Trinidad and Tobago U19 women battle Guyana in Rising Stars Champs in Tarouba

TRINIDAD and Tobago's under-19 women's cricket team will begin their title defence in the 2024 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars women's under-19 championship against Guyana from 10 am at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA), Tarouba on July 4 – two days after the tournament's intended start date.

On July 1, TT Cricket Board (TTCB) president and CWI vice president Azim Bassarath told Newsday the competition had been "put on hold" owing to the devastating passage of Hurricane Beryl through the Caribbean.

Beryl ravaged Carriacou, Grenada with its wrath on Monday, with St Vincent and the Grenadines and Tobago also among the islands to experience bad weather with the hurricane's surge through the region. Beryl upgraded to a category-five hurricane late on July 1, before being downgraded to category four as it headed towards Jamaica on July 2.

On July 2, tournament director Merissa Aguilleira, a former West Indies women's captain, told Newsday "things are looking positive" and they are ready for the staging of a successful tourney in Trinidad.

As of the night of July 2, Aguilleira said all five visiting teams: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands and Windward Islands were in Trinidad as they prepared to put a dent in the hosts' title defence. The Windward Islands, who will feature West Indies and Trinbago Knight Riders spinner Zaida James, were expecting the outstanding players from their squad to arrive in Trinidad by July 4 to complete their full complement.

"The organisation and preparation for the tournament have been good," Aguilleira said. There have been challenges – especially with the storm situation.

"We have a strong group of people in place to host a successful tournament."

The tournament will bowl off with a triple-header at the BLCA. After TT's tussle with Guyana, Leeward Islands will face Barbados from 2.30 pm, with Windwards tackling Jamaica from 7 pm.

Aguilleira said the decision was taken to host the triple-header at BLCA as the tournament's umpires weren't satisfied the Sir Frank Worrell Ground, UWI, St Augustine and Diego Martin Sporting Complex surfaces would be ready for play on July 4.

In the round-robin format, matches will be played on July 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11. The final will be played at the BLCA on July 13, when the top two teams at the end of the round-robin phase vie for title honours.

The tournament will feature a bonus-points system, which include incentives for fast bowlers and wrist spinners.

At the end of tourney, Aguilleira said a West Indies under-19 team will be selected to play the US in a bilateral series from July 14-28.

Trinidad and Tobago women's under-19 squad: Samara Ramnath (captain), Kdjazz Mitchell (vice-captain), Kenika Cassar, Deliannys Espinoza, Brianna Harricharan, Zakiyah Harrilal, Kirah Manpaul, Zaheera Mohit, Sumeera Naidoo, Kristina Naipaul, Jessica O'Rosco, Tumika Phagoo, Amrita Ramtahal, Katrina Ruben.

Trinidad and Tobago's schedule at CWI Rising Stars women's under-19 championship:

July 4: TT vs Guyana, BLCA, 10 am;

July 6: TT vs Leeward Islands, UWI Spec, 10 am;

July 7: TT vs Jamaica, UWI Spec, 10 am;

July 9: TT vs Windward Islands, BLCA, 10 am;

July 11: TT vs Barbados, Diego Martin Sporting Complex, 10 am;