Ganga elated at title triumph

They won their first regional First-Class title in 21 years, when they completed a comprehensive 264-run victory over Barbados on the last day of their final preliminary match in the Carib Beer Series at the Carlton Sports Club.

TT achieved victory about half-hour before lunch, when Amit Jaggernauth held a low catch at third slip to dismiss Fidel Edwards for a duck, as Barbados chasing a highly improbable, if not impossible target of 412 runs, were dismissed for 147 in their second innings.

It was Barbados’ heaviest defeat in the history of the modern regional First-Class championship (1966 onwards), and a crowning moment in the history of TT cricket, as they claimed their fifth regional First-Class title.

"I think we were starved of an opportunity to play for a regional First-Class title for so long, and now being in position to win a title that was our motivation here," TT captain Daren Ganga told reporters.

"When we won the regional limited-overs competition, ironically in Barbados in 2004, I vowed that TT should take that type of momentum and win a four-day competition.

"We did not win the title the next year, but two years down the line we have achieved it, and I think it was a matter of self belief."

TT entered the match last Thursday knowing only victory would give them the title, and Barbados needed only one point to seal the deal.

Victory however, meant TT and Barbados ended the Championship on 36 points, but the visitors, under the guidelines of the playing conditions, claim the title based on the head-to-head results rule.

"I think we knew that we were the underdogs, and I think that was a great position in which to be coming into a final match, and the guys were up for the challenge from the word, ‘Go!’," Ganga said.

"Even from the day before the match, we knew that if we played good cricket, we would come out with the Cup at the end of the day."

Although Barbados’ decision to put TT into bat surprised Ganga, he was thrilled, since he believed a competitive total would have been challenging for the home team to chase.

"We should have gotten more runs in the first innings, considering the start to the innings we had," he said.

"In restrospect, in our planning, we knew most regional teams struggle to chase totals to win games.

This was our plan, no matter what total we got on the board. We wanted to put pressure on them on the last day, or the second-last day. We knew we had a chance and the guys played well.

"We are still surprised how meekly Barbados played, but they were never put under pressure for the entire competition, so I thought that if we were to do this, we would have a chance. Most regional teams when they are put under pressure, they crack, and we did this, and came out on top."

Ganga expects further support for the match in the two-island republic, following capture of a competition sponsored by Carib Brewery, a company from TT.