Sion Hackett turned out to be the star on the opening day of the Namalco T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Under 23 Cup when he took four wickets for 44 runs that helped Scarlet Ibis defeat Hummingbirds by 25 runs at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva on Wednesday.
Hackett, who also scored 29 runs in his team’s innings was named Man of The Match.
Scarlet Ibis batted first and got a good start from their openers, Leonardo Francis and Nathaniel Mc David. Both batsmen faced an excess of 70 deliveries and shared an 81-run partnership. Their innings lasted 23.3 overs, until Mc David offered a catch to Tariq Mohammed for 46, off the bowling of Navin Bidaisee, four short of what could have been a well-played half-century.
Kristian Kallicharan then joined Francis was fresh from Super 50 experience with the Combine Colleges and Campuses. Francis was next to go at 102 for 2, trapped in front of the wicket to Navin Bidaisee for 39. Kallicharan was then joined by Leonardo Julien, who enjoyed a decent run during the Dream XI T10 Blast. Kallicharan did not last long enough to enjoy his Julien’s company, as he went back to the pavilion at106 for 4, after holding out Avinash Mahibirsingh for 16 to give Justyn Gangoo his first wicket. Giovanni Ramdenny and Julien shared a 20-run partnership before Ramdenny was Bidaisee’s third wicket at 126 or 4, offering a stunning catch to Mbeki Joseph at extra cover for 9. Ten runs later, Leonardo Julien was trapped in front of the wicket to Mahabirsingh for 16. Anderson Mahase gifted captain Cephas Cooper a return catch, as he departed for just 4.
Hackett and Sachin Seecharan came together at 144 for 6 and together took the socred past 200 in a 62-run partnership. Hackett was eventually caught by Mohammed for 29 off the bowling of Damaion Joachim, while Seecharan went a run later, caught by Joseph for 34. Also off of Joachim.
In the end, Scarlet Ibis were bowled out for 216 in 48.3 overs.
In reply, Hummingbirds had a bad start, when they lost captain Cephas Cooper for 1 when the score was 15 for 1, caught by Kristian Kallicharan off the bowling Sion Hackett. His opening partner Mbeki Joseph was next out for 5 at 23 for 2, to the same combination (caught by Kallicharan and bowled by Hackett. Antonio Gomez and Navin Bidaisee came together and took the score to 64, before Gomez was out, caught by Seecharan for 22 off the bowling of Anderson Mahase.
Kyle Roopchand made only 4 before he was the 4th out when the score was 78. Roopchand was caught by Aamir Ali off the bowling of Anderson Mahase. Navin Bidaisee was brilliantly run out when Gangoo drove back to Rivaldo Ramlogan, who got a hand onto the ball before it disturbed the stumps. Bidaisee was caught out of the crease and headed back to the pavilion. The score was 85 runs with half the innings going.
Justyn Gangoo and Tariq Mohammed then put together a 61-run partnership to take the score to 145 for 6. Gangoo, who top scored with 42, was next out, caught by Julien off to give Hackett his third wicket.
Avinash Mahabirsingh made 24 before he was held out to Ramlogan off the bowling of Nathaniel David and Tariq Mohammed’s resistance of 36 runs came to an end Mc David took the catch he offered him off the bowling of Ramdenny.
In the end, Hummingbirds were bowled out for191 in 43.3 overs, falling short by 25 runs.
The other match between Masqueraders and Flamingos at the Inshan Ali Ground in Preysal was abandoned without a ball bowled because of a wet outfield.
Summarized scores
Scarlet Ibis 216 all out in 48.3 overs. (N Mc David 46, L Francis 39, S Seecharan 34, S. Hackett 29) Bowling: N Bidaisee 3/32, D Joachim 3/34 vs Hummingbird 191 all out in 43.3 overs (J Gangoo 42, T Mohammed 26, Navin Bidaisee 27) Bowling: S Hackett 4/44, G Ramdenny 2/3, Anderson Mahase 2/16.
