Sports Page — Four T&T players have been included in the West Indies Under-19 training squad following the conclusion of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional 50-over Youth tournament in Jamaica, on Sunday. T&T finished third among the seven teams with three wins, two losses and one no result. Guyana defended its title, defeating Jamaica by four wickets in Sunday’s final at Manchester High School.
The T&T quartet of fast bowler Akil Seetal, left-handed batsman Keagan Simmons and all-rounders Kirstan Kallicharan and Jyd Goolie all stayed in Jamaica to begin training with the West Indies Under-19 team. West Indies will compete in the International Cricket Council Youth Tournament in Bangladesh next year.
Fast bowler Anderson Phillip also had an excellent tournament and T&T manager Surujdath Mahabir believes he should have been included in the West Indies training squad. Mahabir said: “He had a great tournament; as a matter of fact he should have been in the training squad.” Mahabir also believes 15-year-old right-hander Cephas Cooper is a top prospect for the future.
T&T started the competition slowly, losing its first two matches against Barbados and Guyana as a result of disappointing batting performances. Mahabir said: “Basically the first two games were not up to standard. We had too many dot balls and we dropped some crucial catches against Barbados.”
In the first round against Barbados, T&T posted 159/9 batting first, before Barbados scored 160/9 in 45.1 overs. Against Guyana in round two the T&T batting faltered again, scoring 154/8 before Guyana got to 157/7 in 37 overs. T&T bounced back to win the next three matches against Windward Islands, Canada and Jamaica.
In the last round against the Leeward Islands the match was abandoned after the Leeward Islands scored 235/9, a match Mahabir felt T&T would have won
Results of Matches
Round 1 – Wednesday, July 22nd
Windward Islands beat Canada by 7 wickets – STETHS
Barbados beat Trinidad & Tobago by 1 wicket – Jamalco
Guyana lost to Jamaica by 5 wickets – Manchester High School
Round 2 – Thursday, July 23rd
Leeward Islands beat Barbados by 16 runs – Ewarton
Jamaica lost to Windward Islands by 128 runs – Jamalco
Trinidad & Tobago lost to Guyana by 3 wickets – STETHS
Round 3 – Saturday, July 25th
Canada lost to Jamaica by 167 runs – STETHS
Guyana beat Leeward Islands by 6 wickets – Manchester High School
Trinidad & Tobago beat Windward Islands by 2 wickets – Chedwin Park
Round 4 – Monday, July 27th
Guyana beat Barbados by 6 wickets – Chedwin Park
Canada lost to Trinidad & Tobago by 138 runs – Jamalco
Windward Islands lost to Leeward Islands by 1 wicket – STETHS
Round 5 – Tuesday, July 28th
Trinidad & Tobago beat Jamaica by 30 runs – Manchester High School
Barbados lost to Windward Islands by 5 wickets – STETHS
Leeward Islands lost to Canada by 47 runs – Jamalco
Round 6 – Thursday, July 30th
Windward Islands lost Guyana by 85 runs – Ewarton
Jamaica beat Leeward Islands by 23 runs – Jamalco
Canada lost to Barbados by 151 runs – Manchester High School
Round 7 – Friday, July 31st
Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago, no result – Ewarton
Guyana beat Canada by 4 wickets – Manchester High School
Barbados lost to Jamaica by 39 runs – Chedwin Park