A quality all round performance from Aditya Ramdeen against Tobago under-15’s, ensured North under-15’s a place in the semi- final of the Scotiabank Next Gen inter-zone tournament. On a good-looking pitch at Fatima grounds, North won the toss and decided to have a bat. Ramdeen, opening the batting, had to start patiently as North lost 3 wickets in the first 15 overs with Tobago’s Jayden Kent picking up two. Ramdeen was joined by Darion Gooding and got the support he needed to start playing freely, as they put on 54 for the fourth wicket. Ramdeen brought up a well-played fifty -which included six fours-with a strong pull over mid-wicket to the delight of the North supporters. He was soon out however, trying to repeat the shot but was caught on the boundary for 55 leaving north 123-4 in the 22nd over. Gooding continued batting positively and saw North get over the 150 mark before he was out for 34.The Tobago bowlers did well to wrap up the lower order in the 40 th over to restrict North to 208, their highest total of the tournament so far. Jayden Kent was the pick of the bowlers grabbing 3-27 in 7 overs.
In reply, the Tobago youngsters got off to a shaky start, losing their first wicket in the first over bowled
by Saleem Ali. At the other end Ramdeen, this time with ball in hand, also picked up an early wicket to
leave Tobago in a spot of bother at 32-2 in the eighth over. However, middle order batsmen Jaden Kent
and Keil Ross who was especially aggressive, would steady the ship for the Tobagonians putting on 55
for the third wicket. Ross would eventually go for 28 but North was not off the hook, as Kent would be
joined by Kyle James who played smart shots, finding the gaps and picking up important ones and twos
to leave Tobago in charge at 137-3 after 27 overs. The momentum of the game then swung in North’s
favor when captain Arshad Harrilal ran out Kent for 33 and then had James caught off his bowling the
very next ball for 26 from 27 balls, 137/5. Tobago would only go on to make fifteen more runs as Harrilal
spun North to victory, picking up four more wickets to finish with impressive figures of 5-27, with
Ramdeen picking up two wickets to give North a 56-run win.
In the other Group A match East got passed North East to win the group with the final standings after
three matches as follows: East 12 pts – North 8 pts – North East 4 pts – Tobago 0 pts
North will face Group B winners Central at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on February 12th at 9:30 am for a spot in the under-15 final.
Summarized scores: North won the toss; batted first.
North 208/10 (40) – Aditya Ramdeen 55(65), Darion Gooding 34(55); Jayden Kent 3/27, Kyle James 2/34
Tobago 152/10 (37.2) – Jayden Kent 33(73), Keil Ross 28(37); Arshad Harrilal 5/27, Aditya Ramdeen 2/18.
