TT go for second Carib victory

CONFIDENT Trinidad and Tobago cricketers, led by Daren Ganga, are aiming for outright victory over Leeward Islands in their Carib Beer Cricket Series third round match, which starts at the Queen’s Park Oval today from 10 am. Having whipped Barbados by 48 runs in their second round encounter in Barbados, the “TT Young Stars”  will be highly motivated to do likewise against Leewards with whom the battles over the years have always been absorbing and sometimes riveting.

This match will be no different and Ganga would expect his outstanding players not only to repeat their performances against the Barbadians but would also be hoping that they and the others will be even more dominant as they seek to gain a further 12 points to stay in close contention for a place in the Carib Challenge Trophy final. The top two teams at the end of the 10-round Carib Beer League competition will automatically qualify for the Carib Beer Challenge Trophy and $5,000 first prize. Jamaica are current leaders with 24 points following consecutive outright victories over the Leewards and Windward Islands, while TT have 16.

Although TT’s historic triumph in Bimshire was described as “a great team effort” by skipper Ganga, the fact cannot be ignored that some of the batsmen need to exercise greater discipline and application at the crease. In TT’s first innings against Barbados, only talented Tishan Maraj and Imran Jan with 99 runs each, made significant scores. Among the bowlers,  new “spin twins” Dave Mohammed and Amit Jaggernauth inspired by career best figures, while new ball bowlers Kyron Lynch and Richard Kelly did their fair share to keep the pressure on the free-scoring Bajan batsmen. But despite TT’s morale-boosting success against the double-crowned champions in Barbados last Monday, manager Giles Antoine calls for improved performances from all the players.

Prolific Stuart Williams, with his 19th regional First Class century (142) against Guyana, WI Test players Sylvester Joseph, Runako Morton, Shane Jeffers, Tonito Willet, Wilden Cornwall makes the batting line-up of the Leewards the most experienced in the tournament. Their bowling will be spearheaded by former WI players Kerry Jeremy, Adam Sanford and Omari Banks plus pacer Carl Simon.

Teams: TT (from) - Daren Ganga (capt), Denesh Ramdin (vice-capt), Tishan Maraj, Sherwin Ganga, Lendl Simmons, Imran Jan, Shazam Babwah, Richard Kelly, Dave Mohammed, Kyron Lynch, Amit Jaggernauth, Samuel Badree and Reyad Emrit. Officials are Giles Antoine (manager), David Williams (coach), Gerard Garcia (trainer) and Rohit Balkissoon (scorer).
Leewards (from) - Sylvester Joseph (capt), Shane Jeffers, Wilden Cornwall, Runako Morton, Stuart Williams, Tonito Willet, Ridley Jacobs, Omari Banks, Kerry Jeremy, Carl Simon, Ian Tittle, Adam Sanford and Lionel Baker. Officials are Romel Hughes (manager), Rolston Otto (coach) and Sonnylal Batchu (liaison officer).
Umpires: Khemraj Barrasingha (TT), Clyde Duncan (Guyana). Standby is Hayden Bruce (TT).