South East U19s unbeaten in Inter Zone

SOUTH East Zone are unbeaten after two rounds of the TT Cricket Board’s Under-19 Tournament following a 39-run victory against Central, last Friday.

At Munroe Road in Cunupia, South East, batting first made 161 all out in 48.5 of the allotted 50 overs with Amrit Maharaj top-scoring with 56. Useful contributions with the bat also came from Kyle Roopchand (24) and Amrit Gopiechansingh (22 not out).

The Central Zone bowling was highlighted with a spell of three wickets for 26 runs from Nicholas Ali while Isiah Gomez took two for 21, and Avinash Mahabirsingh snapped up two for 24.

In their run-chase Central Zone, winners of the Under-15 and Under-17 Inter Zone titles so far this season, were humbled for 122 in 41.1 overs by a clinical South East bowling performance.

Nicholas Jadoonanan wreaked havoc, snaring three wickets for six runs while Sameer Ali took four for 47, and Adrian Ramlagan had figures of three for 14 to complete the demolition.

At James Park in Point Fortin, South Zone crushed South West by 269 runs after rattling up 375 for six wickets in 43 overs, and then tumbling out their opponents for a paltry 106 in 25.5 overs.

Stars of the South innings were Aaron Nanan (135) and Antonio Gomez (123), who both slammed impressive centuries, while Mbeki Joseph (30) also boosted the sizeable total.

The best bowler for South West was Savion Nelson who took three for 74 while Yasir Khan got two for 38.

In reply, South West were undone by the destructive spin of Vanir Maharaj (three for 10) and Faiysal Mangera (three for 21), with only Renardo Soogrim showing any defiance with an unbeaten knock of 46.

And at Honeymoon Park in Tacarigua, North East scored the biggest upset of the round, and possibly the tournament, by beating East by two wickets to keep their hopes alive of a semi-final berth.

East, taking first strike were bowled out for 136 in 32 overs with Anderson Mahase spinning a web to return with figures of six wickets for 15 runs. Kenton Pierre also got into the act grabbing three for 45.

Only Leonardo Julien displayed any resistance for East Zone with a confident knock of 69.

North East then claimed full points reaching their victory target and finishing on 139 for eight wickets in 34.5 overs.

Giovanni Ramdenny led the run-chase scoring 34 and had very good support from Andy Mahase (24), Alex Ali (18), Dillon Partap (14) and Anderson Mahase (12 not out).

The East bowlers gave their team an outside chance, but they just could not defend their team’s small total with Rivaldo Ramlogan (two for 21), Samir Mohammed (two for 27) and Leonardo Francis (three for 32) making North East work hard for their well-deserved victory.

Due to difficulties in making travel arrangements for the Tobago team, their second and third round matches against North Zone and North East will be played in Trinidad on May 1 and 2 respectively.

TODAY’S MATCHES

East vs North East, Prisons Ground, Arouca

South East vs South West, Sancho/St Julien Gd, Princes Town

South vs Central, Syne Village, Penal.