Trinidad and Tobago seems well set to capture the Twenty20 Championship trophy. The annual competition has seven teams competing: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Windward Islands, Leeward Islands and Canada.
Trinidad and Tobago lost their first game to the Windward Islands but they came back and got two big wins against the Leeward Islands and Guyana that boosted their net run rate.
Trinidad and Tobago has seven players in their squad that played for the West Indies Test or One-day International senior teams. Those players are Denesh Ramdin (captain) Lendl Simmons, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine.
The aggressive approach by the Trinidad and Tobago players in their games against the Leeward Islands and Guyana clearly indicates that they are bent on not losing any more games and taking the 2012 trophy.
Trinidad And Tobago Defeats Guyana
Trinidad and Tobago won the toss and allowed Guyana to take first strike in the Regional Twenty20 competition. Guyana’s openers Sewnarine Chattergoon and Trevon Griffith scored 36 runs before Chattergoon fell for 20 by Kevon Cooper. Cooper then removed Shivnarine Chanderpaul without scoring at 36 for 2. Dwayne Bravo came into the action and took the wickets of Trevon Griffith for 31 and Steven Jacobs without scoring. Guyana had stumbled to 55 for 5.
Lendl Simmons got the wicket of Chris Barnwell for 1, Leon Johnson scored 18 before he was run out. Guyana ended their 20 overs at 101 for 9. Kevon Cooper picked up 3 for 26 winning the man of the match award. Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Simmons picked up one wicket each.
Guyana Batted Badly
With five players on the Guyana’s team who represented the West Indies senior team, a better performance was expected from the Guyana team. Chanderpaul, Chattergoon, Narsingh Deonarine, Chris Barnwell and Devendra Bishoo all represented the West Indies at some senior level but their performances did not reflect their experience.
Trinidad and Tobago was on top of its game and Denesh Ramdin did a fantastic job as captain, particularly in his field setting and the way he utilized his bowlers.
Trinidad And Tobago Won By 7 Wickets
Openers Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons started for Trinidad and Tobago. Barath went early for four off Steven Jacobs when the score was 27. Before that, Simmons punished Jacobs by taking 14 runs off his first over. Jacobs was bowling too short and Simmons capitalized on his sloppy bowling. Veersammy Permaul, the left arm spinner removed Simmons for 30. At this point, Guyana hopes improved at 40 runs for 2 wickets but the hard-hitting Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo brought Trinidad and Tobago home safely after Dwayne Bravo was caught at long off for 18 when the score was 70 for 3. Darren Bravo was 22 not out and Pollard 21 not out.
Barbados Defeats Jamaica By 62 Runs
Barbados batted and scored 157 runs for 7 wickets in their 20 overs in their Twenty20 Match Up in Group B.
The hard-hitting Dwayne Smith slammed 86 runs with seven fours and six sixes after opening the batting. Ryan Hinds scored 18 not out hitting two sixes off Andre Russell in the last over. For Jamaica, Krishmar Santokie picked up 2 for 27 and Nikita Miller 2 for 27.
Jamaica Bowled Out For 95 In 16.5 Overs
Jamaica was bowled out for 95 runs in 16.5 overs with pacer Tino Best 2 for 17, Sulieman Benn 2 for 24 and Ashley Nurse 2 for 30. Barbados now leads Group B with a net run rate of 4.273. Jamaica has a net run rate of – 0.113. Barbados leads Group B and Trinidad and Tobago leads Group A in the Caribbean Twenty20 annual competition.
