Franchise cricket finally arrived in T&T at 3 pm yesterday afternoon and Angostura White Oak, were the first team to win a match, as they defeated the Trini Posse by eight runs under the Duckworth/Lewis System. Going into the tournament as favourites, the Trini Posse will now have to battle for third place today. They will await the losers of the second match between Petrotrin and Carib Bears. After excellent bowling from Kharry Pierre and Mervyn Dillon had restricted Angostura to 98 for six off their 20 overs, the Trini Posse wobbled to 71 all out, after they were set a revised target of 80 runs from 15 overs. Trini Posse's reply was held back as during the break it was a case of White Oak and water, as the rain came belting down. Under the DL System the new target was 80 from 15 overs and the Posse were still favourites to get this.
They however started badly losing the highly touted Nicholas Sookdeosingh for a duck via a wild swipe and then the skipper Justin Guillen for 13. The left handed Guillen who marshalled his team well on the field, could not lead from the front with the bat as he perished in the usual manner forcing the pace. After he left, wickets fell at regular intervals. Towards the end of innings, Mervyn Dillon with eight not out and Kharry Pierre with 15 added 29 runs for the ninth wicket to give the Posse a glimmer of hope but it was not be. Kavesh Kantasingh bowled superbly and ended with the excellent figures of four for seven off 2.5 overs.
Earlier, Angostura crashed to 14 for four after six overs before recovering somewhat to reach their eventual score. Aneil Kanhai sifted through the carnage and was able to find enough support to slowly gather runs. Kanhai top scored with 32 off 34 balls with two fours and a six and towards the end Derone Davis struck a 19-ball unbeaten 24 that included three fours, while Navin Stewart hammered 19 not out off 23 balls. Stewart struck one six that sailed over the Media Centre and landed on St Clair Avenue.
Scores: Angostura White Oak 98/6 (20ovs)(Aneil Kanhai 32, Derone Davis 24 not out, Navin Stewart 19 not out, Mervyn Dillon 2/29, Narsingh Deonarine 2/14, Kharry Pierre 2/5) vs Trini Posse 71 all out (13.2ovs)(Narsingh Deonarine 15, Kharry Pierre 15, Justin Guillen 13, Kavesh Kantasingh 4/7) - Angostura won by 8 runs. Man of the match Kavesh Kantasingh.
