Ganga’s boys make clean sweep at President’s Cup awards

A triumphant Trinidad and Tobago, under the inspirational captaincy of West Indies A captain Daren Ganga, proved its overall all-round strength and made a clean sweep of all the awards of the President’s Cup Limited-overs competition which concluded yesterday at the famous Kensington Oval, Bridgetown. It was an historic final for the Trinidadians who showed tremendous grit and resilience under skipper Ganga. It was TT’s first regional senior trophy win after eight years. TT defeated Guyana by eight runs in the pulsating 1996 final at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda. Sherwin Ganga picked up two special awards of the “Best Batsman” and “Best  Bowler.” Compatriots Dinesh Ramdin copped the “Best Wicketkeeper” and Daren Ganga the “Best Fielder” awards for the finals.

And to crown the Trinidadians’ overall dominance it was talented allrounder  Richard Kelly who walked away with the “Player of the Final” award with his unbeaten 42 and two wickets for 26 runs off seven overs. Skipper Daren Ganga received the coveted President’s  Cup and the winning cheque worth US$10,000. All members of the TT team also collected gold medals. Ganga and his jubilant teammates danced, celebrated and also took time to give thanks to  God for his guidance and blessings in securing an historic four-wicket victory and dethroning Guyana in a low-scoring final, which started one hour late because of early morning showers. 

The match, reduced to 45 overs-a-side, saw Guyana skittled out for 160 off 43.2 overs after Ganga, who won the toss,  asked the former champions to take first strike. The move brought immediate dividends as right-arm medium pacer Reyad Emrit emerged as the main destroyer with four wickets for 27 from nine overs. His new ball partner Richard Kelly provided admirable support and snapped up two wickets for 26 from seven overs. After TT lost early wickets, allrounder Kelly imposed his presence on the pulsating and nail-biting encounter. He stayed with left-handed Jan (54 not out) and they posted an unbroken 78-run seventh  wicket match-winning partnership which gave Trinidad and Tobago their seventh regional limited-overs title.