Presentation College Chaguanas Cricket Team made a historic trip to play as special guests at the 2011 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship, and thoroughly enjoyed the top quality facilities and high level of cricket. Presentation has for years been the top school cricket team in T&T and has a number of players who have represented T&T at the Under 19 and Under 15 level.
The American Universities won 2 and lost 1 to the school from Trinidad & Tobago, while Presentation College also won another “friendly” game.
Presentation College captain Kieron Joseph in action. Photo courtesy of American College Cricket.
(Captain of Presentation College) 18 years old, has played for Trinidad & Tobago Under-19, said “This is one of the best places I’ve ever been. It was real quality cricket today. We played against a top side — we were under some pressure but we gave it our best. Its great experience for when we go back home.”
Principal Gary Ribeiro loved the trip and said “Excellent facilities, excellent welcome, and excellent competition! It’s the furthest north we’ve been in the last 50 years. We’re very pleased to be here as Guests, and we had a tremendous match this morning. We’re just glad we’re playing teams that are fitter.
Many of our boys represent Trinidad at their age group level. We have a couple of men who we figure will be making the West Indies Under-19.”
University of Central Florida (UCF) vs Presentation College Chaguanas (PCC):
UCF batted first and Sai Ramesh took the attack to the PCC bowlers immediately smashing 4 sixes and 5 fours in his 56 runs. Together with Kirtan Patel, he had an opening partnership of 75 runs. Ramesh confidently hit the ball all over the Central Broward field. UCF made 170 off their 20 overs, and Varinda Jagrup took 3 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs.
In response Presentation College lost 2 wickets for 21 runs before Bryan Charles 53 and Keiron Joseph 37 put on 75 runs. Charles struck 4 fours and 1 six, whilst Joseph hoisted 2 sixes. PCC kept losing wickets as they got close to UCF’s total and superb fielding ran out their last 2 batsmen, and Presentation College was all out for 161 off 19.2 overs. Sai Ramesh 2 for 21, Samih Sadiq 2 for 25. UCF won by 9 runs.
Montgomery College (MC) vs Presentation College Chaguanas (PCC):
Presentation won the toss and sent Montgomery into bat. Montgomery made 195 for 5 in 20 overs. The stylish left handed Danish Ashgar stroked the ball all over for 71 runs, including 5 fours and 5 sixes. With Adil Bhatti Ashgar put on an 82 run partnership. Bhatti made 50, including 4 sixes and 3 fours, before retiring to give his team mates a chance to bat.
Presentation College started off with a 61 run partnership between Mark Deyal 45 and Aleem Khan 32. Khan struck 6 lovely fours whilst Deyal stroked 6 fours. Khan has played for T & T Under 15. Presentation College never threatened Montgomery’s total however and made 170 for 5 in 20 overs. Montgomery won by 25 runs.
University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) vs Presentation College (PCC):
UMBC took first strike under the lights of “American College Cricket” Stadium. Though having played a game earlier in the day, the UMBC team was eager to show the form that had won them the WMCB league T20 competition in Maryland 2 years in a row. However T & T Under 15 star Aleem Khan struck early, and UMBC was 21 for 3. Ranga Ananth top scored for UMBC with 25 as they mustered 92 all out in the 20th over. Khan took 3 wickets for 4 runs in 4 overs.
PCC Vice Captain Brian Deyal practically won the game by himself stroking 8 beautiful fours in his 65 as PCC got to the winning total of 93 runs in the 17th over. Presentation won by 5 wickets.
Coach of Presentation College for the past 40 years, Lalman Kowlessar was ecstatic about the trip, and looked forward to making it an annual event. Kowlessar is the 2nd VP of the T & T Board, and Chairman of the National Youth Selection Committee.
American College Cricket President Lloyd Jodah explained, “There are many reasons for having guest teams from the West Indies – in the same manner that Caribbean track & field benefits from US college facilities, we can do the same for West Indies cricket. Also we can influence more young West Indies cricket players to combine college with playing the game.”
“High school cricketers from the West Indies can benefit tremendously from the contact with colleges and college students in the USA & Canada.”