Defending champions North fell to their first defeat of the 2024 TTCB U19 Inter-Zone Tournament, beaten by nine wickets by East at Honeymoon Park.
Samir Saroop returned to torment North, scoring 93, just under two weeks after hitting 89 against North in the U17 tournament.
His effort saw East rebound from their loss to Tobago in their opening game, to win the match by nine wickets with 16.0 overs to spare.
Earlier, North were bowled out for 143 despite a second straight half-century by Kyle Ramdoo.
At Honeymoon Park, North batted first after winning the toss but struggled to create meaningful partnerships against an East attack spearheaded by Abdul Raheem Toppin and Stepphan McPherson.
McPherson was the first to strike, removing Isaiah Fernandes for a duck, the first ball of the fourth over.
Ramdoo added 23 for the second wicket with Adrian Mahase (6) before the latter became the first of two wickets to fall to Toppin.
Joshua Davis was the next for a three-ball duck before Ramdoo fashioned a 31-run stand with Niall Maingot (20).
Rikki Ragoonanan, who dismissed Maingot, then got the wickets of Na-Kalon Bobb (9) and Caiden Mack (2).
When Ramdoo fell for 66 off 97 balls, North would collapse and lose their last four wickets for 18 runs
With only Abdullah Cambridge (19) resisting, Toppin and McPherson would return to sweep away the last three North wickets for only two runs.
North were all out for 143 in 41.2 overs.
Toppin claimed 4 for 48, Ragoonanan had 3 for 27, and McPherson 2/21.
Andrew Rambaran bowled five miserly overs for eight runs and took the prized wicket of Ramdoo.
Chasing 144 for victory, Saroop dominated, hitting 93 off 118 balls with nine fours and four sixes.
He put on 139 for the first wicket with Kavir Boodoosingh, who finished not out on 28 off 85 balls.
The winning runs came off the last ball of the 34th over, with East victorious with 16 overs to spare.
North face unbeaten Tobago in their final game at the Brian Lara Recreation Ground in Santa Cruz, needing a win to qualify for the semifinals.
Meanwhile, East is in a similar position, taking on North East at Brooklyn Grounds.
Tobago is on the verge of returning to the semifinals of the TTCB U19 tournament for the first time in over a decade after beating North East at Moriah Recreation Grounds.
Xaviar Reid took 4 for 40 while Brandon Melville (2/10) and Olando James (2/27) shared four wickets to confine North East to 124 in 38.2 overs.
James then hit 36 not out, playing second fiddle to a dominant Joshua Kent, who smashed 73 to pace Tobago to a commanding seven-wicket victory.
In Group B play, unbeaten Central is on the verge of making it to the semifinals after crushing South by 10 wickets at Agostini Settlement.
Spinners Ramone Sawn (2/17) and Zachary Madray (2/20) combined well with seamer Alexander Chase (2/29) to limit South to 141 in 41.3 overs.
Justin Jagessar (78 not out) and Rajesh Maharaj (57 not out) then batted out 30.1 overs without being separated to earn a comprehensive victory.
South West kept their chances of a semifinal place alive with a 35-run victory over South East.
Justin Ramjohn’s 37 not out proved critical in getting his team to 125 all out in 27.3 overs against a quality South East attack.
Jaylan Ransome was the pick of the South East bowlers with 4 for 45, while Christian Rampersad (3/17) and Aadian Racha (2/25) also picked up wickets.
However, South East collapsed to 90 all out in 23.2 overs with Mikael Sinanan getting 4 for 11.
Ubaibullah Abdoel had 2 for 19, while Mikhael Mentor took 2/21 in the victory.
South East must beat Central to qualify for the semifinal, while South West can clinch a place in the semis with a victory over South in the final round.
Round 3 action is on 25 March.
TTCB U19 Inter-Zone Tournament
Honeymoon Park
North 143 all out in 41.2 overs (Kyle Ramdoo 66, Niall Maingot 20; Abdul Raheem Toppin 4/48, Rikki Ragoonath 3/27, Stepphan McPherson 2/21) vs East 144 for 1 in 34.0 overs (Samir Saroop 93, Kavir Boodoosingh 28*; Caiden Mack 1/33). East won by nine wickets
NMO Cricket Grounds
South West 125 all out in 27.3 overs (Justin Ramjohn 37*; Jaylan Ransome 4/25, Christian Rampersad 3/17, Aadian Racha 2/25) vs South East 90 all out in 23.3 overs (Brendan Boodoo 20, Jaydon John 16; Mikael Sinanan 4/11, Ubaibullah Abdoel 2/19, Mikhael Mentor 2/21). South West won by 35 runs
Moriah Recreation Ground
North East 124 in 38.2 overs (Rahul Soodeeen 29, Ishmael Ali 27, Avinash Singh 24; Xaviar Reid 4/40, Brandon Melville 2/10, Olando James 2/27)vs. Tobago 146 for 3 in 17.1 overs (Joshua Kent 73, Olando James 36*, Keel Ross 27; Khaleem 2/25). Tobago won by seven wickets
Agostini Settlement
South 141 in 41.3 overs (Riyaad Mohammed 37, Matheus Komal 28; Ramone Sawh 2/17, Zachary madray 2/20, Alexander Chase 2/29) vs Central 142 without loss in 30.5 overs (Justin Jagesar 78*, Rajesh Maharaj 57*). Central won by 10 wickets
TTCB U19 Inter-zone Tournament
Group A: East, North-East, Tobago, North
Group B: South, Central, South-East, South-West
Round 1 – 14 March
North beat North East by 10 wickets at Honeymoon Park
Tobago beat East by 48 runs
Central beat South-West by 58 runs
South East beat South by 80 runs
Round 2 – 18 March
Tobago beat North-East by seven wickets
East beat North by nine wickets
South-West beat South-East by 35 runs
Central beat South by 10 wickets
Round 3 – 25 March
North East vs East – Brooklyn Grounds
North vs Tobago – Brian Lara Recreation Ground
South-East vs Central – Sancho Recreation Ground
South vs South-West – Naparima College Grounds
Semifinals – 3 April
Winner A vs Runner-Up B – National Cricket Center
Winner B vs Rudder-up A – National Cricket Center
Final – 9 April – National Cricket Center
