Caribbean Sports Network

A SCINTILLATING half-century by Darren Bravo ensured Trinidad and Tobago finished top of Zone “A” in the regional T20 cricket competition with a 49-run hammering of Jamaica on Wednesday night at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. The stylish left-hander scored 65 runs from 44 balls and plundered four boundaries and three sixes as Trinidad and Tobago scored 157 for seven for 18 overs in a match reduced because of rain.

Elder brother Dwayne slammed 28 runs from 19 balls which comprised one boundary and two sixes while captain Daren Ganga chipped in with 17 runs.

Jamaican left-arm pacer Krishmar Santokie continued his good form in the tournament by taking five wickets for 24 runs from his four overs in his team’s losing effort. Jamaica in reply were unable to overhaul Trinidad and Tobago’s total despite opening batsman Xavier Marshall leading the run chase with a top score of 25 runs.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh chipped in with 17 as Jamaica were dismissed for 108 after 17.1 overs. Doing the damage were the trio of Sherwin Ganga (2/19), Kieron Pollard (2/18) and the elder Bravo (2/14).

Trinidad and Tobago were sent in to bat first at 9 pm, a one- hour delay due to heavy rainfall which resulted in two overs being deducted. Opening batsman William Perkins was quickly into stride, driving pacer Andre Russell for a six through mid-off before following up with a boundary through mid-on in the first over of the match.

Former West Indies Under-15 pacer Santokie was then introduced into the attack and made an early impact as the national team was reduced to 24 for three. “Man-of-the-Match” Bravo then shared in a 34-run fourth wicket partnership with skipper Ganga and an important sixth wicket partnership with elder brother Dwayne which put the hosts back into contention.

The younger Bravo, playing his first match of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament, grasped the opportunity with an important innings as the national team struggled to comprehend the aggression of Santokie. Bravo (DM) signalled his intent straight driving Jamaica skipper Tamar Lambert for a boundary and followed up in the next over pulling left- arm spinner Nikita Miller for a six.

The former West Indies Under-19 player showed his potential with a critical knock showcasing a vast array of shots. He brought up his half century with a fortuitous outside edge of Miller for a boundary and continued to guide his team. The younger Bravo was eventually caught by Russell on the deep mid-wicket boundary off Santokie.

Jamaica in their turn at the crease made a horrendous start with the elder Bravo trapping Brenton Parchment leg before wicket in the opening over without scoring.

Opening batsman Xavier Marshall and Marlon Samuel who recently returned to regional cricket after a two-year ban because of ill-advised contacts with an Indian bookmaker added 42 runs in quick time. The pair was aggressive towards the hosts’ pace attack consisting of the elder Bravo and Kevon Cooper who was playing his first match of the tournament.

The introduction of off-spinner Sherwin Ganga into the attack brought a halt to the Jamaicans free scoring and as he immediately had Samuels trapped leg before wicket for 16. The mixture of the Trinidad and Tobago’s experienced pace and spin attack soon took control of the match as the tourists found it difficult to score.

Ganga and left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed also troubled the Jamaican batsmen with their variation and flight. They were well supported by the medium pace of Pollard and the elder Bravo.