Jesse Bootan and Camillio Carimbocas led North to a remarkable come-from-behind victory over South East to advance to the final of the BGTT Under-19 InterZone competition yesterday at the Queen's Park Oval.
Chasing 139 to win in 22 overs, North was struggling at 26 for three when the pair came together. They then went after the South East bowling, hammering a 114-run unbroken fourth wicket partnership which took their team to victory with four overs to spare. Bootan struck two sixes in his knock of 38, while Fatima student Carimbocas made 34.
Earlier, North started the day on 96/3 in their first innings, but crumbled to 140 all out to give the team a first innings deficit of nine. Justin Persad grabbed 5/28 for South East.
South East was then undermined by Tion Webster who took 5/35, as it struggled to 129 in the second innings with only national U-19 batsman Al Small offering resistance with 47.
With just 22 overs to get a victory, a draw seemed inevitable. But despite struggling to 26/3, Bootan and Carimbocas embarked on a hitting mission that saw their team into the final.
Over at the Caroni Savannah in the other semifinal, a strong batting performance in both innings earned Central a draw which was enough to get into the final. Resuming day two on 72/4 in the hunt for 258, East was bowled out for 161, thanks to three wickets apiece from Brian Charles (3/39) and Christopher Vincent (3/45). Kaleem Felix's 53 was the top score for the East team.
This gave Central a 97-run lead on first innings.
In their second turn at the crease, Central piled on the runs once more, getting to 260/8 declared at the end of the match. Vishnu Boys student Andy Gobin led from the front with 84, while Brian Charles followed up his 53 in the first innings with 60. National player Nicholas Pooran also pitched in with 40, while Brian Christmas (3/50) and Tevon Jadoo (3/46) both bagged three wickets for East.
Central won on first innings and advanced to the final next week Thursday and Friday to face North at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.
SCORES
AT QUEEN'S PARK OVAL: South East 149 (Mike Smith 40, Kelly Rosales 4/8, Tion Webster 2/34, Jesse Bootan 2/44) and 129 (Al Small 47, Justin Persad 22 n.o., Smith 22, Webster 5/35, Camillio Carimbocas 2/22, Rosales 2/27) vs North 140 (Joshua Ramdoo 33, Webster 35, Camillio Carimbocas 29, Justin Persad 5/28) and 140/3 (Webster 36, Carimbocas 34 n.o., Bootan 38 n.o., Smith 2/55). North won by 7 wickets.
AT CARONI SAVANNAH: Central 258 (Jesse Batson 79, Brian Charles 53, Nicholas Pooran 29, Triston Singh 3/62, Brian Christmas 2/39) and 260/8 declared (Andy Gobin 84, Brian Charles 60, Pooran 40, Christmas 3/50, Tevon Jadoo 3/46) vs East 161 (Kaleem Felix 53, Jadoo 43, Charles 3/39, Christopher Vincent 3/45, Justin Joseph 2/12). Match Drawn.
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