North Trinidad's youth cricketers are closing in on a clean sweep of the first Vasha Foods North/South Age Group Classics following a clinical demolition of South's Under-15s led by Joshua James at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Thursday.
Over the past two weeks North has captured the U-19, U-17 and now U-15 50-Over classics with only the Under-13 version to be staged following the successful completion of the BGTT Inter Zone Tournament currently underway.
On Thursday, North won the toss and elected to take first strike, posting a competitive total of 231/9 with opener James striking a well-composed 67 off 98 balls studded with eight fours and a six.
In reply, South was bundled out for 178 in 41 overs despite a fighting knock of 57 by Brandon Singh off just 62 balls with seven fours and a six. North's Sameer Ali grabbed 3/56 runs in ten overs.
In brilliant sunshine North were given the perfect start when openers Sachin Dookie and man-of-the-match James posted 96 for the first wicket in 21.3 overs before Dookie was out, stumped for a patient 37 with five fours.
James continued the good work at the top of the order in a second wicket partnership of 72 with wicketkeeper/captain Leonardo Julien who made 43 with five fours.
However, when James was dismissed leg before wicket to Nicholas Ali, North's last six wickets to fall contributed only 47 runs.
Faced with the challenging total and batting last under lights, South were placed immediately on the back-foot losing their first two wickets with only 11 runs on the board and never truly recovered in their run chase despite the middle-order flourish of Singh.
The cricket community now waits with bated breath to see if North can claim a historic beaver-trick of victories in the Vasha Age Group North South Classics, which has been introduced by the T&T Cricket Board to help prepare the young cricketers for regional assignments.
Among those who were present for the Under-15 North South Classic were president of the T&T Cricket Board officials headed by its president Azim Bassarath, and including general secretary Arjoon Ramlal, executive member Lalman Kowlessar, chief operations officer Dudnath Ramkessoon, chairman of youth development Tarandath Sammy, treasurer Sukesh Maniam, and Vimal Chickoree, sales and marketing manager of Vasha Foods and Fresh Farms Limited.
SCORES
At National Cricket Centre: North 231/9 (Joshua James 67, Leonardo Julien 43, Sachin Dookie 37, Michael Ambard 27, Nicholas Ali 3/37, Matthew Patrick 3/46) vs South 178 (41 overs) (Brandon Singh 57, Mbeki Joseph 20, Sameer Ali 3/56, Leonardo Francis 2/14) North won by 53 runs