Jyd Goolie scored his second half-century in as many matches when he topscored with 54 runs which helped South close its innings on 142 all out on the first day of the Soca Kings T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) North/South Cricket Classic at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva on Thursday.
South captain Imran Khan won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that played low and slow as South batsmen struggled to score runs and put partnerships together. Without a run on the board opening batsman Cephas Cooper was back in the pavilion without scoring after 1.5 overs.
His opening partner Kjorn Ottley was joined by Navin Bidaisee, who lost his wicket to spinner Khary Pierre by the lbw route for 12 and seven runs later Pierre also accounted for Ottley, who also scored 12 runs.
South got a promising fourth-wicket partnership between the West Indies T20 player Jason Mohammed and Goolie but in the 24th over, Pierre picked up his third wicket when he had Mohammed caught by Amir Jangoo for 27 after a partnership of 29. He faced 41 balls and scored four fours. Kyle Kissoondath joined Goolie and the pair added 33 more runs before Kissoondath departed for 14.
Skipper Khan contributed 11 before he became Yannic Cariah’s second victim and three runs later, Goolie was run out by Iaisah Rajah who was fielding on the extra-cover boundary. He attacked the ball and sent it back to the bowler Tion Webster, who took off the bails. He scored a well-deserved 54 after he faced 92 balls and struck six fours. The last four wickets combined for 13 runs.
Goolie, 25, who scored 54 for Khan’s XI in last week’s three-day trial match against a Darren Bravo’s XI at the Queen’s Park Oval, showed patience during his stay at the crease.
West Indies T20 World Cup player Cariah was the best bowler with 4/28 from 11.3 overs, Pierre took 3/42 off 15 overs while Vikash Mohan and Uthman Muhammad took one wicket each.
In reply, North closed its response on 46 without loss from 19 overs with Keagan Simmons and Mohan with 26 and nine runs, respectively.
The four-day match is being used as the final opportunity for the leading cricketers to address the national selectors for selection on the Red Force team to play in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Four-Day Tournament which starts on February 1 in Grenada and Antigua for the Headley Weekes Trophy.
In a short opening ceremony, special guest Muhammad “Maq” Qureshi, chairman of the Cricket Council USA (CCUSA), advised the players that the match was a great opportunity to move into the international arena.
“From here you can go on to play in the regional tournament, the CPL, the IPL, and the US Open T20 organised by the CCUSA,” said Qureshi.
Also present to meet the players from both teams were Parasram Singh, third vice-president of TTCB, and Sudesh Jaggessar, one of the principals in the Soca Kings sponsorship team.
Qureshi, who is on a short visit to T&T, said he was impressed with the National Cricket Centre facility, and the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre at Balmain in Couva. He said he looked forward to some exciting cricket.
