Merry Boys book spot in T20 final

From 7 pm today, at Tarouba, Merry Boys will meet the winners of last evening’s other semi, between Power- Gen Sports and Central Sports, for the title.

Merry Boys posted a useful score of 161 runs in their allotted 20 overs with TT Red Force batsman Isaiah Rajah topscoring with 39 while fellow lefthander Amir Jangoo hit 37 and ex-national and West Indies batsman Lincoln Roberts a quick-fire 33.

Left-arm spinner Ahkeel Mollon, twin brother of veteran national women’s team footballer Ahkeela Mollon, was the chief destroyer for Clarke Road with three wickets for 22 runs while Leeward Islands Hurricanes off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall took 2/21.

In response, Red Force opener Kyle Hope led the way with 65 while former Red Force captain Yannick Ottley contributed 34.

But pacer Keon Isaac ripped through the middle order, and returned figures of 4/15 to seal victory for the 2015 winners and a place back in the title match.

After the early loss of Mario Belcon for one, Jangoo and Rajah made use of a slow pitch for Merry Boys (who chose to bat after winning the toss) before both were held on the boundary by Hope, off Mollon and Ottley respectively.

However, the 42-yearold Roberts used the long handle to good effect, as he struck some lusty blows to push the score from 111/4 to 161, in the space of six overs.

Hope and Ottley featured in a useful third-wicket stand of 68 in 8.4 overs for Clarke Road but, when Ottley skied one from Merry Boys captain Marlon Richards to Roberts at mid-wicket, the balance tilted firmly in Merry Boys’ favour.

Clevon Kalawan had a brisk 18 but Isaac proved too much to handle in the dying stages to seal Clarke Road’s fate.

Summarised Scores: MERRY BOYS 161/6 (20 Overs) - Isaiah Rajah 39, Amir Jangoo 37, Lincoln Roberts 33, Ahkeel Mollon 3/22, Rahkeem Cornwall 2/21 vs CLARKE ROAD 146/8 (20 Overs) - Kyle Hope 65, Yannick Ottley 34, Keon Isaac 4/15.