Rampaul, Babwah star with the bat

Ravi Rampaul, in his first full competitive match, displayed his all-round ability when he slammed a belligerent 71 on the second day of the final Trinidad and Tobago cricket trial match at Gilbert Park, California yesterday. Rampaul who had sustained shin splints which curtailed his international cricket career with the West Indies team, was forced to return home midway on tour to England. But having failed to pick up a wicket in his six-over spell for Team “A” on Tuesday, Rampaul starred with the bat and impressed with his clean, bold hitting during his 101 minutes stay at the crease. He struck three huge sixes and six superbly-timed fours off 78 balls and shared in a 42-run seventh wicket partnership with his captain and Clico Preysal clubmate Dinesh Ramdin who made 20.

Rampaul then followed up with a 46-run eighth wicket partnership with Amit Jaggernauth (23). A steady shower of rain at 4.30 pm prevented any further play with Team “A” at 26 without loss. Tishan Maraj and Sherwin Ganga were the not-out batsmen on nine and 16 runs respectively. Rampaul’s senior clubmate Shazam Babwah also found his touch and reminded the selectors that he is ready to retain his place in the middle order. The hard-hitting Babwah missed the century-mark by ten runs when he was adjudged leg before wicket to off-spinner Rodney Sooklal who emerged as the leading wicket-taker with four wickets for 95 runs.

Babwah batted for 166 minutes and featured in 125-run third wicket partnership with Kenton Thompson (35). He recorded three sixes and four fours off 154 balls while Thompson had two sixes and one four off 125 balls. The pitch played a lot easier yesterday than the previous day and the small boundaries were enough encouragement for the batsmen to go airborne rather than on the ground. Even regional youth player Rishi Bachan, batting at number ten, registered one six and a four in an encouraging 29 off 58 balls. Bachan had claimed five wickets for 30 runs on the first day and his solid showing with the bat will strengthen his chances of making his senior debut during the upcoming First-Class season. The match concludes today with play starting at 10 am.

Scores: TEAM “A” 205 and 26 without loss (Tishan Maraj 9 not out, Sherwin Ganga 16 not out) vs TEAM “B” 312 (Shazam Babwah 90, Ravindranath Rampaul 71, Kenton Thompson 35, Rishi Bachan 29, Amit Jaggernauth 23, Dinesh Ramdin 20; Rodney Sooklal 4 for 95 from 26 overs, Dave Mohammed 2 for 77 from 24.2 overs, Sherwin Ganga 1 for 28, Samuel Badree 1 for 33 and Rishard Harris 1 for 36).