Middle-order batsman Fareez Ali struck an important half-century (50) and pace bowler Alexander Chase took three wickets for 45 runs that helped Presentation College of Chaguanas lift their first Secondary Schools Cricket League national title in 12 years.
Presentation Chaguanas, playing at home with their unbeaten run on the line, turned back defending champions Presentation College San Fernando in front of their peers and teachers at the school compound in Chaguanas by 31 runs, Tuesday.
Ali, the national Under-19 captain who transferred from Naparima College, came to the crease when ‘Pres Chaguanas’, who chose to bat first, were in some early trouble at 27 for 2.
While at the wicket, Ali saw two more wickets fall from his view at the non-striker’s end and suddenly the score was 32 for 4.
Aidan Racha was the chief tormentor with 3 for 21 in his opening six-over spell.
But Ali, who is a capable allrounder, played as a batsman since he is still recovering from an injury and is not yet cleared to bowl.
Ali struck five fours and a six in his 106-ball knock. He shared in an 80-run partnership with Brandon Phillip who scored an important 27 to take the score from 32 for 4 to 112 for 5 to change the game.
San Fernando needed to keep Chaguanas under 150 runs to prevent them from earning a batting bonus point.
Chaguanas decided to bat first when they won the toss. The decision put the tournament in Chaguanas’ favour as San Fernando needed to earn at least four more bonus points with the win to overtake Chaguanas in the season finale.
Chaguanas lost a few wickets and were in danger of falling for less than 150.
The San Fernando spinners put Chaguanas in a difficult position and when they lost Ali at 126 for 6, San Fernando were in with a chance to restrict Chaguanas to 150.
Perhaps San Fernando skipper Jacen Agard took too long to bring himself or Racha back into the attack, but important contributions from Ramine Sawh (10) Aneal Rooplal and Alexander Chase saw them move past the important 150 and the all- important point to make it impossible for San Fernando to overtake them even if they lost.
Chaguanas closed on 158 for 8 in 47 overs.
There was some discrepancy at the end of the innings as San Fernando argued that the umpires should have allowed them to bowl the 50 overs. The umpires contended the cut off time had arrived and the innings was deemed closed.
However according to article 4.1(b) of the competition rules, “if the team fielding first fails to bowl the required number of overs by the scheduled time for cessation of the first session, play shall continue until the required number of overs has been bowled. Unless otherwise determined by the referee…”.
San Fernando felt they were not given the chance to bowl out Chaguanas for the extra bowling point that would have helped them get over the line in the standings.
But all of that would be a non issue as San Fernando failed to reach the target. Bonus points did not even come into play as Chaguanas completed the League with an unbeaten record.
San Fernando got a promising start from openers Riyaad Mohammed and Levi Ghanny.
Together they put on 58 run partnership until Mohammed was caught for 31 in the 16th over. Mohammed, who started the day 69 runs behind season top scorer Fatima’s Zachary Siewah, was eyeing the most runs for the season to defend his personal title.
But despite falling for 31, he left San Fernando in a very good position, as they needed 101 runs from 34.4 overs.
But disaster struck. Stylish T&T U-15 captain Brendan Boodoo, who took a stupendous catch in the Chaguanas innings, played an audacious shot to be bowled for a three-ball duck.
Wickets continued to fall regularly and it looked like Ghanny would be left standing alone. Racha batted at number five and was the only other batsman apart from the openers to reach double figures.
Eventually Ghanny was ninth out for 49 as San Fernando folded for 127, giving Chaguanas their first title in 12 years. Alexander Chase matched his national teammate Racha with 3 for 45.
Presentation Chaguanas manager Roland Hosein shared how special the win was, saying: “We started training since last year. Up to over six months of training to reach to this point in time. It is a really indescribable feeling. It hasn’t fully sunk in as yet.
Skipper Justin Jaggesar echoed his manager’s sentiments.
He said: “There’s been a bunch of guys been trying to work hard to win the U-19.We won U-14, U-16, but the U-19 was the only title that we’ve been wanting to put our hands on. Since the beginning of the season all we wanted was just to win every match. So we went out every game one hundred percent with our best efforts.”
SCORES:
Pres Chaguanas 158/8 (47 overs) (Fareez Ali 50; Brandon Phillip 27, Aidian Racha 3-21) vs Pres San Fernando 127 (40.2 overs) (Levi Ghanny 49; Riyaad Mohammed 31; Alexander Chase 3-45). Pres Chaguanas won by 31 runs.
St. Mary’s College 188 all out (Samir Saroop 101; Aidan Lakhansingh 4-29; Ishmael Ali 3-37; Aaron Basant 2-25) vs Vishnu Boys’ Hindu College 192/2 (43.3 overs) (Ishmael Ali 106 not out; Ishant Roopnarine 48; Savir Saroop 1/40).
Vishnu Boys won by 8 wickets.
St Benedict’s 145 (39.4) (Aidian Basdeo 41; Renaldo Fournillier 4-8) vs Hillview 150/2 (26.3) (Joseph Mendoza 59, Renaldo Fournillier 41 no). Hillview won by 8 wickets
Fatima beat Princes Town West by default.
STANDINGS
Pl*Team**P*W*L*Pts
1*Pres*Chaguanas*9*9*0*167
2*Pres*San’do*9*7*2*13
3*Vishnu*Boys*9*6*3*125
4*Fatima**9*6*4*114
5*Naparima*9*6*3*103
6*Hillview*9*4*5*87
7*St*Mary’s**9*4*5*83
8*St*Benedict’s*9*3*6*77
9*Princes*Town*West*9*1*8*37
10El*Dorado*East*9*0*9*9
