Preysal retain Fruta Cricket Trophy

West Indies youth bowling record holder Ravi Rampaul slammed a hurricane unbeaten 50 to  ensure Clico Preysal retain the Fruta Cricket Festival Trophy at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Friday night. Playing against Ceramic MerryBoys in the final under floodlights, left-handed Rampaul hammered four huge sixes and two fours as the defending champions amassed 168 for seven  wickets off their allotted 25 overs.

National senior opener Andy Jackson made 35 while medium pacer Riyad Emrit captured four wickets for 29 runs from his quota of five overs. Nevin Stewart snapped up four wickets for 38 runs and at one stage had the Diego Martin-based MerryBoys reeling at 57 for five wickets. But former Test player Lincoln Roberts, who smashed three sixes and five fours in his enterprising knock, rekindled their hopes with a robust 81. Dale Douglas was undefeated on 28 when the MerryBoys run chase ended at 154 for seven. They lost by 14 runs and collected the runner-up cheque for $7,500.

Preysal captain Shazam Babwah received the winner’s prize of $12,000, while his younger teammate Dinesh Ramdin with 78 runs and seven wickets overall, copped the “Most Valuable Player” award. Rampaul won the “Man of the Match” award in the final for his brilliant half-century and one wicket. Roberts, with a series total of 175 runs, won the “Most Runs” trophy, while Stewart with nine wickets overall took the “Most Wickets” prize. Queen’s Park Cricket Club’s Dwayne Bravo was awarded the “Most Promising Under-21 Player” prize. He scored 103 runs and claimed six wickets. Ramdin was voted “Most Promising Wicketkeeper.”