Guyana, T&T Remain Unbeaten

Mon, Aug 4, '03

Defending champions Trinidad & Tobago, behind a solid century from Smyte Ells, joined Guyana atop the points standings after the second round of matches in the recently inaugurated Ed Ahmad New York Caribbean Cricket Cup.

With back-to-back wins in the first two rounds, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana each have 8 points, followed by Jamaica and the Windward Islands, with 4 points apiece, while Barbados and the Leeward Islands are in the cellar with no points.

Smyke Ells' Century Gives T&T Second Win

Trinidad, led by David Mohammed and including former West Indies wicket-keeper David Williams, won the toss and elected to bat. They set the bar at 259 all out off 49.3 overs at the Rosedale Ground in Queens, New York.

T&T's 259 included a patient 104 by Smyke Ells, who retired with muscle cramps shortly after reaching his century. Ells' 104 included five boundaries. The right-handed opening batsman toiled patiently after losing his opening partner Inshan Ali for a duck and the score on one. He enjoyed a second wicket partnership of 84 with C. John (45), caught off the bowling of Desmond Richards. Capt. David Mohammed (41) and Dennis Rampersaud (21) were the other significant contributors.

Bowling for Leeward Islands: A. Cairnes 8-0-31-2; D. Gomes 7.3-0-54-2 and D. Richards 10-0-60-2.

Leeward Islands in reply came up exactly 100 runs short of Trinidad & Tobago's 259. Foster Lewis 49 and I. Lawrence 44, were the main contributors to the Leeward Islands' 159 all out.

Leeward Islands plays the Windward Islands next on Saturday, August 9, 2003 at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, while Trinidad & Tobago comes up against Guyana on the same day at the Rosedale Ground in Queens.

Nagamootoo Brothers, Darlington Lead Guyana

It was the match with the most spectators over the weekend, as several hundred cricket lovers enjoying the beautiful weather in Canarsie Park, with their lounge chairs and appropriate beverages in tow. With an equally divided camp of supporters, a heavy outfield, and a pitch that did not always play true - the cricketers did their best not to disappoint the many fans in attendance.

Barbados, batting first and following a disastrous start, reached 169 for 8 off their allotted 50 overs, with middle-order batsman Roy Blackman top scoring with a solid 64. The first four Barbados wickets fell for less than 25 runs, as Guyana's Kevin Darlington (10-0-39-4) and Guyana and West Indies' Mahendra Nagamootoo (10-0-26-2) kept the Bajan batsmen in check.

Guyana in reply took exactly three hours to reach 173 for 3 off 42.1 overs, to clinch the victory, and record their second win following their opening round match against the Windward Islands. That match was awarded to Guyana, following some outrageous behavior by some Windwards players and the Umpires halting the contest with Guyana well ahead of the run rate.

Following an inauspicious start, Guyana settled down to bat with runs along the turf very hard to obtain. However, it was the clever batting of young Vishal Nagamootoo, 35 n.o. and Leroy Kingston 53 n.o. who brought home the bacon. Blairmont's Hemchand Hardeo chipped in with 35, with four 4's.

Bowling for Barbados: Wesley King (Capt.) 8-1-26-2 and Malcolm King 10-1-24-1 were the only Bajan bowlers to do any damage.

Barbados faces off against Jamaica next, at Canarsie Park, Brooklyn on Saturday, August 9, 2003.

Mitchell Stars as Windwards Clip J'ca

With the return of the hot bat of Jamaica and New York Cricket Region's captain Richard Staple, Jamaica was expected to post lots of runs to the board. However, Windward Islands' secret weapon appeared to be the last minute addition of veteran Kyron Mitchell, who grabbed 3 for 19 off 4.5 overs and posted 40 n.o. as the recently maligned Windward Islands team handed Jamaica its first loss of the tournament.

It was a very close contest as Windwards had to fight to the end to eek out the victory, with just three balls left in their innings.

Richard Staple, who has represented the U.S. on several occasions and has been wielding a very hot bat lately, did not get out of the blocks. However, Jamaica posted 211 all out in their fiftieth over, with O'Neil Powell of Jamaica's Lucas C.C. Senior Cup team hitting 55, and supported by the very reliable Barrington Bartley, 38 and Mark Baker, 28.

Windwards' very effective bowling effort was through K. Mitchell 4.5-0-19-3; K. George 8-1-33-3 and M. Morgan 7-0-29-2.

The Windward Islands responded in a nail-biting finish with 213 for 8 off 49.3 overs. Kyron Mitchell 40 n.o. Tibbles Moore, 31 and Albert Texiera 29 gave Windwards their first win in the competition.

The highlight of Team Jamaica's bowling was Orlando Baker 10-2-28-2; Richard Staple 10-0-45-2 and Joe Allen 5-1-18-1.