***Official*** Trinidad and Tobago cricket news 2017

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NO ACTION will be taken against the national youth cricket team official accused last year of “improper conduct” with a player, or against the official’s accuser. That is the outcome of the investigation into those allegations by a disciplinary committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, with the TTCB issuing a press release yesterday stating that the investigation had been concluded and an “amicable resolution” had been reached.

Yesterday’s TTCB statement read: “This media release is intended to inform all stakeholders and members of the public of the conclusion of the disciplinary hearing involving a team official and a member of the National Under-19 team. “Based on the national disciplinary committee’s report received on February 6, we were informed that there was a consensual and amicable resolution to the matter.”

Out of favour West Indies batsman Kirk Edwards put PowerGen Penal Sports to the sword yesterday, hitting 156 to lead Alescon Comets to 341 for eight at stumps on the opening day of their Premier Division 1 three-day league game at Pierre Road in Charlieville.
Edwards, who last played Test cricket in 2014, faced 179 balls to register his first ton of the season. His knock included six sixes and 11 fours Former Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 batsman Andy Gobin also chipped in with 57 while centurion from the first match Kieron Joseph hit 33.
Idrees Mohammed was also among the runs with 34.
PowerGen had an all-spin attack with left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh bowling 38 of the 102 overs that were sent down yesterday, picking up two wickets for 102 runs.
Spinner Ansil Bhagan and Jovan Ali bowled 26 and 24 overs respectively with Bhagan taking two for 95 and Ali finishing with one for 89.
In Port of Spain, Mario Belcon fell two runs short of a century as Merry Boys scored 318 against defending champions Queen’s Park Cricket Club on day one of their match at Queen’s Park Oval, yesterday.
Opening the innings, Belcon lashed three sixes and seven fours and faced 124 balls to give the visitors a good start. Belcon featured in a 57-run stand with Aaron Alfred (13) and a 118-run partnership with Isaiah Rajah before he was out caught by Yannic Cariah off medium pacer Tion Webster with the score on 175 for two in the 40th over. Rajah went on to make 73 before Merry Boys suffered a mid-order collapse.
Barbados all-rounder Javon Searles did the damage grabbing five wickets for 58 runs including the wicket of Rajah who was bowled with the score in 210.
Lincoln Roberts then rallied the tail to get the Diego Martin side past the 300-run mark, hitting an unbeaten 60 off 81 balls. He struck three sixes and four boundaries and put on 53 runs with Amir Khan (38 off 52 balls) before Kevon Cooper wrapped up the innings for the Parkites.
He had Khan caught by Webster before Ricky Jaipaul was stumped by wicketkeeper Anthony Balgobin without scoring. The Parkites closed the day on 32 without loss after 12 overs.
The three-day league matches continue next Saturday and Sunday however all teams will be in action today, playing the same opponents in the Sunday League 50 over tournament.
National League Scores
Day 1
Premier I
At Queen’s Park Oval
Merry Boys 318 (75.4 overs) (Mario Belcon 98, Isaiah Rajah 73, Lincoln Roberts 60 n.o., Amir Khan 38, Javon Searles 5/58, Kevon Cooper 2/57, Yannic Cariah 2/101) vs QPCC 32-0 (Justin Guillen 11 n.o., Marlon Barclay 16 n.o.)

At Pierre Road
Alescon Comets 341-8 (102 overs) (Kirk Edwards 156, Andy Gobin 57, Idrees Mohammed 34, Kieron Joseph 33; Ansil Bhagan 2/95, Kavesh Kantasingh 2/102) vs PowerGen Penal Sports

At Wilson Road
Jailal Enterprises Victoria Sports 269-7 (93 overs) Garey Mathurin 63 n.o., Keddy Lesporis 41, Savion Lara 36, Kerron Kanhai 34, Marcelle Jones 31; Yannick Ottley 2/29, Jyd Goolie 2/34) vs Clarke Road United

At Invaders Ground
Tableland Sports 133 (Shazan Babwah 5/50, Stephen Shaddick 4/29) & 6-0 vs Central Sports 180 (Jahron alfred 72, Kissoondath Magaram 41, Rakesh Maharaj 22; Negus Carthy 4/38, Daniel St Clair 3/18)

Premier II
Crown Street Recreation Ground
Moosai Sports 84 (Anthony Simmons 5/29, Tevon Jadoo 3/39) vs Cane Farm Sports 228-5 (Anthony Jawahir 90 n.o., Brandon Ramdial 39, Devon Clement 56)

At Gilbert Park
Caldrac 235 (Eugene La Fleur 60, Allen Laurent 42, David Williams 46 n.o.) vs HKL Aranjuez Sports 3-1

At Serpentine Road
F&E Diamond United 43 (Dominic Drakes 5/25, Terrence Hinds 5/13) vs QPCC II 356-7 (Jonathan Augustus 149 n.o., Dominic Drakes 49 n.o., Joshua Da Silva 39, Jesse Bootan 30, Camillo Carimbocas 28; Ziggy Levy 3/67, Shane Katwaroo 2/58)

At Orangefield
Prisons Sports 147 vs Courts Orangefield 149-7

[size=small]ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Experienced fast bowler Ravi Rampaul believes knowledge of the conditions could give Trinidad and Tobago Red Force the edge over Jamaica Scorpions in their Regional Super50 semi-final on Wednesday.[/size]
[size=small]Red Force topped Group A which was staged here in Antigua while Scorpions finished second in Group B hosted in Barbados, and Rampaul said this familiarity with the semi-final venue – Coolidge Cricket Ground – would prove vital.[/size]
[size=small]“We will play our style of cricket. Jamaica haven’t played a game here yet so we will have the upper hand on them because we’ve played six games here,” Rampaul pointed out.[/size]
[size=small]“Hopefully we can come and do our stuff again [but] it’s not a matter of who we are playing but what we do with our skills and variations on the wicket.[/size]
[size=small]“Barbados as well didn’t play any cricket here … and Leewards played more games here. But it’s who bats better in the wicket and uses their skills more.”[/size]
[size=small]Barbados Pride, who topped Group B, take on Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Thursday’s second semi-final at the same enue.[/size]
[size=small]Rampaul was adjudged Man-of-the-Match on Sunday night for his three-wicket haul as Red Force humbled previous leaders Hurricanes by five wickets to top Group A.[/size]
[size=small]That success took his tally for the tournament to 17 wickets, only behind Pride off-spinner Ashley Nurse with 22, and he credited his recent experience with English County Surrey for his improvement.[/size]
[size=small]“I think that playing in England in their County cricket has really lifted my cricket during the time I was there,” Rampaul said. “Hopefully I could do good for the team before I head off back to England this year.”[/size]
[size=small]Rampaul has been the perfect foil for speedster Shannon Gabriel who has produced some fiery spells with the new ball to unsettle opposing batsmen and Rampaul was full of praise for his pace partner.[/size]
[size=small]“Shannon has been bowling brilliantly for us so far,” he said.[/size]
[size=small]“Throughout this competition he has really put up his hand and he’s been delivering. Me on the other end I just try to keep it tight for him to attack. I can’t fault him, he has given his all.”[/size]