Cooper, Julien shine in Courts InterZone T20

Cooper and his elder brother Silus led South-East Zone’s T20 champions Nazarite Sports Club to an 82-run victory over Swansea (Vega de Oropouche, Sangre Grande) at the Fairfield ground, Princes Town. Julien, meanwhile, piloted South Zone’s runner-up Hermitage Youth Organisation (HYO) to a 25-run win over North Zone kings Sweet Revenge at the Brian Lara recreation ground, Santa Cruz.

Cephas Cooper made an attractive 58 that was decorated with seven fours and one six.

He shared a 151-run second wicket stand with Silus who smashed eight sixes and four fours in the topscore of 93 as Nazarite amassed a challenging 196 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.

Cephas also featured among the wickets with two for 15 runs (2 overs) and was supported by Kyle Dorner (3/15), Charlton Charleau (2/37) and Carlos Moore (2/10) as they bowled out Swansea for 114 runs in 16 overs.

Julien, who opened the batting for HYO, struck seven fours and one six and eventually topscored with 55. He featured in a 51-run third wicket partnership with Brian Deosaran (22) and was third out at 86 for three in the 12th over. Adrian Adams also contributed 33 as HYO posted 140 for six in 20 overs.

Despite Sheldon Thomas’ 54, Sweet Revenge ended their challenge on a sour note when they were restricted to 115 for nine in 20 overs.

Shazard Manshoor (3/26) and former national youth player Javed Mohammed (2/14) did the damage.

In the other re-scheduled matches, Central Zone’s champion team Marchin Patriots edged South-West runner-up National MonDesir Organisation (MYO) by eight runs in a tense match at the Avidesh Samaroo ground, Endeavour; South-West champion Progressive Sports Club got the better of Central Zone’s runner- up Chickland Sports Club by five wickets at the James Park, Point Fortin.

Crystian Thurton, who is tipped to captain the Trinidad and Tobago under 19 team, was the leading scorer for Chickland Sports but ended on the losing side when Progressive Sports replied with 135 for five (18.2 overs) in reply to Chickland’s 132 for nine in 20 overs.

There will be three quarterfinals today. HYO will take on Marchin Patriots at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva; Progressive Sports Club will clash with Dinsley Sports Club at James Park, Point Fortin; Nazarite Sports club will battle All Stars Sports at St Julien. All matches start at 6 pm.

Courts InterZone T20 Summarised Scores: At Fairfield Road, Princes- Town: Nazarite Sports Club 196 for 7 in 20 overs (Silus Cooper 93, Cephas Cooper 58; Damien Boney 3/27) thrashed Swansea 114 all out in 16 overs (Amrit Kistow 22, Peter Cedeno 21; Kyle Dorner 3/15, Cephas Cooper 2/15, Charlton Charleau 2/10, Carlos Moore 2/10).

At Brian Lara recreation ground, Santa Cruz: Hermitage Youth Organisation (HYO) 140 for 6 in 20 overs (Leonardo Julien 55, Adrian Adams 33, Brian Deosaran 22; Joel Sietaram 2/43) beat Sweet Revenge 115 for 9 in 20 overs (Sheldon Thomas 54; Shazard Manshoor 3/26, Javed Mohammed 2/14).

At James Park, Point Fortin: Chickland Sports Club 132 for 9 in 20 overs (Crystian Thurton 48, Joshua Alexis 21; Javed Khan 3/26, Regal Brown 2/21) lost to Progressive Sports Club 135 for 5 in 18.2 overs (Ronnie Goddard 53, Brent Ferris 45).

At Avidesh Samaroo ground, Endeavour: Marchin Patriots 110 all out (Param Rampersad 32, Roshan Parag 19 no; Tariq Abdool 3/5) edged National MonDesir Organisation (NMO) 102 all out Tariq Abdool 69; Ryan Hercules 2/17).

Courts T20 Quarter-Finals today: Hermitage Youth Organisation (HYO) vs Marchin Patriots at NCC, 6pm Nazarite Sports vs All Stars Sports, St Julien, 6 pm Progressive Sports vs Dinsley Sports, James Park, Point Fortin, 6 pm.