Rain halts play, Patriots march into TTCB 50-over final

Sport

5 minutes ago

BESS Motors Marchin Patriots punched their ticket to the final of the 2024 Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) 50-over Premiership I competition on May 18, after their semi-final with Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) was wiped out inside 15 overs at the Inshan Ali Park ground in Preysal.

The two teams began their playoff clash after finishing second and third respectively at the end of seven rounds in the 50-over tournament, with the treble-chasing Central Sports team booking their spot in the final after finishing first had taken. However, a tasty clash between Patriots and the Parkites was marred by heavy rain showers, and the former team clinched their spot in the May 25 finals after finishing the round-robin stage in second place with six wins and the lone loss to Central Sports in their seven matches. matches.

QPCC recorded five wins and two defeats in the preliminary round, while top flight Central Sports registered six wins, along with an abandoned match against outgoing champions Clarke Road United.

In the limited action in Preysal, the Patriots went to 79 for three after 14.4 overs. Patriots got off to a fast start as Kadeem Alleyne (16) and out-of-favour West Indian opener Evin Lewis (34 off 43 balls) put together a 45-run partnership in six overs. QPCC picked up three wickets in quick succession, and pacer Chadeon Raymond dismissed Lewis and Richie Looknauth from successive balls in the ninth over as QPCC fought back.

With a date with Central Sports on the line, the match was intriguingly set. However, the persistent rain had the last word.

Central Sports, who have already won the National League and Twenty/20 Festival Premiership I titles in the 2024 season, will hope the third time is the charm when they face the Patriots in the final at the National Cricket Center in Balmain.

On the opening day of the 50-over campaign on April 6, Central Sports outscored their Patriots counterparts as they registered a huge 117-run win, with experienced leg-spinner Imran Khan taking an impressive haul of six wickets. Central Sports also defeated the Patriots by a margin of six wickets in their group stage match at the T20 Festival.

In the finals, the Patriots hope to turn the tide in their favor and stop Central Sports’ dominance in 2024.

Summary scores:

Marchin Patriots: 79/3 from 14.4 (Evin Lewis 34, Kadeem Alleyne 16; Chadeon Raymond 2/24). Leave the match.