Cane Farm Sports Club caused the biggest upset of the NGC T20 Festival tournament so far, defeating top club PowerGen by three wickets in a high scoring match at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, on Wednesday night.
PowerGen was the favourite going into the Group C contest with numerous national and regional players in its line up such as Jason Mohammed (T&T), Kavesh Kantasingh (T&T), Delorn Johnson (Windward Islands) and Royston Crandon (Guyana). However, a talented bunch of former and national youth cricketers proved to be a handful against their more senior counterparts.
PowerGen seemed set for victory posting 184/4 batting first with Crandon belting an unbeaten 62 off 27 balls with five fours and four sixes. Former national Under-19 player Jeron Maniram scored 37 not out, while Ewart Nicholson who recently made his senior debut for T&T made 36. Bowling for Cane Farm Usama Ali snatched 2/22 in four overs.
National Under-19 cricketer Keagan Simmons and Romel Nanan got Cane Farm off to a flying start putting on 78 for the first wicket in less than seven overs. Nanan fell for 40 off 24 deliveries, before Simmons lost his wicket for 34 off 20 balls with the score on 84. Experienced Barbadian Alcindo Holder and Devon Clement then shared in a 60-run partnership to put Cane Farm in command. Holder (47) and Akeel Seetal (0) then fell in consecutive deliveries to Strassack Sankar as Cane Farm was reduced to 144/4 in the 15th over.
Cane Farm lost wickets at regular intervals, but an unbeaten 22 off 12 balls from Shakeel Allick lead Cane Farm to 190/7 with four balls remaining. Allick finished off the match with a six off spinner Mohammed. It was Cane Farm’s second win of the tournament, while PowerGen will aim to defeat Victoria on Sunday to keep its chances alive of qualifying for the quarterfinals. Yesterday in Group D, Alescon Comets faced Moosai Sports and Jenexcon Tableland played Preysal.
The top teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the quarterfinals. The final will be played on April 15 from 7 pm.
GROUPS:
Group A: Queen’s Park, Prisons, Esmeralda, Caldrac
Group B: Merry Boys, Clarke Road, Queen’s Park II, Calcutta
Group C: PowerGen, Victoria, Cane Farm, Central Sports
Group D: Preysal, Alescon Comets, Moosai Sports, Jenexcon Tableland
TODAY’S FIXTURES:
Caldrac vs Prisons – 3 pm
Esmeralda vs Queen’s Park – 7 pm
SCORES:
WEDNESDAY
Powergen 184/4 (Royston Crandon 62 not out, Jeron Maniram 37 not out, Ewart Nicholson 36, Usama Ali 2/22) vs Cane Farm 190/7 (19.2 overs) (Alcindo Holder 47, Romel Nanan 40, Keagan Simmons 34, Strassack Sankar 3/47) Cane Farm won by three wickets