El Dorado East Secondary claimed its second straight Championship title in the Secondary Schools Cricket League with a 127-run win over Fatima College, yesterday.
The defending champions went into the final round against the home team, leading by ten points however, it needed a win to retain the crown, since Hillview and Presentation College each had a chance in the title race. El Do, electing to take first strike, in a match reduced to 35 overs after the pitch was not prepared the day before, got a half century from Travis Karim, as it reached 215-5. The defending champions started well, reaching 52 in eight overs, before two wickets fell without a run being added. Brian Christmas (25) was the first to go, bowled by medium pacer Keston Malchan, as he played across the line. Fellow opener, Aaron Alfred (17) went lbw to Akeel Hosein in the next over, 52-2. El Do then lost West Indies Under-19 all-rounder, Yannic Cariah, who was coming off a century against Hillview in the last match, caught by a diving Hosein off the bowling of Matthew Hollingsworth.
"Blue Thunder" was, however, rescued by a fourth wicket stand of 77 between Karim (72) and Ewart Nicholson (24). Karim's knock included four boundaries and a six, while Namir Suepaul chipped in at the end with 19 not out. Replying, Fatima failed to cope with the champions' spin attack and was bundled out for 88, with only skipper and former El Do player, Brent Cameron (32) offering any resistance. Suepaul (5-17) was the main destroyer, while Cariah (2-22) and Karim (2-24) gave support. The two time champions, who only suffered one defeat this season, going down to Hillview by two wickets in round six, finished nine points ahead of Pres, after taking 13 points from this match. West Indies vice-captain Yannick Ottley shone with bat and ball, as Presentation College Chaguanas finished second in the tournament, claiming 15 points for its 112-run win over Naparima College at Wilson Road, Penal.
Batting first, Pres made 309-3 from 50 overs. Ottley hit an unbeaten 162, which included 15 fours and two sixes. Keiron Joseph (63) and Derone Davis (57) also made good contributions for the team from Central. In reply, Naps could only manage 197-9 when the overs ran out. Kazeem Mohammed (51) and Rajiv Maharaj (40) were the main scorers for the South team. Ottley returned with the ball to grab 4-20, while Davis took 3-36, as Presentation collected 15 points. Over at Squadron Grounds in Arouca, Anthony Simmons bowled Hillview to a comprehensive, 235 run win over bottom of the table Toco Secondary.
However, it could have only kept them in third place. Batting first Hillview made 340 from 47 overs with Dwayne Cockburn (69), Anthony Jawahir (51), Isaiah Rajah (49) and Simmons (31). Simmons then returned with the ball and created havoc in the Toco camp, claiming 7-37, while Idrees Mohammed took 2-13. Ryan Graham with 25, was the only batsman to put up a fight, as Toco folded for 105 in 28.3 overs.
Results:
?n El Do 215-5 35 overs (T Karim 72) vs Fatima 88 (B Cameron 32, N Suepaul 5-17, Y Cariah 2-22, T Karim 2-24)
n Presentation 309-3 50 overs (Y Ottley 162 n.o, K Joseph 67, D Davis 57) vs Naparima 197-9 from 50 overs (K Mohammed 51, R Maharaj 40, Y Ottley 4-20,D Davis 3-36)
n Hillview 340 from 47 overs (Dwayne Cockburn 69, Anthony Jawahir 51) vs Toco 105 from 28.3 overs (R Graham 25, A Simmons 7-37, I Mohammed 2-13)