Flamingos and Scarlet Ibis won the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Under-19 and U-16 Cups, respectively, on a day where batting form seem to evade key batsmen.
On Wednesday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, where the U-19 final was played between Flamingos and Masqueraders, Zachary Siewah fell for only four as Masqueraders, without a huge contribution from him, set Flamingos a target of 181 which was overhauled by the eventual champions.
Masqueraders got a big score of 81 from Kyle Ramdoo, as he regained form hitting nine fours. Captain Joshua Davis scored 32 as they shared in a 71-run second-wicket partnership.
After they were separated, wickets continued to fall and it was a 44-run fifth wicket partnership between Olando James and Ramdoo that they got some respectability to the score. When Ramdoo was seventh out, with the score on 166, things went from bad to worse as they were 'finished off' for 181 in 43.3 overs.
Ravi Sankar was the pick of the Flamingos bowlers with an effort of 6 for 18.
In reply, Nick Ramlal stayed true to form, as he followed up his previous scores of 61, 61, and 61 not out to score 68 off of 130 balls.
Wickets fell consistently around him, as only the fourth wicket (38-run partnership, 11 overs) and sixth wicket (49-run partnership, 13 overs 5 balls) provided notable resistance.
When Ramlal was seventh out with the score on 164, it was up to Rajeev Ramnath (16), Aneal Rooplal (10 not out), and Alexander Chase (4 not out) to bring the game home.
Ramlal, who was named the "Player of the Match", finished the tournament with 251 runs with an average of 83.7 as Flamingos closed the TTCB U-19 Cup unbeaten.
Flamingos did not quite get the daily double as they fell short in the U-16 final at the Grieg Street Ground in Balmain, Couva.
Scarlet Ibis batted first and scored 259 for 8 in their 50 overs.
Joseph Mendoza and fellow opener Sameer Saroop (31) put on 54 for the first wicket partnership, with Saroop hitting four fours and one six.
Mendoza continued and shared in a 65-run third-wicket partnership with Rajeev Ramgoolie, who scored 30.
The opener continued to score 74 before he was sixth out with the score on 188. But Ethan Ramsundar took the baton from Mendoza and scored 57 from just 33 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.
Fareez Ali (2-58) and Daaron Dhanraj (2-77) were the picks of the bowlers.
In reply, Isa Ali scored 59 as Flamingos were bowled out for 186, 73 runs short of the target. Raheem Nelson scored 46 and featured in a 68-run partnership with Ali that brought the scorecard some respectability.
It was a bad time for Fareez Ali to fail, as he scored only two, having scored 185, 95, and 73 in his previous innings. Another in-form batter heading into the match, Jaden Joseph scored only 10, having scored 110, 99, and 0 heading into the final.
Johanson Gajadhar took 3-39 as Scarlet Ibis restricted the Flamingos to 186, 73 runs short to claim the TTCB U-16 title.
Ethan Ramsundar was named the "Player of the Match".
SCORES
TTCB U-19 Cup final
At National Cricket Centre:
Masqueraders 181 (43.3 overs) (Kyle Ramdoo 81, Ravi Sankar 6-18) vs Flamingos 183/8 (49.3 overs) (Nick Ramlal 68, Abdur-Rahman Jumann 2-35, Zachary Siewah 2-36).
Flamingos won by 2 wickets.
TTCB U-16 Cup final
At Grieg Street:
Scarlet Ibis 259/8 (50 overs) (Joseph Mendoza 74, Ethan Ramsundar 57, Fareez Ali 2-58, Daaron Dhanraj 2-77) vs Flamingos 186 (48 overs) (Isa Ali 59, Raheem Nelson 46, Johanson Gajadhar 3-39).
Scarlet Ibis won by 73 runs.
