TT seek full points against Windies ‘B’

TRINIDAD and Tobago buoyed by their first innings win over the Leeward Islands in the opening round of the Carib Beer Series at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, South Trinidad, will be looking for  full points over the West Indies “B” when their clash begins at the National Cricket Centre (NCC), Balmain, Couva, today. Team manager Omar Khan said yesterday said: “The boys were given a rest today before the start of the game tomorrow. Our preparations have been hampered somewhat by the rain with the players having to use the indoor nets on Wednesday to have a work out.

“Nevertheless the boys are all ready and confident that they will do well against the West Indies “B.”  We have warned them against complacency, because the West Indies team were able to humble Kenya, an international side. “There are also a lot of good players on the West Indies “B” team and let us hope they don’t pick up form against us. I think that our players will be better suited to the pitch having played a lot of cricket there. “The pitch as is traditionally the case, will favour batting and we are looking for big scores from our batsmen.” Khan also reported that middle order batsman Tishan Maraj is fully fit and will take his place in the team. Maraj injured the middle finger on his right hand during his debut knock of 64 against the Leewards.

Trinidad and Tobago made a good start to their 2004 campaign with six points from the Leewards match at Guaracara Park last week. Khan said: “We were very happy to gain first innings points over the Leewards and we are going for 12 points from this match. Our next game is against the Kenyans in Tobago, and if we get 12 points against them, we will be sitting pretty good. “This season we are fortunate to have five home games and we plan to use this to full advantage, as we eye our first crown for 18 years.”

Teams: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Imran Jan (capt), Shazam Babwah, Dwayne Bravo, Tishan Maraj, Aneil Kanhai, Earnil Ryan, Kenton Thompson, Gibran Mohammed, Marlon Black, Ryad Emrit, Amit Jaggernauth, Davindra Krishna, Theodore Modeste and Rodney Sooklal. Coach David Williams, manager Omar Khan.
WEST INDIES “B”: Dinesh Ramdin (capt), Ryan Ramdass, Jason Haynes, Lendl Simmons, Assad Fudadin, Danza Hyatt, Gregory Mahabir, Anderson Sealy, Mervin Mathews, Jason Bennett, Dwight Washington, Kenroy Williams, Dennis George and Antonio Thomas.