Naparima College student Cephas Cooper created a Secondary Schools record when he smashed 297 runs against Barrackpore West in the Premiership division at Lewis Street in San Fernando, yesterday.
Cooper's brilliant effort took his school to a massive 394-run win. He went past Kirstan Kallicharan's effort of 194 for Vishnu Boys in 2013.
At that time, Kallicharan went past a longstanding record set by Brian Lara for the highest individual score of 168. A couple seasons ago, Kalicharan scored an unbeaten 404 not out against Valencia. However, this was in the SSCL under-14 division.
Cooper's effort is now the highest score in the school's top flight Premiership. The right-hander opened the batting and was dismissed stumped with still eight overs to go. He left the arena for 297 made off 142 balls with 32 fours and 12 sixes. His effort took Naparima College to a mammoth 506 for four off their 50 overs.
In response, a shell-shocked Barrackpore outfit could muster only 112 - with Ryan Bandoo taking 5/23, Mathew Cooper, Cephas' brother taking 2/28.
In the other big game in the second round, Hillview got past St. Benedicts College by eight wickets. Benedicts batted first and made128 all out with Anderson Mahase taking 5/17 and Navin Bedaisee 3/27. Hillview then romped home at 132/2 with skipper Bedaisee getting 59 not out and Leonardo Julien 36 not out.
SCORES
At Lewis Street: Naparima 506/4 (50ovs) (Cephas Cooper 297, Darren Samlal 54no, Kyle Roopchand 47, Avinash Mahabirsingh 35, Qwin-ci-Babel 34, Shiva Ramlal 2/57) vs Barrackpore 112 all out (Dillon Jagmohan 28no, Ryan Bandoo 5/23, Mathew Cooper 2/28) - Naparima College won by 394 runs.
At Honeymoon Park: St. Benedicts 128 all out (Joshua James 30, Anderson Mahase 5/17, Navin Bedaisee 3/27) vs Hillview 132/2 (Navin Bedaisee 59no, Leonardo Julien 36no) - Hillview won by 8 wkts.
