North chase 2nd Courts title

NORTH ZONE, having defeated Tobago by 89 runs in their opening round, will be seeking to maintain their lead in the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control Courts Senior Inter-Zone Limited-overs competition.

The powerful North team will take on North-East in a key second round fixture today at Prisons ground starting at 10.30 am. In the other second round matches, South will host South-East at the Hermitage Youth Organisation (HYO) ground while Central will do battle with the British Gas Under 17 XI at the National Cricket Centre ground, Balmain, Couva. The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) decided to give the promising young players in the various zones a chance to get further exposure by competing against their senior counterparts.

Former Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 player Clifton Halls of Ceramic MerryBoys will lead the British Gas Team which is being managed by Tile It Central Sports senior coach Narsingh Ramberan. Ramberan also served as coach for the Central Zone British Gas team and is hoping that his young charges will give a good account at this level. He said: “We have some very talented young players and they are eager to do well in this competition. It’s the first time for them and they know that outstanding performances will strengthen their chances to make their respective Zonal Under 19 teams. This is really a good opportunity for them to prove themselves.”

Halls was a member of the successful 2002 TT  Under 15 team and he will have the services of his  Under 15 teammate Dilip Basdeo, Kastri Singh, Totaram Rampersad and Valmiki Deonarine (Central Zone), Shameer Mohammed and Kyron Pollard (North); Prudenco Cedeno, Allan Neptune and Ricardo Sam (North-East); Kyron Roberts and Ronnie Lochansingh (South-East) and Ravindra Rampersad (South). Former Guyanese youth player Troy Cornelius slammed the first century of this year’s series. He compiled a match-winning 118 which was studded with two sixes and seven fours and sparked North to a convincing victory over the Tobago team at the NCC ground.

Rasheed Mohammed 30 and Capildeo Singh with 26 enabled North to amass 229 for five off their allotted 40 overs. Simba Boyce took three for 37 while Kevin Roberts had two for 30. Tobago made a brave effort but were skittled out for 140 off 30 overs. Arnil Jones topscored with 34 while Boyce got 29 and Neil Skeete 23. Guyanese medium-pacer Luke Latiff was the main destroyer with four wickets for 17 runs from 7.1 overs.