Top-order batsman Brendan Boodoo led the South East Zone to the Group A final of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Under 19 Interzone competition at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Thursday.
Boodoo struck a dominating 57-ball 76 as he held a masterclass in batting when they chased 190 to win.
The classy right-handed batsman entered with his team at 25 for two after National Under-17 pacer Daniel Holder removed both openers cheaply.
Boodoo, who led Presentation College San Fernando to the Secondary Schools Cricket League title just two days earlier, hit nine fours and two sixes and seemed unbothered by the Central bowlers.
Boodoo shared in a crucial fifth-wicket partnership with his ‘Pres’ teammate Zion Garner Phillip (23), but the Central bowlers fought back through another National Under 17 player, Ra’ed Ali Khan, who took three for 33.
When Boodoo was dismissed at 157 for seven, South East still needed 33 runs with over 20 overs to go.
That was Holder’s cue to respond, and respond he did! The tall left-arm pacer removed both Alvez Kalipersad and Rylee Gangoo and put them at 178 for nine. But solid batting in the end from Justin Ramnarace (4 not out) and Scyon Charles (4 not out) saw the South team cross the line, 190 for nine, to win by one wicket.
Earlier, Saleem Khan scored a solid 51, and Aadi Ramsaran added 35 as Central Zone scored 189 for seven. Aneal Rooplal added a further 32 runs, and Ali Khan scored 25 as the negotiated tricky bowling led by the impressive Gangoo, who took three for 38.
Ramnarace added two more wickets to his name as the South bowlers kept the Central batsmen honest when they set the target.
In the Group B final played on Wednesday, an all-round performance from Aaden Owen propelled South Zone to the Under 19 Group B final win at the same venue on Tuesday.
One day after helping Presentation College San Fernando to the Secondary Schools Cricket title, Owen smashed a top score of 37 and took three wickets as South beat North by 27 runs to win the Group B Final.
South was sent in to bat first and got a promising opening stand of 49 between openers Shann Ramtahal and the in-form Levi Ghanny. Ramtahal scored 24, and Ghanny added 29 before they were dismissed 15 runs apart as Ghanny followed with the score on 64 for 2.
Roberto Badree added 21 batting at number three, but South were 95 for four with Ethan Ramcharan dismissed for nine, leaving South in a spot of bother.
Just 24 hours earlier, Ramcharan scored 116 to lead Presentation College Sando to their first SSCL win since 2023.
Owen stepped up to the wicket and faced 51 balls for his 37-run top score. The pacer hit three fours in his knock as he guided the lower order to a total of 162 in 34.3 overs.
In response, North scored 135 all out in 44.5 overs, falling short by 27 runs.
Fatima College and Queen’s Park all-rounder Kaiden Pollard was their best batsman with a top score of 26, as he had little support out in the middle.
When he was the seventh batsman dismissed with the score on 120, it didn’t take long for the innings to fold under fire from Aaden Owen’s three for 18 and Amrit Pittiman’s three for 20 as South won the B final by 27 runs.
Summarised Scores
At NCC
B Final
U19 South Zone 162 (34.3 overs) (Aaden Owen 37; Levi Ghanny 29; V Ramdeen 3-45) vs U19 North Zone 135 (44.5 overs) (Kaiden Pollard 26; V Ramdeen 21; E Ashton 21; Aaden Owen 3-18; Amrit Pittiman 3-20). Result - South Zone Under 19 won by 27 runs.
A Final
U19 Central Zone 189 /7 (50 overs) (Saleem Khan 51; Aadi Ramsaran 35; Aylee Gangoo 3-38; Justin Ramnarace 2-32) vs U 19 South East 190 /9 (Brendan Boodoo 76; Zion Phillip 23; Daniel Holder 4-29; Ra’ed Ali Khan 3-33). Result - South East Zone won by 1 wicket.
