Presentation College San Fernando etched their name once again into the secondary schools cricket history, edging out Presentation College Chaguanas by nine runs in a tense Intercol final at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando, on Friday night.
With the victory, the San Fernando outfit completed the season double, having also captured the league title earlier in the year in March.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Presentation San Fernando got off to a brisk start thanks to openers Riyaad Mohammed and Levi Ghanny. The pair brought early momentum to the innings, with Ghanny playing with controlled aggression, driving and pulling fluently for 43 off 41 deliveries. His stroke-filled knock included four fours and a towering six. Mohammed provided able support, adding 17 before falling with the score at 32 in the fourth over.
The early dismissal briefly halted San Fernando’s progress as Shaan Ramtahal (2) followed shortly after, leaving the score at 36 for two. Brendan Boodoo looked promising at number four, contributing 22 before being dismissed with the total at 82 for three. The innings then stumbled dramatically as three wickets—Ghanny, K’hill Thomas, and Aidan Choon—fell in quick succession with the score stuck on 94, sending ripples through the San Fernando camp.
Despite the wobble, lower-order resistance carried the team to a competitive 134 for eight from their allotted 20 overs. For Presentation Chaguanas, Christiano Ramanan—usually the side’s wicketkeeper—was the star with the ball, delivering a brilliant spell of three for 18 in his four overs. Support came from all-rounder Reyad Jerome, who finished with two for 16, stifling San Fernando’s scoring rate at crucial moments.
Chasing 135 for victory, Presentation Chaguanas’ reply got off to a disastrous start. Jaden Joseph was bowled for a duck by the lively Zion Garner Phillip with the third ball of the innings, and the pressure deepened when captain Zakariyya Mohammed fell for 13, leaving his side struggling at 14 for two.
At that stage, it was up to the experienced middle order to steady the ship. Reyad Jerome and Christiano Ramanan rose to the occasion, crafting a patient and calculated 54-run partnership that revived hopes for the Chaguanas supporters. Jerome contributed 33 off 33 balls, striking three crisp boundaries, while Ramanan anchored the innings beautifully with a composed half-century—50 off 53 balls, featuring two towering sixes.
However, just as the chase appeared to be stabilising, Jerome’s dismissal in the 13th over triggered another collapse. Ra’ed Ali Khan could manage just one, perishing soon after with the score at 70 for four. Ramanan continued to fight valiantly, forming a 36-run stand with Aleem Nabbie (17), which inched Chaguanas closer to the target. But once Nabbie departed in the 17th over and Ramanan fell the next, the chase lost its momentum. Chaguanas eventually closed their innings on 125 for eight, falling short by nine runs.
Presentation San Fernando’s bowlers displayed discipline and resolve, defending their modest total with intensity. Aaden Owen claimed two for 27 in his spell, while Zion Garner Phillip impressed with a miserly four-over spell of one for ten that set the tone early on. Their tidy bowling and sharp fielding ensured Chaguanas never got away.
This triumph adds to an ongoing rivalry between the two South-based powerhouses. In the past four years, the balance of power has swung back and forth: San Fernando completed the double in 2023; Chaguanas returned the favour in 2025; while the two schools split honours in 2024, with Chaguanas taking the league and San Fernando the Intercol.
In front of a lively crowd at Tarouba, Presentation College, San Fernando, once again proved their mettle when it mattered most. Their blend of youthful energy and composure under pressure sealed another memorable chapter in their cricketing legacy—and reaffirmed their status as the premier schoolboy cricket side in Trinidad and Tobago.
Summarised Scores
Presentation College San Fernando 134 /8 (20 overs) (Levi Ghanny 43; Brendan 22; Christiano Ramanan 3-18) vs Presentation College Chaguanas 125 /8 (20 overs) (Christiano Ramanan 50; Reyad Jerome 33; Aaden Owen 2-27)
Presentation College San Fernando won by 9 runs.
