Caribbean Sports Network

Trinidad and Tobago allrounder, Rayad Emrit made a successful debut for Maple last Sunday in the Sagicor Twenty20 tournament but was unable to prevent them from losing by 17 runs to Barbados Youths at Trents, Barbados. Barbados Youths batting first made 148 for eight from their 20 overs with West Indies Under-19 batsman, Kraigg Brathwaite top scoring with 23 runs along with Akeem Springer. Emrit took one for 24 from his four overs with Sandrey Depeiza taking three for 27 and Barrington Yearwood Jr claiming two for 17. The defending champions were restricted to 131 for eight with Emrit scoring 23 runs. Collis Worrell top scored with 34 runs and Yearwood Jr slamming 28 but were unable to guide Maple to victory.

The Trinidad and Tobago allrounder said that despite the loss he was pleased with his performance and expect to build on the good start.

“I believe I did well for the first match and there is room for more improvement. Our next match will be at a bigger ground and this will give a better projection, the ground we played on was small and was scored in threes and fours. But there is more room for improvement that is for sure” said Emrit yesterday.

The former Stanford Superstars player attends national training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday before departing on Saturday for Barbados to play in the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) organised Sagicor Twenty20 tournament which is contested on Sunday. He then returns home the next day and goes straight to national training which is being conducted for the regional Twenty20 tournament.

“There was no training on Monday due to the General Election so I had a bit of a break. However, next week I will have a better idea of how gruelling the schedule will be because we have training on Monday. However, this is a sacrifice that must be made to ensure I improve and I will adapt and get accustom to the travelling for the next five weeks,” said Emrit.

He revealed that cricket is very intense in Barbados and is expecting the experience to pay great dividends towards his main goal of reclaiming his place on the national team.

“The cricket is more competitive in Barbados as opposed to Trinidad. Over there the players are in your face and the crowds over there was quite surprising. The Maple supporters were quite receptive of me being there and said some complementary things to me after I finished batting,” said Emrit.

The Alescon Comets players projected that his cricket will continue to make vast improvements due to the experience in Barbados and is pleased with his progress thus far.

“I am heading in the right direction because the cricket in Barbados is competitive. Bajan players are naturally full of confidence and they play very hard so I know that I would be getting more form as the tournament continues. I don’t want to blow my own trumpet but I am doing well,” said Emrit.

The Trinidad and Tobago allrounder added that his bowling has benefitted from the conditions in Barbados and is expecting to be a strong force within the national setup heading into trial matches.