PowerGen SSCL Premiership Division leaders Fatima College were in no mood to be charitable hosts when they faced Princess Town West Secondary in their 5th round match on Tuesday February 10th, 2015. The Northern powerhouse, showing no sympathy for the long distance their southern opponents had travelled, took full advantage of batting first on an excellent home wicket. By the end of Fatima’s 50 overs, the Princess Town bowling unit must have been wishing they had missed their maxi to Port-of-Spain that morning.
When the opening partnership was broken early, it marked perhaps the one thing that went right for the southern lads. In contrast, for Fatima, it was a day when everything went “left” as the left-handed Jonathan Hirst was then joined by the left-handed Amir Jangoo for an epic 2nd wicket partnership. The watching crowd were treated to the type of dazzling batting display that evoked memories of another left-handed Fatima batsman from days past – a certain B.C. Lara. Hirst smashed 17 boundaries and 3 sixes in amassing 134 whilst Jangoo counted 14 boundaries and the solitary maximum in his 112 as the pair put on 253 for the 2nd wicket. The dismissals of both centurions were scant consolation indeed for the battered Princess Town team as the Fatima innings progressed to a mammoth 358-4 by its close.
Fatima’s supporters were by then wondering not if but rather how soon would victory be achieved. The answer came in swift and decisive fashion as pace spearhead Sean Persaud backed up his quickfire 38 not out with 3 wickets for 11 runs in 9 miserly overs. Together with skipper Donavon Clayton (2 for 6) and Anand Lochan (2 for 5) the Fatima bowlers skittled out the southerners for a mere 117, sealing victory by the handsome margin of 241 runs. In the process they not only reminded the Princess Town unit of why they were unbeaten for the season but also served notice to the chasing teams behind them on the points table that they were intent on holding on to their spot as Premiership leaders.
This is a really great initiative by the Council and I’m sure it will bring back a lot of fun memories for our past players. Hopefully, they can all get involved in contributing to the information on the site.