‘Franny’ stars in North Zone victory

North Zone maintained their winning ways with an easy 44-run victory over North-East in their TTCBC Courts Senior Inter-Zone second round match played at the Prisons Ground, Arouca, on Friday.

Having started with a convincing win over Tobago in the opening round at the NCC ground, Balmain, North Zone won the toss and took full advantage of batting first compiling 164 runs in 37.2 overs. Left-handed Clevon Frederick topscored with 49 (three fours) while Ramesh Ramdeen was undefeated on 30. Brendon De La Rosa captured three wickets for 18 while Lester Hanuman took two for 32 and Vikish Singh two for 24. Despite a solid 39 by Rishi Mannah, North-East folded up for 120 in 36.3 overs.

Francis Joseph of Invincible Club starred in his team’s victory. The Newsday Assignments Editor mesmerised his opponents with his leftarm spinners and bagged two wickets for 16 from his allotted eight-over spell. He was well supported by medium pacer Luke Latiff  who grabbed two for 19 and Rasheed Mohammed with three for 30. North Zone will clash with UWI St Augustine Campus team on Friday at the Barataria Oval from 10.30 am. Meanwhile, Exchange’s Steve Sookdeo (53) and Orange Valley Sheffield Sports’ Shane Ramlagan (31) sparked Central Zone to a 50-run victory against the British Gas Under-17 team in their Group “B” first round match played at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain.

Sookdeo slammed eight fours and while Ramlagan counted six delightful boundaries as they posted 103 runs for the second wicket partnership. Milton Sports Vidish Maraj stroked four boundaries in his 31 as Central compiled 189 for nine off the allotted 40 overs. Kastri Singh snapped up three wickets for 32 runs for the British Gas team which were skittled out for 139 off 35 overs. Singh made 17. Black and White Calcutta’s Stephen Sooklal, father of national offspinner Rodney Sooklal, was the main destroyer. Bowling medium pace, Sooklal claimed four wickets for 25  while 15-year-old John Eric Sookdeo, son of topscorer Steve Sookdeo, picked up two for 28.