The South East Zone, led by a strong performance from bowler Justin Persad, ensured BGTT Under-19 InterZone semifinal knockout action for the team by drubbing the South West Zone by 60 runs and an innings to spare when the final round of group matches were completed, yesterday.
Persad took 3-18 from eight overs in a strong showing on the second of the two-day fixture as South East ended second in the group to advance.
South West, which was restricted to 57 runs from the first innings had a much stronger showing in the second, but with 183 runs amassed just 240 runs in total, allowing South East an easy berth with an innings to spare. Denzil Ramphal best represented the losing team with 71 runs, with Marcus Garcia sealing the second best score of 23. The team will challenge North in Monday's semifinal at Fatima Ground, Mucurapo Road.
North Zone challenged the East Zone, but the match ended in a draw, with the latter advancing with a greater first innings total.
The other semifinal will see East Zone challenge the Central Zone, both of which progressed out of their respective groups.
Time ran out in the South's second innings in its match against Central, but the latter too recorded a higher first innings total of 273 as opposed to South's 199, which handed the all-important points to Central. Central and East will meet at the Caroni Savannah on Monday and Tuesday.
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