Millington to lead Guyana in TTCB U-19 T/20 tourney

Jul 03, 2014 Sports

By Zaheer Mohamed
Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) off spinner Plaffiana Millington has been chosen to lead Guyana in the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) T/20 U-19 tournament. Latoya Smith will serve as her deputy.
The team was selected yesterday after the players were involved in another trial match at the Everest Cricket Club. The squad includes ten players with previous experience at this level while the four newcomers are Nagma Budhoo, Christine Quintyn, Amanda Persaud and Shanna Vanderstoop.
The players along with the five standbys will be engaged in practice sessions today and tomorrow at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation Sports Club from 11:00 hrs. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday afternoon, Millington said the team is an experienced one and has a good chance of winning the tournament. “The team spirit is strong and the girls are eager to showcase their talent. We are prepared to work hard and will be doing a lot of work within the next two to three days and as long as we play as a unit we stand a good chance of going all the way”, she said.

Members of the Guyana U-19 female team. Coach Clive Grimmond is at far right (front row) while manager Tramaine Smartt is at extreme left (front row). Captain Plaffiana Millington is far right (back row).

Millington who represented Guyana for the past three years at the U-19 level and made her senior team debut in the 2010 regional tournament said that while the bowling is strong, there is still some work to be done in their batting and fielding departments. The team will break camp on Saturday before they regroup on July 8 and depart Guyana on July 9.
Coach Clive Grimmond informed that a lot of emphasis will be placed on Game awareness and fitness during the encampment period.
Guyana placed third in last year’s competition which also included Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Lucia and the Board XI. They defeated St. Lucia before losing to the Board XI while the games against the host nation and Barbados were rained out.
Meanwhile, Smith XI defeated Millington XI in the final trial game played yesterday. Millington XI batted first and managed 87-6 in 20 overs. Openers Mandy Mangru and Shanna Vanderstoop were their leading batters with 16 and 14 respectively. The pair added 43 in 12 overs for the opening stand and were aided by 35 extras. Yogeeta Balkishun claimed 2-20 while Steffi Rodney, Odessa Caesar and Smith had one each.
Smith XI replied with 91-3 in 20 overs. Rodney who top scored with 21 not out and Quintyn (12*) put together 40 for the fourth wicket to see their team home. Smith had earlier made 17.
The full squad reads; Plaffiana Millington (capt.), Latoya Smith (vice capt.), Shirley Boyce, Erica Batson, Teneisha Cort, Shabika Gajnabi, Steffi Rodney, Lashana Toussaint, Mandy Mangru, Odessa Caesar, Nagma Budhoo, Christine Quintyn, Amanda Persaud and Shanna Vanderstoop. Clive Grimmond is the coach and the manager is Tremaine Smartt. The standbys are Sheneta Grimmond, Yogeeta Balkishun, Mavney King, Nyokabie Thorman and Alana Arokium.