Clarke Road make Merryboys sad

First Citizen’s Clarke Road cricket team, assisted by three run outs have clinched the Carib Cup title and $25,000 in cash.

Ceramic Trinidad Merryboys were the losers on Friday night being turned away for the third successive time in the final of the 30-overs cricket series. Jubilant at the start of play and feting Carnival style, the “Yellow Brigade” fans dropped their heads when Damodar Dasrath struck the winning runs to lead his team to the six-wicket victory. The final shot of the match sparked wild celebrations among the Greenbacks. Chasing 175 runs for victory at 5.83 runs per over, former Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 player Kenton Thompson with a workman-like 67 not out guided his team to victory at 177 for four in 27.5 overs.

Pacer Dale Douglas, with two wickets in a fiery opening spell reduced Clarke Road to 42/2 but Gregory Mahabir, the West Indies “B” team batsman together with Thompson steadied the innings and took their team to safety. They added 61 runs for the third wicket before Mahabir was caught by Richard Kelly, the best fieldsman on the night for 29. The dependable Mahadeo Bodoe was next in and went for 10 trying to up the tempo. However Guyanese import Damodar Dasrath and Thompson took their team to victory. Thompson was unbeaten on 67 at the end off 74 balls in 123 minutes with five fours and a six, while Dasrath struck two sixes in an unbeaten 24.

Earlier, Merryboys did everything right at the beginning of the match with skipper Keno Mason calling correctly at the toss. Openers Lincoln Roberts and Richard Kelly smashed 33 runs off the first three overs en route to an opening partnership of 86 runs. However three run outs interrupted the innings and they were never to recover reaching 174 for seven in their 30 overs. Roberts struck 43 off 46 balls with six fours and Kelly lashed 38 off 34 balls with four fours and a six. Later on in the innings wicket keeper Mason hit 47 from 46 balls with four fours but this proved too little, too late. Bodoe was the best of the Clarke Road bowlers with three for 22 and was adjudged best bowler on the night.

President of Clarke Road cricket club Baldath Mahabir said his players showed great resolve in getting back into the match after the great start by Roberts and Kelly. Mahabir said: “The boys really came back well after the opening two overs by Dasrath when Merryboys really pounded us. In the face of adversity they did the right things and we came through. I thought our batting was also very good as they batted calmly to reach the total. It shows that the coach is doing the job in keeping this team together as a unit.” Mahabir, who is the national coaching director, had some advice for his close friend and Merryboys president Patrick Rampersad. “I am very disappointed in the national players on the Merryboys team. They were clearly not focussed on the job at hand and speaking as a national cricket administrator I would like to say that our cricket is in trouble if this is the attitude of the players,” Mahabir said.

SUMMARISED SCORES
Ceramic Merryboys 174/7 (30 overs) (Keno Mason 47, Lincoln Roberts 43, Richard Kelly 38, Mahadeo Bodoe 3/22) lost to FCB Clarke Road 177/4 (30 overs) (Kenton Thompson 67 n.o., Gregory Mahabir 29, Damodar Dasrath 24 n.o., Dale Douglas 2/26, Kapil Subran 1/22) — By 6 wkts.
Man-of-match: Kenton Thompson.
Best batsman: Kenton Thompson.
Best bowler: Mahadeo Bodoe.
Best fieldsman: Richard Kelly.