Abdool steers TT U-19s to regional title

SHANIA Abdool guided TT out of trouble to lead the defending champions to a seven-wicket victory over Windward Islands and claim the Cricket West Indies (CWI) TT Women’s Cricket Association 19 and Under T20 title at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, yesterday.

It was TT’s second youth cricket title in as many days after the TT Under-15 boys team won the CWI Regional Under-15 50-over title, on Saturday.

Windward Islands may have had the psychological edge going into the match after defeating TT in the final round of the preliminary stage on Saturday, but TT showed their mettle when it counted.

Batting first, Windward Islands started briskly in getting to 51/1 in the 11th over with Qiana Joseph and Jephenia Joseph at the wicket. However, when Jephenia was bowled for 21 by Djenaba Joseph, TT roared back to reduce Windwards to 66/4 in the 14th over.

A 32-run partnership between Qiana and Shawnisha Hector left the match hanging in the balance. TT then snatched four wickets for 19 runs, including the prized wicket of Qiana for a top score of 65, as Windward Islands closed on 117/8 in 20 overs. Qiana faced 49 deliveries and struck ten fours and one six.

Djenaba was the best bowler for TT, grabbing 3/18 in four overs, Alysha Gomez snatched 3/25 in three overs and April Ramoutar took 2/15 in four overs. Other than Qiana and Jephenia, no other Winadward Islands batter got into double figures.

The TT top order has been scoring heavily throughout the tournament but early wickets reduced the home team to a disappointing 9/3 in the second over. Shunelle Sawh (duck), Gomez (seven) and Reanna Farrow (duck) were all back in the pavilion early in the chase. Abdool found an able partner in Anjani Goordeen and the pair batted for the rest of the innings, getting TT to 120/3 in 13.2 overs to prevail with a seven-wicket win.

Abdool ended on 59 not out off 40 deliveries with ten fours and Goordeen made 25 not out off 36 balls. Zaida James ended with figures of 2/10 in two overs.

Team chemistry would have been crucial to TT’s success as all the players came through the Secondary Schools Cricket League Girls Hardball Programme and most of the team went on the SSCL tour to Canada last year.

SUMMARISED SCORES: Windward Islands 117/8 (Qiana Joseph 65, Jephenia Joseph 21; Djenaba Joseph 3/18, Alysha Gomez 3/25, April Ramoutar 2/15) vs TT 120/3 (13.2 overs) (Shania Abdool 59 not out, Anjani Goordeen 25 not out; Zaida James 2/10).