A new champion will be crowned in the 2025 North Zone Cricket Council 40-over tournament after Barataria Ball Players eliminated Santa Cruz Sports in a thriller on Sunday.
Barataria got past Santa Cruz by three wickets in a tight match and will face The Harvard Club in the semifinals on 10 May.
Harvard beat Shannon handsomely by seven wickets in their Group C match.
Savannah Boys booked their place in the semis with a 47-run win over Glenora Sports Club and will face North Side Future Stars.
With North Side on a bye in Group B, Combine All Stars took out their frustrations on Ebony Sports, winning by a whopping 223 runs.
Ray Campbell hit a superlative 143, Kristoff St Kohn got 77, while Brent Lezama took six wickets in the win.
The other Group D match between Invincible and Bourg Mulatresse was abandoned without a ball bowled.
The marquee contest on the weekend was at the Barataria Oval, where the Barataria Ball Players defeated defending champions Santa Cruz Sports to qualify for the semifinals as Group A winners.
Vaughn Browne (4/30) and Marlon Phillip (3/30) did the bulk of the advantage to limit Santa Cruz Sports to 140 in 33.3 overs.
Raymond Grell hit 40, while Savion Lara had 25 to prop up the sagging Santa Cruz middle order, with Ayden Antoine getting 28 to push the champions to a respectable score.
Barataria Ball Players lost three quick wickets to sag to 49 for 4 before Phillip and Browne (24) combined to stage a revival with a 48-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Phillip’s 42 not out off 32 balls proved the difference as Barataria got home in 23.2 overs to clinch a place in the semifinals and dethrone Santa Cruz, who shared the title with promoted El Socorro Youth Movement in 2024.
Summarized scores: Santa Cruz Sports Association 140 in 33.3 overs (Raymond Grell 40, Ayden Antoine 28, Savion Lara 25; Vaughn Browne 4/30, Marlon Phillip 3/30, Derron Wilson 2/32) vs. Barataria Ball Players 141 for 7 in 23.2 overs (Marlon Phillip 42*, Vaughn Browne 24, Sheldon Thomas 23; Savion Lara 3/41, Christopher Mitchell 2/24). Barataria won by 3 wickets
At the Combine Sports Club grounds, the Harvard Club stormed into the semifinals with a seven-wicket win over Shannon and will now play Barataria Ball Players in the final four.
Kamiruu Clarke (4/14) and Israel Belle (4/21) set up the victory charge in skittling Shannon for 99 in 25.4 overs.
Yohance Kwesi (40*) and Andre Yard (24) overcame the loss of an early wicket to put on 45 for the second wicket, with the former putting on a further 42 for the third wicket with Jerome Simpson (8).
Belle then clobbered 10 not out off 5 balls to seal victory off only 13.1 overs to put Harvard in the semis and win Group C.
Summarized Scores: Shannon 99 in 25.4 overs (Nigel Benjamin 17, Neil Cumberbatch 17; Kamiruu Clarke 4/14, Israel Belle 4/21) vs. The Harvard Club 104 for 3 in 13.1 overs (Yohance Kwesi 40*, Andre Yard 24; Rocky Juman 1/20). Harvard won by 7 wickets
At Savannah Boys grounds in Group D, the home team beat red-hot Glenora Sports by 47 runs to make it to the semifinals.
Opener Naresh Persaud played an important role in keeping the Savannah Boys’ innings going as a string of low scores from their top-order batsmen saw them at a worrying 77 for 5.
However, Persad persisted and found a willing partner in Ravindra Naidoo to add 47 for the sixth wicket before he went for 56.
Naidoo smashed 53 off 35 balls in adding a further 57 for the seventh wicket with Pradeem Ali.
Ali made a more sedate 38 not out off 43 balls in a partnership of 41 with Aneesh Sookoo (18) to urge Savanna Boys to 233 for 8 in their 32 overs available.
When Glenora batted, the in-form Keon Mason, who has scored two straight half-centuries, got to 38 off 32 balls before he was run out.
His dismissal at 65 for 2 was critical as Glenora struggled to build meaningful partnerships after that.
Joshua Clarke (38) kept Glenora in it, while number nine Andy Alexander smashed 33 off 31 balls, but it was too little, too late in the end.
Riaf Ali took four critical middle-order wickets, while Chetram Ramlall had 2 for 41 in sealing the victory.
Group D Savannah Boys will now play Group B winners North Side Future Stars in the semifinals.
Summarized scores: Savannah Boys 233 for 8 in 32 overs (Naresh Persaud 56, Ravindra Naidoo 53, Pradeem Ali 38*; Kenroy Williams 3/43, Andy Alexander 2/31) vs Glenora Sports Club 186 in 30.4 overs (Keno Mason 38, Joshua Clarke 38, Andy Alexander 33; Riaf Ali 4/30; Chetram Ramlall 2/41). Savannah Boys won by 47 runs
With Group B winners North Side Future Stars on a bye and already qualified for the semis, Combine All Stars whipped Ebony Sports by 223 runs.
Both teams were already out of contention for a place in the semis, and Combine All Stars made merry in rattling up 318 for 6 in 31 overs.
Ray Campbell dominated an opening partnership of 236 with Kristoff St John, scoring 143 off only 76 balls.
Campbell hit 11 fours and 10 sixes, while St John got 77 off 63 balls with 11 fours.
Frank Simmons chipped in with 43 in a partnership of 58 for the fourth wicket with Kareem Prince (21).
Ebony were never in the run chase after Brent Lezama snared six wickets for only 17 runs in five peerless overs.
Rishi Rampersad (1/12) and St John (1/6) also chipped in with wickets.
Summarized scores: Combine All Stars 318 for 6 in 31 overs (Ray Campbell 143,Kristoff St John 77, Frank Simmons 43; Johnny Lacario 2/20, Kern Buddy 2/52) vs. Ebony Sports 95 for 8 in 19.5 overs (Trey Serrette 19, Kareem Roberts 17; Brent Lezama 6/17). Combine All Stars won by 223 runs
Group Qualifiers – Points and Net Run Rate
Group A
1. Barataria Ball Players – 6 – 3.610
2. Santa Cruz Sports – 3- 2.404
3. Paragon Sports – 0 – -0.707
Group B
1. North Side Future Stars – 6- 1.021
2. Combine All Stars Sports – 3 – 3.340
3. Ebony Sports and Cultural – 0 – -5.123
Group C
1. The Harvard Club – 3 – 1.843
2. Shannon Sports – 3 – 1.709
3. Pole 9 Cricket Club – 3 – 2.823
Group D
1. Savannah Boys – 9 – 4.393
2. Glenora Sports Club – 6 – 3.391
3. Bourg Mulatresse – 2 – -60890
4. Invincible Sports – 2 – -7.333
Semi-finals
Final
11 May – Winner of SF 1 vs Winner of Semifinal 2 – Queen’s Royal College Ground.
