Nanan U-15s must win today

DEFENDING champions Nanan Division (Central) and Bishop Division (North) strive for victory when they clash in the British Gas Under-15 round robin third round cricket match at Presentation College, Chaguanas today from 10 am. Nanan won their first round encounter against Gomes Division (North-East) by seven-wickets but were edged out by former three-time champions Logie Division (South) at the PowerGen Sports Ground, Syne Village last Wednesday.

They must win to keep their chances alive of at least sharing the crown with Logie Division should they win their third round match against Dhanraj Division today at the Shell Ground, Rio Claro. Bishop Division created the first upset when they beat Logie Division in the opening fixture at the Riversdale Ground, Curepe on January 26. Boosted with that victory, skipper Varoon Samaroo and his boys will be eager to seal another competition success when they take on Dhanraj Division who lost their second round encounter with Gomes Division.

Logie’s team won the BGUnder-15 titles in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and coach Deryck Dwarika is very confident that his team will come out victorious once again. “We should not have lost the first match against Bishop Division. But the players panicked when one of the batsmen got a bad decision.  “They became nervous and did not concentrate on what they should be doing, that is trying to accumulate the runs with ones and twos. “They learnt their lessons well and did just that in the second round and came through successfully against Nanan Division, which is the next stronger side in this year’s series,” Dwarika said. “I feel that we have a very good chance of winning back the title. But everything always boils down to how well the boys play on the day. We have a very good bunch of talented players and I am hoping that they keep up the fighting spirit,” he said.

Ronald Lutchman, coach of the Nanan Division, lamented their loss to Logie and stressed that their problems were compounded with a small total when they batted and indisciplined bowling of Amzad Mohammed. “We did not bat all that well and skipper Adrian Barath got out too early with more than 15 overs remaining. And then Amzad Mohammed gave away 18 wides and three no-balls in the very first over,” he said. “I know we are a better team that the others and I am looking forward for victory against the Bishop Division. We want to win this match and hoping that there will be an upset in the other matches. I still feel we could retain the title. This has been our major objective for the season and the boys will play harder,” Lutchman said.