Little known Shankar Seepaul cracked an imperious 54 to upstage a century from T&T Red Force player Keagan Simmons and lead South Pavers to a three-wicket victory over East/Tobago Leatherbacks in the inaugural Namalco TTCB Under-23 cricket series at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva on Thursday.
Simmons cracked 122 not out off 131 balls to lead East/Tobago to 193/4 off 44 overs when the heavens opened and their innings ended. Under the Duckworth/Lewis method of calculation, the umpires asked South to chase down 232 off 44 overs for the win. They slipped to 89/5 but did not take into consideration that Seepaul was to come. The right-hander played an amazing hand to get 54 off 24 balls, including five sixes and two fours.
He was assisted in his assault by Cephas Cooper 29, Shatrughan Rambaran 36, David Williams Jr 21, Justyn Gangoo 32 not out and Jabari Mills 27 not out.
Down at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Joshua Da Silva underlined his growing reputation with a fine unbeaten 82, to lead the North Masqueraders to a six-wicket victory over the Central Flamingos.
Earlier, all-rounder, James Duncan played an amazing knock in a last-wicket stand of 91 runs with Samir Ali to give Central Flamingos a fighting 233 all out batting first.
Central was reeling at one point on 78/8 before Duncan took over to play some wonderful shots in taking his team to their surprising final tally of 233 all out in 42.3 overs.
North Masqueraders dominated right from the start of the match reducing Central at one point to 29 for three with national youth players Justin Jaggessar and Rajiv Ramnath back in the hut.
Pacer Dexter Sween ripped through the first half of the batting and spinner Jesse Bootan grabbed 3/49.
The tournament continues tomorrow with North Masqueraders taking on South Pavers at the Brian Lara Academy and East/Tobago Leatherbacks battling Central Flamingos at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva.
SCORES
At Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Central Flamingos (James Duncan 79, Samir Ali 22no, Dexter Sween 4/52, Jesse Bootan 3/49) vs North Masqueraders 237/4 (46.3) (Joshua Da Silva 82no, Brandon Maharaj 56, Iewe Craig 56). North won by 6 wkts.
At NCC: East 192/4 (44) (Keagan Simmons 122no, Leonardo Francis 27, Jyd Goolie 1/29) vs South Pavers 232/7 (42.1) (Cephas Cooper 29,
Shatrughan Rambaran 36, David Williams Jr 21, Justyn Gangoo 32no, Shankar Seepaul 54, Jabari Mills 27no) - South Pavers won by 3wkts.