BRIDGETOWN: Opener Philo Wallace lashed a 137 to guide Barbados to a crucial first innings lead over Trinidad and Tobago on the second day of their Carib Beer International Challenge cricket semi-final yesterday.
Barbados were 288 for seven at the close, a first innings advantage of 30. Earlier in the day, Trinidad and Tobago added just eight runs to their overnight 250 for nine before they were bowled out for 258. Fast bowler Corey Collymore claimed the last wicket to end with five for 65. But the day belonged to 32-year-old Wallace, who slammed 14 fours and five huge sixes in 322 minutes. The right-hander faced 211 deliveries and benefited from two chances at 10 and 107. Fast bowler Marlon Black missed a sharp return catch while Dave Mohammed grassed a spiralling catch also off Black later in the day. Wallace gained excellent support from captain Courtney Browne, who scored 67 in just over three hours. Browne struck nine boundaries off 133 balls.
The pair added 115 for the fifth wicket after West Indies pacer Mervyn Dillon snared three wickets to restrict Barbados to 141 for four. Dillon (three for 67) picked up Sherwin Campbell (7), Ryan Hinds (26) and Floyd Reifer (2), all to catches off the outside edge to wicket-keeper Lendl Simmons. Off-spinner Rodney Sooklal ended with four for 82 off 23 overs. Wallace brought up his milestone in grand style with two sixes in one over off Sooklal. The first blow cleared the Kensington Stand at midwicket while the next one sailed over the Pickwick Pavilion as the batsman raised his arms in celebration. It was Wallace’s second century of the season — his first also came off Trinidad in the preliminary round. He fell late in the day to a tired stroke off Sooklal, slapping a long hop to extra cover. Sooklal also removed Dwayne Smith (16) to a catch at deep midwicket, bowled Ryan Hurley (4) and had Browne caught and bowled. The match resumes in Barbados today.
ALBION: Guyana faced a huge Jamaican first innings total at the close of play on the second day of their Carib Beer International Challenge cricket semi-final yesterday.
Guyana closed at 39 without loss in reply to Jamaica’s 486-7 declared. Openers Azeemul Haniff and Krishna Arjune survived nearly an hour of fast bowling from the Jamaican pair of Jermaine Lawson and Darren Powell. With memories of their first innings loss to Guyana at home in last year’s First-Class cricket championship final, Jamaica stepped up their scoring rate in the afternoon session. The visitors scraped a mere 38 runs in the first hour yesterday, compared to the brisk and boundary-studded 114 during the same period on Saturday. The remainder of Jamaica’s top order made aggressive half centuries, with 79 each from Marlon Samuels and Gareth Breese, 58 from Wavell Hinds and 55 from skipper Robert Samuels. The exceptions were Leon Garrick (31) and Chris Gayle (19).
Yesterday’s play was marked by tighter bowling from Guyana compared to the previous day. But partnerships of 133 between Breese and Samuels, 60 between Samuels and century-maker Dave Bernard (109) and 48 between Samuels and wicketkeeper Keith Hibbert ensured that Jamaica posted one of the largest totals in this year’s annual First-Class competition. Bernard’s century consisted of 13 boundaries in more than seven hours. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are playing in the other semi-final fixture.
Trinidad and Tobago tennis stars have their work cut out when they play Puerto Rico in the Davis Cup Group “B” opening round of the Davis Cup American Zone Three encounter on the refurbished Jean Pierre Complex centre court at Mucurapo today from 10 am.
At the draw made at the Crowne Plaza yesterday, TT were drawn in the same Group with Puerto Rico (seeded number one for Group “B”), Honduras and El Salvador. Guatemala head Group “A” which includes Jamaica, Bolivia and St Lucia. The Central Americans, rated number 69 by the International Tennis Federation, will battle St Lucia (No 108) on court number two while Jamaica (No 83) and Bolivia (No 90) face each other on court number one. Honduras ( No 82) will clash with El Salvador ( No 101) on court number three. TT’s hopes rest with reigning national champion Ivor Grazette and the United States-based Stone brothers — Shane and Troy who will feature in the doubles emcounter.
Former national Under-18 champion Dexter Mahase is the other player among the foursome who will be striving to push the twin-island republic back into the Americas Group Two Division. TT team coach Lennox Francis is optimistic and he says that the doubles match could be the decider in this important tie. The former two-time national champion said the doubles with Shane and Troy will probably decide the winner against Puerto Rico. “We have our toughest opponent first but this is how the draw is done,” Francis said. “It will not be easy but the players will be fighting hard for victory. I feel confident that the boys do well in the tournament.The new courts provide a nice pace and will suit their style of play.”
Shane and Troy Stone carried TT’s colours at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships held last year in El Salvador.They copped the bronze medal in the doubles tournament. Their experience and combination will be put to the test while Grazette must also play to his best ability to give the homesters much to shout about. ITF Tournament referee Jorge Diaz of Portugal outlined the rules and regulations governing the competition. He insisted that all team members, both players and officials, adhere to the Davis Cup rules or else they will face disciplinary action which could affect their team’s chances. The opening ceremony starts at 9 am today and the tournament ends on Friday.
Teams
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Ivor Grazette, Shane Stone,Troy Stone and Dexter Mahase.Lennox Francis (coach), Ashton Wharwood (manager).
PUERTO RICO: Gabriel Montilla, Gilberto Alvarez,Jan Polhamus and Luis Haddock. Francisco Gonzalez (coach), Kelvin Rivera (aast. coach) and Angel Ginorio (physical trainer).
GUATEMALA: Rodrigo Gabriel, Cristian Paiz, Jorge Tejada, Walter Barahona and Sabio Sical.
EL SALVADOR: Rafael Arevelo, Jaime Cuellar, Jose Baires, Augusto Senabira and Diomedes Antonio Pineda.
HONDURAS: Carlos Albert Caceres, Calton Enrique Albarez, Pablo Hernandez,Franklin Orlando Garcia and Carlos Anibal Rodrigez.
JAMAICA: Ryan Russell, Dustin Brown, Damar Johnson, Nakia Gordon and Douglas Burke (non-playing captain).
BOLIVIA:Javier Taborga, Alberto Sottocorno, Diego Camacho and Ramiro Benavides (captain).
ST LUCIA: Sircean Arlian, Vernon Lewis,Alberton Richelieu jnr and Yves Sinson. Trevor Hunte (captain) and Errol Hunte (manager).
ALESCON COMET crushed Police by eight wickets with a full day to spare, to extend their lead in the Carib National Cricket League yesterday.
The Charlieville, Chaguanas team replying to the Police 220-run total, rattled up 301 for six wickets declared at Pierre Road, with Clint Yorke hitting a brilliant 78. Batting a second time, the lawmen were routed for 125, and Comet quickly knocked off the 45-run winning target without loss. Imports had a good day at the crease yesterday, with ex-West Indies left-hander Keith Arthurton scoring an unbeaten 173 for CLICO Preysal in their total of 284 for six wickets, replying to Queen’s Park’s 170 at the Queen’s Park Oval. At Wilson Road, Penal Guyanese Lennox Cush scored 80 for Tile It Central Sports at Wilson Road, but his effort was not enough as his team fell 28 runs short of FCB Clarke Road’s 234. Mukesh Persad took six wickets for 54 runs. Ceramic Trinidad Merryboys led by 106 from Trinidad and Tobago batsman Lincoln Roberts, scored 266 for nine wickets in reply to Powergen’s 159 at Diego Martin.
PORTO: Portugal beat Brazil for the first time in 37 years on Saturday, winning a friendly football match 2-1 to hand new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari a win over the team he steered to the World Cup title last year.
The winning goal nine minutes from the end came on a free-kick from FC Porto’s Brazilian-born midfielder Deco, who recently took Portuguese nationality and was a controversial selection. Deco, who came on as a second-half substitute, hit a curling strike which sneaked past goalkeeper Marcos when Brazil were down to 10 men. Roberto Carlos was sent off for a nasty foul which brought the free kick. Bordeaux striker Pauleta beat his marker to the front post and from one metre (yard) tapped in a low cross from Sergio Conceicao to give Portugal the lead after just eight minutes.
Ronaldinho, the best player for Brazil, equalised with a penalty in the 64th minute when he was fouled after darting in from the right flank. “We got the victory, but Brazil came close to winning, too. They were very organised and showed lots of quality,” Scolari said. Portugal lost their first match under Scolari, going down by a single goal against Italy. Portugal, who automatically qualify for the 2004 European Championship as hosts, made most of the early running on a rainy night at FC Porto’s Antas Stadium. Ronaldo and Rivaldo were sluggish and it was left to Ronaldinho to show the sharp footwork and bursts of pace which helped Brazil to their fifth World Cup trophy last year. Rivaldo missed a golden chance to level the score after 18 minutes when he tripped over the ball in front of an open goal. The Brazilians only began to find their rhythm on the half-hour. Roberto Carlos twice struck thundering long-range shots, one of them rebounding off the woodwork, and Rivaldo also hit the bar with a free kick before the break.
A THRILLING finish is expected in today’s novel “Winner Takes All” 30-lap event sponsored by Harricrete.
The race, organised by Phillips Promotions, is the feature event on a eight-event programme which gets going from 2 pm in front of the Cricket Wicket Pub, opposite the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. At stake in today’s race is $3,000 for the winner. Although the local wheelsmen, headed by Caribbean Road Champion Stephen Mangroo and the consistent Emile Abraham are favoured to feature in the finish, all eyes will be on the visiting competitors from the Czech Republic. Petr Klimes and Filip Sustr arrived in Trinidad last week and are eager to get into their stride in anticipation of the upcoming Beacon Insurance Company Limited West Indies versus the World series. They are also expected to compete in this weekend’s Southern Games at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.
Apart from the main event today, there will also be races for juniors, club riders, veterans, tinymites, unregistered cyclists and women. Last weekend Abraham proved his status as the “man to beat” when the Beacon Insurance Cycling Series pedals off in April. The Tobago-born pedal-pusher won the main event, the 30-lap race, as the “Come Race Series” continued outside the Cricket Wicket Pub. In his first contest since returning from training in Europe, Abraham cruised to victory ahead of Guy Costa, Joshua Alexander and Christopher Gill. And the ever-smiling Abraham opened the day’s events with the gold medal in the one-lap open sprint. Kathy Looger sped away with the women five-lap race, with Maria Gooding and Monifa Ross trailing while Gregory Dandrade copped the veteran six-lap challenge, with Earl La Fond and Ronald Peters behind. Adam Alexander claimed the three-lap event for juniors, juveniles and tinymites, while Christopher Sellier was second and Gustavo Jacob third.
The track events were contested on Saturday at Skinner Park, San Fernando, with Winzey “The Arima Kid” Mohammed beating the odds with victory in the open 30-lap race, with “Cyclist of the Year 2002” Elisha Greene the runner-up and Chris Gill third.
ANTIGUAN middle-distance queen Janil Williams sounded a warning to her fellow competitors as she whipped the field in the Girls Open 3,000 metres as the trials to select the Trinidad and Tobago team for the CARIFTA Track and Field Championships ended at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday.
Williams, the reigning CARIFTA champ, led throughout yesterday’s final to clock an impressive 10 minutes 29.05 seconds, with the dreadlocked Pilar McShine of Success/Laventille following in 10:29.69, under the CARIFTA qualifying time of 10:40.00. McShine booked a spot on the team on Saturday after she won the girls Under-17 1,500m in 4:45.71 (qualification time 4:58.00) while Eagles’ Desiree John, who will compete in the Girls U-17 100m hurdles after clocking 15.15 seconds on the opening day (qualification time 15.25), won the girls U-17 300m hurdles in 44.74 seconds, under the CARIFTA time of 45 seconds flat. Lok Toya McShine of Success will participate in the Girls Under-20 discus after a best throw of 36.79 metres (qualification standard 36m) while Athletic Central’s Sandino Nero will compete in the boys U-20 3,000m after he ran 9:17.81 yesterday (qualification time 9:30.00.
On Saturday, Kyhesha Hills of Quantum cruised to victory in the Girls U-20 400m in 54.53, while Memphis’ Abigail David squeezed under the standard time of 56 seconds when she clocked 55.99 for second place. Zenith’s Renny Quow will compete in the Boys U-17 400m during the Easter weekend with a entry time of 49.39 seconds (qualification time 50.20) while Carlon Arthur of Morvant Jets won the Boys U-17 version in 4:05.64 (qualification time 4:06.00). And Rhonda Watkins of Bishop Anstey will participate in both the Girls’ Under-17 long and high jumps. Watkins took the long jump in 5.88 m (qualification standard 5.20m) and the high jump in 1.71m, ahead of schoolmate Carleigh Bacchus 1.60 (qualification standard 1.60m). Also booking places on the CARIFTA team were Burnley’s Annie Alexander in the girls U-17 javelin with a throw of 34.61m (qualification standard 33m); Peter Carter of QRC in the Boys U-17 high jump with a leap of 1.85m (qualification standard 1.85m); and schoolmate Cory Gibbs in the boys U-20 version in two metres (qualification standard 2m).
Kevin Haynes of Neon Trackers was the only athlete to win three individual gold medals at the inaugural Manny Ramjohn Memorial Invitational Games on Friday.
Racing among the juniors (Under 13), Haynes completely dominated his rivals as he won the triple in the 100, 200 and 400 metres at the Marabella stadium named after former top TT runner Manny Ramjohn. He clocked 13.13 and outsped VOS Government’s Aaron Samuel (13.26 secs) and Noen Trackers’ Edwin Simon (13.38) in the Boys Under-13 100-metre dash. Haynes returned to the prize rostrum for more “golds” as he won the 400 metres in one min. 1.84 seconds and the 200 metres in 26.62 seconds. In the one-lap race, he outdistanced Curwin Williams of VOS Government (1.04:05 sec) and his own clubmate Edwin Simon (1: 07.84) while he took care of VOS’s Aaron Samuel (27.14 secs) and Neon Trackers’ Edwin Simon (28.83) in the metric furlong (half-lap) event.
VOS Government’s Onika Murray was also in impressive form as she whipped her rivals to score the double among the Under-13 girls. Coached by Gunness Persad, Murray won the 100 metres in 14.02 secs and the 200 metres in 29.58 secs. Junior Jones of Neon Trackers also did the double among the Boys Under-15. He won the 100 metres in 11.32 and the 400-metre race in 54.07. He, however, had to settle for second spot in the 200 metres to the fast finishing Joel Romain who prevailed in 22.74. Jones clocked 23.89. Sharane Simon of Petro P-a-P took the double in the Girls Under-13 100 metres (13.13 secs) and 200 metres (27.36 secs). In both events, she led home Deandra Daniel (13.74 and 28.44) and Nakita LaRode (14.05 and 28.99 secs).
Among the seniors, St Vincent’s Pamenos Ballantyne was the star performer in the 1,500 and 5,000 metres races, winning both easily and collected the Mannie Ramjohn Memorial Trophy for his victory in the 12-and-half-laps race, which was timed at 15 min. 07.26 secs. Tigers’ Kerry Richardson won the 800 metres for men with a time of one min. 55.84 secs. He finished ahead of Defence Force’s Leon Hazzard (1: 57.02) and Janille Nelson (1: 58.38). Antigua’s Heather Samuel took the women’s sprint double while her established compatriot Janil Williams proved too much for her rivals in the 800 and 1500 metres. Guyana’s Andre Blackman won the premier 100 metres dash in 10.18 secs ahead of Antigua’s Daniel Bailey (10.21 secs) who was surprisingly awarded the 200 metres ahead of Blackman in a very tight finish. Bailey clocked 20.95 secs to Blackman’s 21.10 secs.
Guyana’s 14-year-old Jennifer Chichester made her mark by winning the feature 3,000 metres (10 min. 26.38 secs) from United States’ Katie Ryan (10:27.23) and Antigua’s Tamika Butler (11: 05.53). She had earlier placed second to Carifta’s middle-distance champion Williams in the 1,500 metres and injured her left ankle running bare-footed. But she shrugged off the ill-effects and produced a hair-rising finish in the 3,000 metres and won herself many admirers among the athletics fraternity.
TORONTO, Canada: Trinidadian jockey Emile Ramsammy rode a winner for Jamaican trainer Laurie Silvera on Friday to move into joint leadership in the Woodbine Jockeys’ Championship.
Ramsammy steered 3-2 favourite Halo’s Appeal to an easy win in the second race for Silvera for his third win of the season — joining Robert Landry, Dino Luciani and Steve Bahen in the early leading group. Barbadian Slade Callaghan also had a win on Friday. Ramsammy, champion jockey of Canada in 1996 and 1997, was a mere passenger on Halo’s Appeal, as the speedy three-year-old colt quickly took command and coasted to a 13-3/4 length win in the five-furlong sprint.
Halo’s Appeal stopped the clock at 58.63 seconds for Ramsammy and trainer Silvera, who also owns the colt. Callaghan got his win with Paris Caper in the fifth race, pushing the colt to a 2-1/4 length win at odds of 3-1. Paris Caper entered the stretch second by three lengths but wore down leader Herbs Spirit in deep stretch to land the five furlong sprint in 58.42 seconds.
THE PIRANHA Aquatics Swim Club have hailed the recent record-breaking performance of one of their members in the United States.
In a congratulatory message to George Bovell, Al Roberts, president of Piranhas Aquatics, said the club was proud of his historic and unprecedented achievement. Last week Bovell, who attends Auburn University broke the American and NCAA records for the 200-yards Individual Medley at the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas. Roberts, an attorney-at-law, reminded Bovell he had created history by becoming the fastest man on American soil to swim the 200m IM. “This is an astonishing feat which represents a tribute to your talent, hard work, commitment and sacrifice. We are justifiably proud of you, nationally and regionally,” Roberts stated.
The Piranha Aquatics head, who is also the immediate past president of the Amateur Swimming Association, said Bovell was “an aquatic examplar par excellence and constitutes a positive inspiration to his team-mates and the nation.” Roberts noted that the American report on Bovell’s accomplishment interestingly recorded cultural elements of Trinidad and Tobago’s calypso and steel pan music. “Bovell was now third at 48.44, but then he flipped and began groovin’ to a calypso beat, one monster pullout, a few strokes and he was in the lead, the steel drums playing in his mind. “Bovell blew away the field with his 29:37 breaststroke split and then he had more. Streaking through the final 50m free, Bovell split 24:37 to light up the scoreboard 1:42.66 (the crowd erupted). “A new NCAA record and a new United States Open record,” quoted Roberts from the report. “This was a refreshing and scintillating reference to and incorporation into the description of your exploits of a taste of local and regional cultural flavour,” Roberts stated.
The Piranha Aquatics president promised the club’s unqualified support and encouragement and exhorted Bovell to continue swimming hard to make TT proud. Last week in the wake of his performance, Anil Roberts, the Piranhas coach said Bovell is now well prepared for the World Championships and the Pan American Games later this year. “He is a better long course swimmer but has shown he has developed well over the shorter distances and is set to compete among the best,” said Roberts, son of the Piranhas president.
