One-innings contest looms at Oval

TRINIDAD and Tobago and Leeward Islands cricketers watched in vain yesterday for a break when another shower thundered down at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain after noon. The rain forced umpires Clyde Duncan (Guyana) and Khemraj Barasingha (TT) plus the two captains, Daren Ganga (TT) and Sylvester Joseph (Leewards), to abandon any hopes of cricket action. For the second consecutive day, players from both teams who are eager to play this Carib Beer Cricket Series third round match, were frustrated. They will return to the Oval this morning, hoping that there will be blazing sunshine and strong winds to dry the soggy outfield.

With two days abandoned, the match is watered down to just two days and even today’s play is in doubt because of the heavily-grassed outfield, which remains saturated for the past week. Bright sunshine on Thursday and part of Friday had raised hopes for play yesterday. But those expectations were soon dashed with overnight rain and early morning showers which swept across the island. These budding stars, who are keyed up to enhance their reputations with some sterling performances, also had their spirits dampened. TT “Young Stars” were hoping that they could have advanced their points tally into the 20s. But now, those fleeting optimism would only be kept alive should there be enough time for a one innings decision but it must lead in favour of skipper Daren Ganga and his youthful team members.

Having whipped the mighty Barbadians in the “Eastern Caribbean Derby” at Barbados’ Crab Hill ground last  Monday, the TT team is brimming with confidence and they know that consistency and patience will be needed to carry the momentum to something much more glorious than winning the President’s Cup. Knowing that two full days play curtailed without a ball being bowled, Ganga is still keeping his troop buoyant and ready for action. “With two days play lost already, the match comes down to a one innings decision, either way, should there be enough time for play,” he said. “There is nothing we can do with this type of weather. We are disappointed in not playing but we are ready to prove ourselves once we get play tomorrow (today) and Monday (tomorrow). It will call for a lot of application especially if there is moisture on the pitch and we have to bat first, as we did against Barbados,” Ganga added.