FCB Clarke Road eye NCL double

NATIONAL off-spinner Mukesh Persad claimed four wickets and gave his team first innings advantage over CLICO Preysal yesterday and helped FCB Clarke Road United to maintain their lead in the Carib National Cricket League Division One competition.

With one round to complete the season, the Mahadeo Bodoe-led team are well-placed to record the double, having already won the limited-overs version. But they will have their biggest challenge when they host former champions Alescon Comet in the final round. Ex-West Indies leg spinners Dinanath Ramnarine (5/65 and 2/50) and Mahendra Nagamootoo (2/38 and 4/54) almost won the game for the Charlieville-based Comet team, only denied victory by the PowerGen last wicket pair. Meanwhile, Transbrokage Couva Sports assured themselves of promotion to the top flight after their sixth-round Division Two match with British American Aranguez Sports ended in a draw at the Couva Junior Secondary School ground. Couva Sports have an unassailable 129 points.

Summarised Scores:
Diego Martin Recreation Ground: CERAMIC MERRYBOYS 402 — Richard Kelly 134, Keno Mason 73, Lendl Simmons 65 and 10/0 vs Police 208 —Robert Mahabir 61, Glenford Boyce 52; Rajindra Dhanraj 5/45 and 203 — Glenford Boyce 31, Damien Hanuman 29; Dhanraj 3/37.
Merryboys  30 pts; POLICE 6 pts.
At Wilson Road, Penal: FCB CLARKE ROAD UNITED 403/9 declared — Gregory Mahabir 178, Sean Siloch 65, Ryerson Bhagoo 58 not out, Mahadeo Bodoe 36, Shazam Babwah 3/54, Eugene Antoine 2/60, Ravi Rampaul 2/80 vs CLICO PREYSAL 234  — Dinesh Ramdin 67, Navin Stewart 48, Andy Jackson 38; Mukesh Persad 4/122, Rishi Bachan 2/49.
CLARKE ROAD 18 pts; PREYSAL 9 pts..
At Pierre Road:  ALESCON COMET 252 — Suruj Ragoonath 54, Junior Sadhoo 50; Amit Jaggernauth 5/77, David Williams 3/35 and 139/6 declared — Sadhoo 54, Clint Yorke 27; Jaggernauth 2/55 vs POWERGEN 174 — Joel Surujbally 36, Samuel Badree 33, Amit Jaggernauth 30; Dinanath Ramnarine 5/65, Mahendra Nagamootoo 2/38  and 163/9 — D Williams 29, Dave Mohammed 40 not out; Nagamootoo 4/54, Ramnarine 2/50, Yorke 2/28.
COMETS 19 pts; POWERGEN 10 pts.
At Queen’s Park Oval: QUEEN’S PARK 403/9 declared — Brent Augustus 137, Shakeel Ali 54 not out; Devindra Krishna 4/96 vs TILE IT CENTRAL SPORTS 214 — Lennox Cush 57, Navin Chan 37, Riyad Emrit 34; Dwayne Bravo 5/47, Ernil Ryan 2 for 22, Ricardo Paty 2/63 and 111/7 — Randy Ramnanan 37, Krishna 25 not out; Phillip Browne 6/29.
QUEEN’S PARK 21 pts; CENTRAL SPORTS 8 pts.
Current points standings: FCB CLARKE ROAD 110 pts; ALESCON COMETS 102 pts; CERAMIC MERRYBOYS 99 pts; CLICO PREYSAL 96 pts; POWERGEN 90 pts; TILE IT CENTRAL SPORTS 81 pts; QUEEN’S PARK 70 pts; POLICE 37 pts.