TT Under-15s whip Guyana

SOLID performances by skipper Kjorn Ottley (two wickets for 10 and 14 not out) and vice-captain Adrian Barath (33 runs) sparked Trinidad and Tobago to a convincing six-wicket victory over Guyana yesterday. This was in the opening round match of the CLICO West Indies Under-15 Challenge at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva yesterday. The home team, coached by Dasrath Maharaj got a perfect start to their campaign to re-capture the regional title after a hat-trick of victories in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Today the hosts take on Leeward Islands at Presentation College, Chaguanas Ground The action yesterday started under excellent weather conditions as Guyana, last year’s runners-up, won the toss and decided to take first strike. The move backfired as the local lads enjoyed themselves on the lively strip as they bowled out the visitors for 85 in 42.1 overs. Only Norwayne Fredericks provided any resistance and topscored with 21 which included three fours. Medium pacer Marlon Briceno bowled well with the new ball and captured two wickets for 12 runs from five overs while leg spinner Yannick Cariah also grabbed two for 12 from five. Briceno also picked up three catches for an excellent all-round performance on the field. However, it was the steady off-spin bowling by Ottley which tied down the Guyanese. He finished with impressive figures of 10-2-10-2. With a relatively small target, deputy leader Barath steered his team to safety after he lost Akeem Mohammed leg before wicket to Oyono Sampson for one run and Isaac Nicholas run out for nought.

The wickets fell at 21 and 26 but Barath steadied the ship after the early hiccup and was well on course for his first half-century when he ran himself out for a well-played  33. The Presentation College, Chaguanas and FCB Clarke Road player smashed five fours in his match-winning innings. But the job of polishing off the victory was left to Ottley who was undefeated on 14 and Yannick Cariah who also remained unbeaten on 12 as TT reached 89 for four wickets. For his outstanding bowling and unbeaten knock, Queen’s Royal College’s Ottley gained the nod for the “Man-of- the-Match” award.

Summarised Scores— 
At NCC, Balmain: GUYANA 85 all out in 42.1 overs (Norwayne Fredericks 21; Marlon Briceno 2 for 12, Yannick Cariah 2 for 12 and Kjorn Ottley 2 for 10) vs TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 89 for 4 off 26.4 overs (Adrian Barath 33, Kjorn Ottley 14 not out, Yannick Cariah 12 not out; Oyono Sampson 1 for 15).
Result: TT won by six wickets.
“Man-of-the-Match”: Kjorn Ottley (TT)