Simmons explodes in run fest

Simmons explodes in run fest
Published on Jan 11, 2017, 9:57 pm AST


BOUNDARY-FILLED KNOCK: Lendl Simmons. —Photo: WICB Media


West Indies opener Lendl Simmons marked his return from injury with a whirlwind hundred as Cane Farm United outscored Munroe Road in a run fest at the UWI UNICOM Twenty20 tournament in St Augustine late on Tuesday evening.
Simmons carved 115 off just 51 deliveries as the star-studded Cane Farm piled up 269 for six wickets, before national players Rayad Emrit, Imran Khan and Ravi Rampaul reined in Munroe Road’s bold response to win by 60 runs and advance to the semi-finals.

Out of action for several months, the 31-year-old Simmons shown no sign of rustiness, smashing 11 sixes and eight fours, to the delight of fans who stayed for the late game on the Sir Frank Worrell Ground. He was aided and abetted by out-of-favour West Indies teammates, Denesh Ramdin and Ravi Rampaul. Ramdin hit 30 off ten balls while the left-handed Rampaul cracked 42 off a mere 13.

All the bowlers suffered; Nashwan Latchman’s solitary over yielded two wickets, but at a cost of 14 runs, while Terry Edwards got two for 49 from his four overs.

Teshawn Castro then gave Munroe Road an excellent start as the Cunupia-based club made a courageous bid to run down the daunting 270-run target. Castro smashed 44 off 12 balls, striking six sixes and a four. Ravi Khan continued the chase with an unbeaten hand of 59 from 44 balls, but the required rate kept climbing as the Cane Farm bowlers took wickets at regular intervals and they were 209 for six when the overs ran out.

Emrit led the Cane Farm attack, claiming three for 30 from three overs while Rampaul and Khan returned identical figures of two for 32 from two.
Simmons was named Player-of-the-Match.

And yesterday afternoon, Merry Boys cruised into the final four with a comprehensive 97-run victory over Duncan-Buggy Haynes United. Facing a target of 179, DBH United were dismissed for 81 in 13.3 overs, as seamer Rishaard Harris ripped out the heart of the batting to finish with figures of six for 26 from 3.2 overs. Left-arm spinner Ricky Jaipaul picked up two for 16 from three. Jyd Goolie led the batting with 25 off 15 balls, striking four fours and a six, while Dwayne Cockburn got 18.

Earlier, former T&T batsman Lincoln Roberts and all-rounder Marlon Richards had scored quickly down the stretch to take Merry Boys up to 178 for seven, after being sent in.

Roberts struck three fours and three sixes in raising 42 off 28 deliveries while Richards hit 36 off 16 balls, a knock that included three sixes and a four. The other major contribution had come from Isaiah Rajah; batting at number three, he made 28 from 25.
Goolie led the DBH United bowling, taking two for 25 from his four overs while Bryan Charles was more expensive, finishing with two for 45 from his allotted four. At press time last evening, Demerara were playing Police for the final spot in the semi-finals.

www.trinidadexpress.com/20170111/sports/...explodes-in-run-fest

Crusoe into UWI semis


Vinode Mamchan
Published: guardian
Thursday, January 12, 2017

Kjorn Ottley
Defending champion Club Crusoe is into the semi final of the 2017 UWI T20 tournament after a narrow four-run win over Central Sports.

Batting first Club Crusoe made 161 all out in 19.2 overs and then restricted Central Sports to 159/9 in their 20 overs. Kjorn Ottley again looked good for Central Sports but fell 11 runs short of his third half century.

His 39 which was the mainstay of the Central Sports batting came of 29 balls. Earlier, Club Crusoe batting first scored 161 all out in 19.2 overs.

Lead in the charge for the Tobago outfit was Christopher Vincent who scored 62 of just 37 balls with four fours and five sixes.

Rachad Forde slammed the bowling to all parts of the ground in getting 42 of 22 balls. He lifted the ball over the ropes on three occasions and added three fours as well. Vikash Rampersad also thrilled the fans on hand with three huge sixes as he counted 20 of the 11 balls sent down to him.

The best of the Central Sports bowlers was Jahan Alfred with 3/15, Rakesh Maharaj 2/15 and Varun Samaroo 2/26.

UWI Quarter final scores

Club Crusoe - 161 all out (19.2) (Christopher Vincent 62, Rachad Forde - 42, Vikash Rampersad 20, Jahran Alfred 3/15, Varun Samaroo 2/26, Rakesh Maharaj) vs Central Sports 157/9 (20) (Kjorn Ottley 37)

Simmons bangs century for Cane Farm

Real cane passed on Tuesday night, as Cane Farm scored a record 269 for six in 20 overs against Munroe Road in the quarter finals of the UWI T20 tournament at the Sir Frank Worrell ground in St Augustine. Leading the way was none other than Mumbai Indians opener Lendl Simmons, who smashed an imperious 115 against the hapless Munroe Road bowlers.

Simmons faced only 51 balls, striking eight fours and a massive 11 sixes as the fans went wild at UWI. Other West Indian players in the form of fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin also weighed in.

Rampaul smacked 42 of just 13 balls, while Ramdin back as T&T Red Force captain made 30 of 10 balls.

In reply, Munroe Road made a fight of it but fell way short at 209 for six. Ravi Khan cracked an unbeaten 59 of 44 balls, former national youth player Teashawn Castro stroked 44 of 12 balls with six sixes.

However, their efforts were in vain as the Munroe Road fell 60 runs short.

All rounder Rayad Emrit snared 3/30, Rampaul 2/32 and T&T Red Force leg-spinner Imran Khan 2/32. Simmons for his whirlwind knock was named man of the match.

Cane Farm will now move onto the semi-final of the tournament. They join defending champions Club Crusoe who defeated Central Sports in the first quarters on Tuesday.

UWI T20 SCORES: Cane Farm 269/6 (20)(Lendl Simmons 115, Ravi Rampaul 42, Denesh Ramdin 30, Nashwan Lutchman 2/14, Terry Edwards 2/49) vs Munroe Road 209/6 (20)(Ravi Khan 59no, Teshawn Castro 44, Rayad Emrit 3/30, Ravi Rampaul 2/32, Imran Khan 2/32) - Cane Farm won by 60 runs.

www.guardian.co.tt/sports/2017-01-12/crusoe-uwi-semis