PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC-Trinidad and Tobago maintained their supremacy over Jamaica in twenty20 cricket after defeating them by six wickets to clinch the T20 for 50 Cricket Festival at Queen’s Park Oval over the weekend.
It was T&T’s third victory in a row over the Jamaicans in the shortest format of the game following wins at the Caribbean T20 final in January and in Florida earlier this month.
Jamaica stumbled and recovered to post 114 runs for 7 wickets off their 20 overs as The Trinidadians who also survived an early slump eventually cruised to victory at 115 for four in 18.5 overs.
West Indies under 19 batsman Andre McCarthy smashed a half century to revive the Jamaican innings after it had slipped to 68 for seven in the 15th over.
McCarthy scored an unbeaten 54 in 39 balls hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes to add some respectability to the innings which was on the brink of collapsing for less than 100.
Tamar Lambert hit three fours in a contribution of score 24.
The pick of the Trinidadian bowlers was West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree who took two for nine off 4 overs while West Indies left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed got 2-14 of three overs
The homeside started poorly and was reeling on 22 for two after Dave Bernard Jr. dismissed Lendl Simmons for 14 and Evin Lewis for a duck in the fourth over of the run chase.
However a patient 70 run partnership between Darren Bravo and captain Denesh Ramdin repaired the innings and swung the momentum back in Trinidad’s favour.
Bravo scored 33 off 32 balls while Ramdin was not out on 33 after facing 46 balls.
Ramdin was named man of the match.
Dave Bernard three for 16 off 3 overs was the most outstanding bowler.
Trinidad and Tobago pocketed US$20,000 for winning the tournament, which was held as part of the twin republic’s 50th anniversary of Independence.
