Christmas leads T&T U-17 past Windwards

Opening batsman Brian Christmas scored 53 runs to help T&T register a 63-run victory over the Windward Islands in the second round of action in the inaugural WICB/THA/All Sports Promotions Under-17 Limited Overs Cricket Overs Tournament. The match was played at the Shaw Park Recreational Grounds, Scarborough, Tobago. The local boys lost the toss and were sent in to bat by the visitors. T&T went on register a score of 169 for seven in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, the Windward Islands were bowled out for 106 runs in 41.1 overs. The Jovan Ali-led T&T team recovered from a slow start when opener Jeremy Solozano was bowled by Craig Phillip without troubling the scorers. The first wicket fell with only four runs on the scorecard. 

 

Christmas was then joined by Camilio Carimbocas and they put on 67 runs for a second-wicket partnership (the highest of the match) taking the score to 71 before Carimobacas was bowled by Larry Edwards for 27 in the 30th over. Jeron Maniram came to the crease and started brightly getting a six off the first ball but was later caught by Deron Hypolite at mid wicket for 18, off the bowling of Taryck Gabriel, who secured his second of three wickets. The total then was 98 for 3. Nicholas Pooran was Gabriel’s third victim as he was caught and bowled for 8. Christmas, the Merryboys player and Hillview College student, stayed focused and notched his half century in the 38th over. Three runs later, though, he was caught by Edwards at mid wicket off the bowling of Gabriel in the 41st over. His patient knock of 53 was scored off of 121 balls in 166 minutes. T&T’s Theon Webster and Justin Joseph remained unbeaten on 20 and four, respectively, when innings came to an end. 

Gabriel was the best bowler for the Windwards, taking 3-32 in his ten overs.

 

In reply, the visitors were put under pressure losing their first wicket with only one run posted as Gabriel was caught by Small off the bowling of Joseph, for a duck in the second over. Opener Pope hit the highest runs, 29, for the Windwards before being dismissed by Charles, again by lbw. Wickets fell at regular intervals as the foreigners were struggling at 70 for 6, losing their seventh wicket on the same score. Windwards added just 36 more runs to close on 106 in 41.1 overs. T&T skipper, Ali, was the leading wicket-taker with figures of three wickets for 12 runs. Webster, Joseph and Charles each took two wickets. Jamaica and Guyana were also victorious in the second round as rain threatened to prevent play. T&T leads the points standing, going into today’s round three with seven points. The local boys earned six for the win and two half points for two wickets by fast bowlers. Jamaica is next on 6.5, followed by Guyana (6), Barbados (2), Windward Islands (1.5) and Leeward Islands (0.5).