Trinidad: Parkites out to spoil the party (10 April 1999)

10 April 1999

Trinidad: Parkites out to spoil the party

Garth Wattley

After three rounds of cricket, Caroni Wanderers are making the running and the most of their 50th anniversary celebrations.

But starting today in the fourth round, defending Carib National League Division One champions Queen's Park will be attempting to make up the ground and spoil the party.

Wanderers currently top the standings with 59 points, with keen rivals Moosai Sports 11 points off the lead on 48. Queen's Park lie third with 40.

That lead is no more than useful however with bonus points constantly up for grabs.

So the battle at Gilbert Park should be particularly keen. And Andre Lawrence's Queen's Park side will be hoping that this time there is a result, at least on first innings.

In two of their three matches thus far, the Parkites have had the better of games but have been unable to force first innings results against Clico Preysal and Alescon Comets.

But the most consistent batting team in the league will again be fancying their chances against the leaders.

Wanderers are playing at home however, and the incentive of knowing that a good result against the champs could take them further away from the chasing pack will be motivation enough.

Elsewhere in Division One, Moosai travel to Presentation College, Chaguanas to face Daren Ganga and Sims Central Sports.

Left out almost entirely of the Test and One-day series against Australia, following the tour of South Africa, the young Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies batsman is aware that his bat has to do lots of talking over the coming year if he his to keep his international prospects alive.

And last weekend Ganga began filling in his run account with a match-saving 130 for his struggling side against Wanderers. It is batting like that which the 20-year-old will be hoping to reproduce against a Moosai attack that includes former T&T and West Indies pacer Tony Gray who has been in prolific wicket-taking form this season.

There will also be some interesting match-ups at Pierre Road in Charlieville where fifth placed Alescon Comets host cellar-placed Santa Cruz Sports.

Some five national players should be on show, including the captains Suruj Ragoonath (Comet) and Lincoln Roberts (Santa Cruz).

But for Roberts, the focus will be on his team's plight.

Having lost two games outright and one on first innings, Santa Cruz are in need of a boost in what is already shaping up as a battle against relegation.

Only two points separate Cruz (20 points) and Central Sports (22). So Roberts will be hoping to lead the way both with the bat and in the field.

In the other match on tap, 4th placed Clico Preysal visit sixth-placed Clarke Road.

All matches begin at 1 pm.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)