Under-19s set to make history again

Yesterday Trinidad and Tobago swept past Jamaica in the semi-finals of the limited overs knock out tournament to book their place in the final against Barbados today at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown.

Barbados defeated the Windwards Islands by 29 runs at Sion Hill yesterday in their semi-final for an opportunity to turn the tables on their historical opponents.

The one-day championship match is a repeat of the league final which Trinidad won by the comprehensive margin of 122 runs on Monday, final day of the four-day fixture.

Yesterday, a combination of solid batting and penetrative bowling assured the Trinidad and Tobago lads a date with destiny when they beat the Jamaicans by 35 runs in an enthralling contest.

Trinidad and Tobago won the toss and decided to take first knock on a freshly cut outfield and a flatter pitch which proved to be better track for batting then previously seen in the two-week TCL Challenge.

Manager of the TT team, Roland Sampath said they opted for two extra batters selecting Deon Bennett and Mario Belcon in place of Darren Bravo and Dane Teelucksingh.

Belcon topscored with 28 while Williams Perkins hit 27, and skipper Jason Mohammed and Bennett both chipped in with 24 as Trinidad and Tobago were all out for 165 in their allotted 50 overs.

In their reply, Jamaica had a solid start with Cardell Simpson making 29 and Jamie Trenchfield and Ziggy Levy both scoring 21.

But they were undone by Rishi Bachan who took four wickets for 18 runs including a hat-trick falling for 130 in 47.2 overs.

Also making their mark were Sunil Narine, the league’s top wicket-taker, who captured two wickets for 29 and medium pacer Jewan Ramroop with two for 18.

Yesterday Sampath, a former national allrounder said he was pleased with the team’s perfor- mance but will be really happy tomorrow should Trinidad and Tobago win their second champion-ship of the 2005 series.

Coincidentally the only time a team has won double champion-ships was two years ago when Trinidad and Tobago, under Sampath, established the unique feat.

Sampath said yesterday after the semi-final match in a telephone interview that facing Barbados again in a second final in a week holds no special terrors.

"We have beaten them already so the boys are confident of doing well again. But the one-day final may suit the Barbadians better. I expect a close and keenly fought match," Sampath, a former policeman said.

In St Vincent for yesterday’s match was second vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Baldath Mahabir. He said he was very impressed with the outcricket of the Trinidad and Tobago team.

"It certainly was a cut above the rest. The fielding and catching were brilliant. And although the scores do no reflect the true nature of the contest, it was a very good match," Mahabir said.

SUMMARISED SCORES—

T&T 165 in 50 overs (Mario Belcon 28, William Perkins 27, Jason Mohammed 24, Deon Bennett 24; Ziggy Levy 2-32, Albert Gopie 2-36) vs JAMAICA 130 in 47.2 overs (Cordell Simpson 29, Andre McCarthy 23, Jamie Trenchfield 21, Ziggy Levy 21; Rishi Bachan 4-21, Jeewan Ramroop 2-18, Sunil Narine 2-29)

BARBADOS 146 in 48.4 overs (Shamarh Brooks 33, Jonathan Carter 16, Orman Kellman 16, Mark Trotman 15, Jevon Searles 14, Neval Grazette 13; Nelon Pascal 3-14, Haniff Alexander 2-26, Earven Fredericks 2-31) vs WINDWARDS 117 in 43.2 overs (Donwell Hector 19, Heron Campbell 16, Tyron Toussaint 15; Nicolai Charles 2-11, Kemar Roach 2-20, Steve Pinder 2-25).