Rambaran, Kissoondath shine in TT Under-19 cricket trials

ANDREW Rambaran and Kyle Kissoondath capitalised on their final opportunity to impress TT and West Indies selectors when a best of the best Under-19 50-Over match was held at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Saturday.

For the past two weeks the TT Cricket Board held matches at NCC in an effort to identify the top Under-19 cricketers in TT. Players represented their zones before Saturday’s match.

The regional Under-19 tournament was cancelled this year because of covid19. Therefore Cricket West Indies asked the regional boards to hold matches. The best players in the region are expected to be selected in the coming months for the 2022 International Cricket Council Under-19 World Cup which will be held in the Caribbean.

Batting first, Team B posted a competitive 285/9 in 50 overs with Kissoondath hitting 113 off 126 deliveries.

A 170-run fourth-wicket partnership between Kissoondath and Rajeev Ramnath put Team B in a commanding position after being reduced to 72/3 in the 15th over.

Kissoondath, who struck nine fours and five sixes, fell with the score on 242 in the 45th over.

Ramnath, along with cameos from other batsmen, pushed the score close to 300. Ramnath was dismissed for 65 off 89 balls which included eight fours. Earlier in the innings Aaron Bankay hit 32 off 43 deliveries.

Bowling for Team A, Rambaran was the chief destroyer snatching 4/24 in five overs. Eziekel Joefield and Chadeon Raymond were also among the wickets grabbing 2/38 in seven overs and 2/29 in six overs respectively.

In response, Team A could only muster 254/8 in 50 overs as Team B completed a 31-run victory.

Josh Telemaque was the top scorer for Team A with a knock of 55 off 77 balls which included nine fours.

Anderson Mahase made 37 off 42 and Rambaran hit 37 off 56 to keep Team A in the match but it was not enough. Shazad Mohammed also pitched in with 34 off 42 balls.

Isiah Gomez was the most successful bowler for Team B with 2/27 in ten overs and Lemuel Matthews took 2/36 in six overs.

SUMMARISED SCORES

TEAM B 285/9 (50 Overs) (Kyle Kissoondath 113, Rajeev Ramnath 65, Aaron Bankay 32; Andrew Rambaran 4/24, Eziekel Joefield 2/38, Chadeon Raymond 2/29) vs TEAM A 254/8 (50 Overs) (Josh Telemaque 55, Anderson Mahase 37, Andrew Rambaran 37, Shazad Mohammed 34; Isiah Gomez 2/27, Lemuel Matthews 2/36) TEAM B won by 31 runs