Wanderers take over Carib League

W-Connection Wanderers have jumped ahead in the Carib National Cricket League Division One competition. The Gus Logie-coached club’s new position resulted from their seemingly incomprehensible nine-wicket victory over reigning champion FCB Clarke Road in their second round encounter at Gilbert Park, California Sunday last. Setting a victory target of 141 off the mandatory 15 overs of the final day’s play, Wanderers’ opening pair of William Perkins and Looknath Ramsuchit went on the rampage which made their supporters dance for joy as they overhauled the total with three overs to spare. Perkins unleashed some sizzling shots in memorable match-winning innings of 79 off only 38 balls. He and Ramsuchit were associated in a batting blitz which produced 115 runs off 10 overs. The come-from-behind victory was worth 24 points. Ramsuchit made an unbeaten 47.

Wanderers moved to the top of the eight-team standings. Clarke Road made 154 and 128 while Wanderers scored 140 and 141 for one wicket. Ceramic MerryBoys stayed in contention and a chance to re-capture the Division One title when they recorded an impressive nine-wicket win over Tile It Central Sports at Presentation College, Chaguanas. The Diego Martin-based team collected 25 points and are now in second spot on 33 points. Central Sports enjoyed the NCL lead temporarily with first innings honours over Wanderers in the first round engagement. They had 18 points but with only four in the second round and found themselves bracketed with Clarke Road (seven points in 2nd round) in sixth position on 22 points each. At the Inshan Ali Park, promising national youth player Manoj Sirju recorded his maiden Division One century, an even hundred in Alescon Comet second innings score of 210 for one.

Sirju, the Presentation College (Chaguanas) captain has been in prolific batting form for his school and after a record-breaking performance of 16 sixes and 12 fours in his 196 against Presentation College (San Fernando) at Union Hall, he finally proved himself with the big boys. He shared an unbroken second wicket partnership worth 200 runs with former Guyanese senior player Travis Dowlin who also finished with an undefeated even 100. Sirju’s century was studded with two towering sixes and nine powerful fours while Dowlin stroked thirteen boundaries in his ton. Sirju had made 46 in the first innings and hammered one six and four fours while former national youth opener Chris Magram belted one six and six fours in his topscore of 52 which carried Comet to 222.

But Satish Naidoo blasted nine fours in his 47 while Shazam Babwah topscored with 55 (4x4s) for Clico Preysal which snatched first innings points with 223 in their turn at the crease. Andy Jackson made 39 with one six and four fours. But Comet gained valuable batting bonus points through the efforts of Sirju and Dowlin and moved to fourth overall on 25 points. Preysal gained 14 points and are now in third spot on 29 points. Brilliant all-round performance by national youth player Jason Mohammed ensured that PowerGen sealed first innings points and closed the gap on the front-runners. Mohammed made 55 and with Gibran Mohammed who made 69 pushed PowerGen to 288 in their first innings against Queen’s Park Cricket Club at Syne Village, Penal.

Mohammed picked up five wickets for 59 and helped restrict the Parkites to 156. With the 15 points, PowerGen occupies fifth position overall on 24 points while QPCC remain in the cellar position on 13. In the third round fixture for this weekend, Queen’s Park will host Clico Preysal at the Oval; Ceramic MerryBoys will tangle with PowerGen Sports at Diego Martin; Alescon Comets will be at home to W-Connection Wanderers at Pierre Road, Charlieville; while defending champions FCB Clarke Road will do battle with Tile It Central Sports at the Wilson Road. Points Standings after two rounds are: W-Connection Wanderers 35; Ceramic MerryBoys 33, Clico Preysal 29; Alescon Comet 25; PowerGen Sports 24; FCB Clarke Road 22; Tile It Central Sports 22 and QPCC 13.