Opening batsman Keegan Simmons struck an unbeaten 118 and was adjudged man-of-the-match when North easily defeated South by seven wickets in the first Vasha Foods Under-17 North/South Classic staged at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Friday.Replying to South's 254/9 in their allotted 50 overs, North galloped to their target reaching 258/3 in only 37.5 overs in the intriguing day-night encounter.
Simmons batted for 143 minutes during which he faced 113 balls, hitting 12 fours and also shared in a match-winning partnership of 169 with Kirstan Kallicharan who fell five runs agonisingly short of a well-deserved hundred. Bowling for South, Adrian Paharry (1/7), Avinash Mahabirsingh (1/23) and Emilo Gopaul (1/59) all snatched one wicket.
Earlier in bright sunshine, South won the toss and elected to bat and was given a solid foundation from which to post a formidable total on a good batting track and fast outfield.Prolific batsman Saiba Batoosingh topscored with 86 off 97 balls laced with eight fours and opener Cephas cooper chipped in with a well-played 65. The Southerners were then well-placed to end their innings with a final flourish at 231/4 with less than five overs to go.
But a disastrous series of four run-outs saw the South batsmen finish well below what they would have wished for with North's Kallicharan (2/29), showing his allround ability, and Nathaniel McDavid (2/50) emerging the pick of the North bowlers with two wickets apiece.
The match marked the revival of north/south rivalry in cricket with the new and exciting partnership of Vasha Foods and Fresh farms Limited and the T&T Cricket Board to stage four inter-zone classics featuring the best age-group cricketers.
Scores
At National Cricket Centre: South 254/9 (Saiba Batoosingh 86, Cephas Cooper 65, Crystian Thurton 27, Michael Dindial 24, Kirstan Kallicharan 2/29, Nathaniel McDavid 2/50) vs North 258/3 (37.5 overs) (Keegan Simmons 118 not out, Kallicharan 95, Avinash Mahabirsingh 1/23).
North won by seven wickets.
