Former national Under-13 captain Zakariyya Mohammed scored 72 to lead North Under-17 to a commanding 249-run win over Tobago U-17 in matchday two of the T&T Cricket Board's (TTCB) U-17 Inter-zone Championship on Wednesday at St Mary's College Grounds in St Clair, Port-of-Spain.
The opener and wicketkeeper held the top order together as he hit eight fours in his knock. His opening partnership with Trevor Padilla (14) produced only 26 runs before Padilla was caught by Jayshean Baptiste off the bowling of Ajani Noel.
He then shared in a 119-run partnership with Maleek Lewis (66) as North U-17 progressed to 145 for two in 26.3 overs. It ended when Kardell Richards trapped Lewis for leg-before wicket.
Mohammed, then built up a 38-run partnership with Runafo Stewart (44) but was third out at 183 for three in the 32nd over for 72. He was bowled by Brendon Melville. By that time, the Presentation College Chaguanas and Merryboys wicketkeeper had faced 102 balls.
After the fall of Mohammed, Stewart and Kaiden Pollard then scored a 68-run partnership before Stewart was caught by Samuel James off the bowling of Jayshean Baptiste at 251 for 4 in the 41st over.
Pollard followed him 21 runs and two overs later when he offered Baptiste a catch from his own bowling.
Nathan Sancho’s blitz in the back end of the innings helped North past 300 as they got to 338 for 9 from their 50 overs, thanks to Sancho’s unbeaten 51 from 23 balls. The number eight batsman hit five sixes and two fours.
Tobago’s reply started badly when Isa Ali was caught by Mohammed off the bowling of Tristan Craig for no score with the team’s total on five. They struggled to recover and found themselves 39 for five, when Kardell Richards, who topscored with 22, was out in the eighth over.
Kwasi Thomas (11) and Kaylon Pierre (10) produced the best partnership (21) of the innings and took them to 60, before Pierre was out, one run later. Pierre was caught by Dominic Redhead off the bowling of Sancho, who took four wickets for 22 runs.
Tobago U-17s eventually folded for 89 inside 19 overs as North U-17 won by 249 runs to fully recover from last week’s 83-run loss to East U-17s who beat North East by eight wickets at Brooklyn Recreation Grounds, Sangre Grande.
Summarised scores
At St Mary’s Grounds: North 338/9 (50 overs) (Zakariyya Mohammed 72, Maleek Lewis 66, Nathan Sancho 51 not out; Kardell Richards 3-47, Jayshean Baptiste 3-55) vs Tobago 89 all out (18.4 overs) (Kardell Richards 22; Nathan Sancho 4-22, Tyrell Guiseppi 3-15). North U-17 won by 249 runs.
At Naparima Grounds: South 344 /7 (50 overs) (Roberto Badree 95; Amrit Pitman 80; Aaden Owen 54 not out; Jaen Seurattan 2-27) vs South-West 229 (46.3 overs) (Keshav 97; Aaden Owen 4-31; Aarion Mohammed 3-48). South U-17 won by 115 runs.
At Sancho Recreation Ground: South-East 158 (45.1 overs) (Zane Maraj 53; D Dhanraj 4-41) vs Central 159 /2 (23 overs) (Chris Ramanan 55 not out; Saleem Khan 46; J Ramnarace 1-19). Central U-17 won by 8 wickets.
At Brooklyn Recreation Ground: North East 68 all out (30.4) Z Stewart 23; B Harricharan 4-10; Q Juman 3-23) vs East 69 /2 (14 overs) (R Fournillier 28 not out; A Kassiram 21; E Ramsundar 1-4). East U-17 won by 8 wickets.
