Merry Boys down QPCC despite Bravo fifty
Published on Feb 12, 2017, 10:30 pm AST
By Roger Seepersad
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port of spain
Merry Boys proved they would be serious title contenders this season as they whipped defending champions Queen’s Park Cricket Club by two wickets in their second round Sunday League 50-over match at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, yesterday.
After being dismissed for 172, the Parkites ensured a tight finish with Marlon Barclay derailing what should have been an easy chase, before Merry Boys eventually clinched victory, reaching 173 for eight with in 37.2 overs.
Mario Belcon, who scored 98 in the three-day league game on Saturday, hit 36 yesterday as he and Aaron Alfred, who top-scored with 39, put on 84 for the first wicket.
Alfred hit seven fours and faced 44 balls before he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Anthony Balgobin off pacer Tion Webster in the 16th over.
Cariah had Isaiah Rajah lbw for 14 while Jeetendra Sookdeo was leg before to Barclay for nine.
Ranga Latchana scored 21 to halt the slide but he too fell to Barclay, along with player/coach Lincoln Roberts who was stumped by Balgobin.
Belcon was eventually caught off Barclay with the score on 146 for six, before Terrence Hinds (two for 44) bowled Marlon Richards for four and Amir Khan for eight; however, Javid Ramdhanie (6 n.o.) and Aneil Kanhai (17 n.o.) ensured the visitors left with full points.
Barclay ended with four for 27, making up for his lapse with the bat earlier in the day.
He made just two with the bat off 13 balls as Ricky Jaipaul struck early for the visitors in the fourth over of the match.
Barclay’s opening partner Justin Guillen made 31 but he too fell early, caught and bowled by Kanhai in the 13th over with the score on 42.
Yannic Cariah and Darren Bravo revived the innings with a 75-run stand before Cariah was run out for 36.
Bravo went on to top-score with 52 off 68 balls, an innings that included one six and four fours, but no one else really stepped up. Nicholas Pooran (11) and Tion Webster (14) were the only other batsmen to get into double figures as the Parkites were dismissed in 43.2 overs.
Summarised Scores
At Queen’s Park Oval
QPCC 172 (43.2 overs) (Darren Bravo 52, Yannic Cariah 36, Justin Guillen 31; Aneil Kanhai 3/26, Amir Khan 3/38, Ricky Jaipaul 2/21) vs Merry Boys 173-8 (37.2 overs) (Aaron Alfred 39, Mario Belcon 36, Ranga Latchana 21; Marlon Barclay 4/27, Terrance Hinds 2/44)--Merry Boys won by 2 wickets
At Pierre Road
Alescon Comets 155 (49.1 overs) (Bryan Charles 33, K Singh 33; Kavesh Kantasingh 3/23, Ansil Bhagan 3/23, Videsh Sookhai 2/38) vs PowerGen Penal Sports 158-4 (39.2 overs) (Videsh Sookhai 63 n.o., Ewart Nicholson 39, M Deyal 20; Emile Rajah 2/36)--PowerGen won by 6 wickets
At Wilson Road
Victoria Sports 148 (46.3 overs) (Keddy Lesporis 64, Marcelle Jones 21, Zavion Lara 20; Kerwin Sirju 3/21, Yannick Ottley 2/16, Akeem Mollon 2/21) vs Clarke Road 151-7 (47.4 overs) (Gregory Mahabir 55 n.o., Kerry Holness 20, Garey Mathurin 2/22, Sanjeev Gooljar 2/22)--Clarke Road won by 3 wickets
At Invaders Ground
Central Sports 319-8 (40 overs) (Jahron Alfed 110, Shazan Babwah 52, Alex Antoine 42) vs Tableland Sports 185 (33 overs) (Gabriel Blackwell 52, Brent Harriott 54; Kissondath Magram 3/30, Rakesh Maharaj 3/19, Stephen Shaddick 2/36)--Central won by 134 runs
