National youth players Tariq Mohammed and Liam Mamchan were in excellent form, as they combined to lead South Zone to a crushing nine-wicket victory over South West in the opening round of the TTCB U-17 Interzone series at Syne Village, Penal on Wednesday.
Mohammed won the toss and sent South West into bat, a decision that was vindicated by Mamchan by the second ball of the innings. The right arm fast bowler sent the stumps off opener Mathais Komal cartwheeling that began the slide.
The Naparima College student then grabbed another wicket in his third over to leave South West tottering. Mohammed himself would come into the attack to grab two wickets and when he brought back Mamchan he removed the stubborn Carlvin Loubon for a top score of 18, as South West fell for 102. Pace bowler Mamchan ended the innings with 3/11 off six overs, while Mohammed took 2/13 and Darren Samlal 1/8 off 10 overs with six maidens.
When South replied, it was the classy Mohammed who made batting look very easy on the PowerGen track. He cracked an unbeaten 65 off 45 balls with six hits to the fence. He and opener Vinesh Narine with 32 added a half-century stand that took the fight out of South West. Narine ended with 32.
In another Group B clash, Central got the better of South East by six wickets at St. Julien. South East batting first struggled to 71 all out with Aroon Gopiechansingh getting a top score of 16. Shiva Sankar 3/16 and Nic Ramlal 3/7, were very good with the ball. Central in reply got home at 72/4 with national under-15 player Kyle Kissoondath top scoring with 19. Isaiah Gomez and Goopiechansingh each claimed two wickets but in vain.
In Group A, North and East played a thriller at Serpentine Road in St. Clair. East made just 98 all out with Giovanni Gajadhar getting 27 and J Phillip 23. Fatima's Aidan Samaroo claimed 3/5 while Abdur Juman took 2/22. When North batted they made heavy weather of the target but was able to scrape home at 102/9 with Gerard Chin getting 33.
TTCB U-17 SCORES
At Syne Village: South West 102 all out (44) (Cameron Loubon 18, Rashard Cox 18, Liam Mamchan 3/11, Tariq Mohammed 2/13, Darren Samlal 1/8) vs South 103/1 (17.2) (Tariq Mohammed 65, Venish Narine 32) - South won by 9 wkts.
At St. Julien: South East 71 all out (Aroon Gopiechansingh 16, Shiva Sankar 3/16, Nic Ramlal 3/7) Central 72/4 (Kyle Kissoondath 19, Isaiah Gomez 2/13, Amrit Goopiechansingh 2/19) - Central won by 6 wkts.
At Serpentine Rd: East 98 all out (Giovanni Gajadhar 27, J Phillip 23, Aidan Samaroo 3/5, Abdur Juman 2/22, Mathew Gittens 2/23) vs North 102/9 (Garard Chin 33, Chadeon Raymond 14, Gajadhar 3/18, S Mohammed 3/35, Hackett 2/25) - North won by 1 wkt.
