Ryan Bachoo
ryan.bachoo@CNC3.co.tt
There will be a new T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) National Premiership T20 champion after Queen’s Park Cricket I (QPCC) defeated title-holders Central Sports by 44 runs at the Oval on Saturday in the round of 16 match programme.
Propelled by an unbeaten half-century from aggressive left-hander Nicholas Pooran, the Parkites rattled up 177 for five in its innings. Pooran once again played the anchor role for his side, hammering 74 runs from just 46 balls. His knock included 10 boundaries and two sixes. Sunil Narine also played a cameo inning of 37 runs from 20 balls, hitting three sixes and fours.
Anderson Phillip then proceeded to rip through the Central Sports batting line-up. The pacer broke the back of the batting, finishing with six wickets for 20 runs. Opener Kamil Pooran top-scored for his side with a meagre 29 runs, which included five boundaries. Central Sports sluggishly batted out its innings, finishing on 133 for nine.
Further west at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Merry Boys shut out Prisons Sports Club by 68 runs. Opener Mario Belcon led his side’s charge with a solid 53 from 33 balls. His knock included eight boundaries and two sixes. Amir Jangoo also had a good start, stroking an aggressive 43 runs as Merry Boys posted a score of 170 for six. Mickel Fredericks finished with three wickets for 44 runs for Prisons. In response, Kavian Naress’ five wickets for 35 runs helped skittle out Prisons for 102 runs. Jelanie Seales had the best score of 37 for his side. He struck four boundaries and two sixes.
At Wilson Road, Clarke Road also booked its spot in the last eight with a five-wicket win against Caldrac. Batting first, the latter was bowled out for 107 runs one over shy of its innings. Caldrac struggled to build partnerships with only Albert Gopie putting up any real resistance. He struck a top score of 33 for his side, hitting three boundaries and a six. Valmakie Maharaj also had a good start but couldn’t carry on past 20. In the chase, Clarke Road recovered from the early loss of Kyle Hope for one. Nicholas Sookdeosingh’s knock of 49 guided Clarke Road to a comfortable victory.
At Syne Village, West Indies batsman Andre Fletcher battered Barrackpore United, hitting 94 runs from just 38 balls for Powergen Sports Club. The Grenadian struck nine sixes and eight boundaries in his knock leading Powergen to a mammoth total of 208 for six from its 20 overs. Barrackpore fell 48 runs short of its target, though wicket-keeper Rickson Maniram got 51 and opener Zackurrie Ragoonath scored 43.
In the other results, Alescon Comets made it past Cane farm while BFL Sports beat El Socorro Youth Movement (EYM) at the Aranguez Recreation Ground.
It’s now onto the quarter-finals of the tournament which will take place next week Monday and Tuesday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Comets will face Endeavour, QPCC will take on Merry Boys while Clarke Road will come up against BFL Sports and PowerGen will meet Preysal.
Summary Scores
At Inshan Ali
QPCC II 92 (18.2 overs). P Williams 36; J Joseph 3-19. Preysal 93/4 (14.4 ov). K Samlalsingh43; D Deonarine 2-29. Preysal won by six wickets.
At the Oval
QPCC I 177/5 (20 overs). N Pooran 74*, S Narine 37; A Jordan 3-39. Central Sports 133/9 (20 overs). K Pooran 29. QPCC I won by 44 runs.
At Diego Martin
Merry Boys 170/6 (20 overs). M Belcon 53, A Jangoo 43; M Fredericks 3-44. Prisons 102 (17.1 overs). J Seales 37; K Naress 5-35. Merry Boys won by 68 runs.
At Powergen
Powergen 208/6 (20 overs). A Fletcher 94; A Cooper 2-30. Barrackpore United 160/9 (20 overs). R Maniram 51, Z Ragoonath 43; K Kantasingh 3-19. PowerGen won by 48 runs.