Clinical T&T demolish Barbados to take President’s Cup title

Nov 24, 2008 Sports

By Sean Devers
Pre-tournament favorites Trinidad and Tobago produced as clinical performance yesterday to demolish Barbados by seven wickets at the National Stadium in their Day/Night President’s Cup regional one-day cricket final.

The winning Trinidad and Tobago outfit pose with the trophy following their emphatic win of this year’s limited overs regional cricket title at the Providence National Stadium.

Set 143 to win after Barbados crumbled for 142 in 45.5 overs, T&T began positively to reach 143-3 off 27 overs to lift their ninth title at this level and their third in the last three tournaments.

Torrential overnight and morning rain failed to prevent a prompt 13:30hrs start due to the excellent drainage at the venue and watched by another disappointing crowd, Barbados, without a title since 2002, elected to bat first on a slow track in overcast conditions.

Dale Richards punched Rayad Emrit for two boundaries in his eight before the West Indies medium pacer got rid him and the in-form Ryan Hinds (0) as Barbados slumped to 10-2.

Kevin Stoute (14) was then trapped leg before at 41-3 to give Man-of-the-Match leg-spinner Samuel Badree the first of his three wickets and to give the well oiled T&T unit the ascendancy.

Dwayne Smith again showing a refreshing maturity in his batting that has been missing since his debut Test century against South Africa five years ago, was looking ominous when he was removed by Badree at 77-4 after hitting three fours and a six in his 37-ball 29 and although the left-handed Jonathan Carter stroked three fours in his run-a-ball 36, the Barbados batting looked very ordinary as Emrit (3-36) and off-spinner Sherwin Ganga (2-18) supported Badree.

When T&T, who lost to Jamaica in last year’s final in Barbados, began their reply in attacking mood as West Indies under-19 opener Adrian Barath opened his account with three fours on the still very fast outfield, William Perkins, playing in his first game in the competition, was caught behind for one off Pedro Collins at 17-1.

Barath entertained the spectators with some scintillating stroke-play before he was caught and bowled by Smith at 51-2 after hitting four fours in his 31.

West Indies under-19 left-hander Darren Bravo again suggested that once he remains focused on his cricket development he should play Test cricket, thumped four fours in a cameo 20 before he was run out at 83-3 as Barbados seemed to have surrendered long before the eventual end.

Skipper Darren Ganga was his usual solid self with an unbeaten 48 from 58 balls with five fours, while Lendl Simmons (26*) added 60 runs in an unfinished fourth wicket stand with his captain to see T&T to an emphatic victory as Barbados strangely never made a genuine effort to go on an all out attack to pick up wickets; allowing the batsmen to dictate the pace of the game in their victory chase.

Scores: Barbados 142 all out in 45.5 overs; T&T 143-3 off 27 overs.