, the national team will undergo a photo shoot on Wednesday at 3.30pm at the Marlins Swim Pool, Westmoorings. The squad is preparing for their defence of the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Kingston, Jamaica from April 19-21.
LONDON: Illustrator looks a good bet to show his rivals a clean pair of heels in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Maiden Stakes at Windsor today.
Sir Michael Stoute’s promising individual holds engagements in York’s Convergent Dante Stakes and the Vodafone Derby. Whether or not he proves up to taking on the best of his generation this year only time will tell. But he has already run with distinction at Group One level so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could develop into a top-class performer. On the last of his three starts as a juvenile, having earlier shown only decent form in maidens, he came a very creditable three-length third to current Derby favourite Brian Boru in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
The son of top sire Sadler’s Wells was held-up in a slowly-run race. Lacking a little room when trying to close on the leaders inside the final quarter-mile, he had to be switched slightly, and could then find only one pace. He was unable to make any real impact thereafter. That was a good effort for a relatively inexperienced colt. Illustrator has done well over the winter and should have little difficulty recording his first success on Monday. Earlier on the card the Michael Bell-trained Red Chief has sound claims in the Tailormade Hospitality Handicap. Barry Hills has his string in top form and the Lambourn trainer can strike with Farewell To Arms in the Totevision Screen Median Auction Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Pontefract. She finished a half-length second to Red Power in the Brocklesby at Doncaster on her debut in March. The winner has won again since the form looks pretty solid. At Hexham, Classical Ben finished an encouraging third to Paddy The Piper on his debut at Catterick in February and would not have to improve too much to take a hand in the finish of his division of the Federation Brewery Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race.
SELECTIONS:
WINDSOR: 9.05 Bachelor Of Arts; 9.35 Red Chief; 10.05 Opera Glass; 10.35 ILLUSTRATOR (NAP); 11.05 Let Me Try Again; 11.35 Highly Liquid; 12.05 Jawhari.
PONTEFRACT: 9.15 Farewell To Arms; 9.45 McQueen; 10.15 Bon Ami; 10.45 Jamaican Flight; 11.15 Freeloader; 11.45 Dalblair.
HEXHAM: 9.25 Just For Ger; 9.55 The Grey Dyer; 10.25 Shelu; 10.55 Bengal Boy; 11.25 Ababou; 11.55 Sir Rowland Hill; 12.25 Classical Ben.
DOUBLE: Illustrator and Farewell To Arms.
THE EDITOR: I write to inquire what criteria do you apply in determining what ‘Letters to the Editor’ are published. Barring concerns in respect of libel, what should someone who wishes to comment on any issue by way of a letter to the editor be mindful?
Does it matter if the writer is a Tobagonian? If not, then why for the most part there are no letters from Tobagonians published? Is it that we do not submit for publishing our opinions? Why? I am aware that culturally the people on both islands of Trinidad and Tobago Republic are different. Your Tobago readership therefore, must of necessity be afforded a vehicle to give expression to their opinions. I shall be much obliged if you include this letter as if the writer’s address was Port-of-Spain. Perception is reality.
BERNARD HENRY
Hampden/Lowlands
Tobago
Editor’s Note: We regularly publish letters from Tobago readers on a wide variety of issues. We reserve the right not to publish views that may be libellous or offensive. Our only rule is that all letters must bear the name and address of the writer. We do not publish anonymous letters. Neither do we publish letters where the writer reveals his identity to us, but does not want his/her name published.
THE EDITOR: Once again I am requesting the use of your newspaper to express my sentiments in regards to our calypso art form.
This unique form of folk song has through the annals of our history contributed to the development of Trinidad and Tobago. Its impact on students’ values and attitudes must not be ignored or underestimated. From time immemorial, this art form has been the mouthpiece, not only for the lower order of the population, but also for those higher up the order. It is disheartening to see in the land of calypso, soca members of that fraternity together with other stakeholders in that industry for years having to hit the streets in protest requesting more air play for their musical productions.
It is even more shameless when successive governments make promises only to have them broken. The economic value to TT in having more local music played or giving the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation a licnece to operate a radio station is enormous for both the local and foreign exchange markets. Why do we continue to throw out the baby with the bath water? Ladies and gentlemen, allow history to absolve you all.
ELTON SCANTLEBURY
Belmont
THE EDITOR: The war on Iraq has taken an unconventional turn since the suicide mission in which four US soldiers were killed.
The fact that women and children were used in a second such attempt is having an effect on the psyche of the Muslim world. With President George W Bush’s profession as a born-again Christian (one incident during the 2000 presidential campaign did not reflect that) certain people have now need to be on the alert.
JEFFREY M JOSEPH
Fyzabad
THE EDITOR: Oh Newsday, Newsday, find Newsday hidden in photographs and win a treasure in the form of a hamper etc, etc.
My gosh those lucky winners remind me of the dog that dropped a real bone while grabbing for a reflection of that bone. Man liveth not by hampers alone but by the words of wisdom and warming flowing off the clattering presses of Newsday every day. The real treasure is Newsday for long after the hampers are consumed and forgotten, our minds will still be vibrating to the measured, precise thought-beats of the scribes at Newsday who seek to teach, enlighten and shape our day and educate us in the round every day.
JACK LEARMOND CRIQUE
New Yalta
Diego Martin
THE EDITOR: Gambling is one of the roots providing life to the seemingly insatiable increase in crime.
We have membership clubs which cater for the rich. No problem here but sucking the money like blood from the poor we have so many other forms that seem as if they could form a serpent and strangle our democracy. Play Whe and Lotto are the most obvious. Why my MP brought them in, I don’t know. When he did so, thousands of poor lottery vendors were put out of work. Those that were true gamblers were also satisfied by the whe whe banker who generally contributed to local society and didn’t run the money to USA as he wasn’t a foreign corporation. Racing pools continue to operate and are controlled by a small clique. Apart from destroying local racing, they suck on the poor and take them away from their work. My local MP, who is also the Prime Minister, should consider quadrupling the taxes on gambling.
RICHARD RAMSINGH
Marabella
THE EDITOR: Your editorial of March 27, headlined, “More readers, please”, allow me to comment. Firstly let me say I am elated as to the new modern structure of, our new National Library Complex. It has changed the face of downtown Port-of-Spain. It is a very majestic building with modern features and facilities.
Now on to its use. A national library in a modern-day Trinidad and Tobago, who will it benefit, cater for? Your editorial was making a plea for more readers. As a society we are not truly a nation of readers. Yes, we may have a 45 percent literate population and 12 percent illiterate, but what are we doing as a nation to encourage more reading among its citizens? Secondly, as a nation we are moving away more and more from being a literate society to being a co-dependent society, depending on the computer and other modern-day devices for information. At the click of a button information can be accessed readily, information which would have normally taken a longer time if one had to gather the same information from a book, so that the joy of reading has been taken away.
Story-telling and folktales, the oral tradition which was practised by our grandparents and parents is no longer an effective way of communication. Our elders grew up on this form of expression, also reading was the part of a child’s learning resource or process. With the invention of the computer, information is readily available at a faster and easier rate, but is this helping us to be a literate society? Reading is a way of educating oneself. It is also a form of relaxation, a source of pleasure, but why is it our citizens choose other forms to obtain information. As a child, I was always encouraged to read, from as early as five years, and I developed a habit for reading, not only school material or books, but fiction and non-fiction material. As an adult I have continued the practice, but I now read more for information, I enjoy reading. This is a plea not only from the Newsday, but a general plea to our nation’s citizens to read.
KEN SMITH
Woodbrook
THE EDITOR: As a nation, we must turn to the Lord, put away our abominable idols for it is written, blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.
Break up your fallow ground, do not sow among thorns, circumcise your hearts to the Lord. The enemy, like a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour. In the form of banditry, domestic violence, school violence, road carnage, etc. He sets out to steal, kill and destroy. Because of this, we must fast and pray and call on the mercy of the Lord.
It seems as though the heart of those in authority, including the priests, pastors are failing them for fear for when they say crime is on the decrease and you look twice, we see it becoming more and more gruesome, more frequent. Woe unto us if God does not intervene on Trinidad, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbour wicked thoughts of racism, segregation? Our crooked ways and deeds have brought this calamity upon us. It is a bitter pill to swallow.
O Lord, have mercy on us! Calamity after calamity in the land. One day you’re here and the next day you’re gone. How long again must we face up with this curse? There are those who have turned aside and become useless, they don’t seek for God, their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, there is no fear of God before their eyes. Although the women dress themselves fashionably in vain, they do so because their own lover turns on them to destroy them. As the Lord lives, if we repent we will bless ourselves in him and in him alone we will boast.
IAN CROSS
Arima
