分类： sports

In a stunning display of cricketing prowess, Afghanistan secured a decisive 2-0 series victory against the West Indies with a commanding 39-run triumph in Dubai on January 21. This defeat marks another concerning setback for the Caribbean team, occurring merely weeks before the highly anticipated T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan’s innings showcased remarkable resilience after an early stumble. Despite losing both openers within the powerplay period—Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) and Ibrahim Zadran (22)—to the bowling of Shamar Joseph and Matthew Forde respectively, the middle order mounted an extraordinary recovery. The partnership between Darwish Rasooli and Sediqullah Atal proved particularly devastating, amassing 115 runs for the third wicket with aggressive strokeplay that included 13 boundaries between them.

Atal eventually fell to Forde after scoring 53 from 42 deliveries, while Rasooli’s explosive innings of 68 from just 39 balls was terminated by Ramon Simmonds. A final flourish came from Azmatullah Omarzai, whose unbeaten 26 from 13 balls propelled Afghanistan to a formidable total of 189/4 from their allotted 20 overs.

The West Indies’ response began disastrously, losing three key wickets—Alick Athanaze (8), Evin Lewis (13), and Johnson Charles (0)—within the first eight overs while managing only 38 runs. Shimron Hetmyer provided temporary hope with a blistering 46 from merely 17 deliveries, including six maximums, but his dismissal in the 14th over effectively ended the contest. Captain Brandon King offered resistance with a patient 50 from 41 balls, but the team ultimately collapsed to 150 all out in 18.5 overs.

Afghanistan’s bowling attack demonstrated clinical efficiency, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman claiming impressive figures of 4/21 from his four overs. The teams are scheduled to conclude the series with a final match on January 22.

In an impressive display of cricketing prowess, Presentation College San Fernando commenced their PowerGen Secondary Schools Cricket League premier I division campaign with a decisive 38-run triumph over Naparima College on January 20. The southern derby, contested at Naparima’s home ground in San Fernando, showcased exceptional performances from both teams despite the clear margin of victory.

Presentation established a formidable foundation by posting 271 all out in 47.5 overs. The innings was anchored by captain Brendan Boodoo, who demonstrated why he was selected as a reserve for the ongoing West Indies Under-19 World Cup squad. Boodoo’s commanding 80 runs from 82 deliveries featured six boundaries and one maximum, providing crucial momentum to his team’s total.

The opening partnership proved equally instrumental as Riyaad Mohammed (73 from 75 balls) and Levi Ghanny (60 from 46 deliveries) constructed a substantial 118-run stand. Their aggressive approach set the tempo for Presentation’s innings, though Naparima’s bowling duo of Amrit Pittiman (5/47) and Arnaldo Premchand (4/41) eventually curtailed the scoring through disciplined bowling spells.

Boodoo’s contributions extended beyond his batting excellence as the skipper returned with ball in hand to claim 3/31 from his ten overs of spin. Supported by Aaden Owen’s 3/48, Presentation effectively restricted Naparima to 233/9 despite resilient batting from captain Aadi Ramsaran (62 from 73 balls), Jordan Julien (43), and Veer Arjoon (36).

In other opening round fixtures, Shiva Boys’ Hindu College dominated Queen’s Royal College by 70 runs at QRC’s home ground, while Vishnu Boys’ Hindu College launched their season with a seven-wicket victory against Hillview College. Defending champions Presentation College Chaguanas began their title defense strongly with a 73-run win over St Mary’s College.

The competition continues with round two matches scheduled for January 27.

The 2026 Keshorn Walcott Golden League Athletics series witnessed spectacular performances at its second leg in Shaw Park, Tobago, on January 18, with emerging talents showcasing exceptional athletic prowess across multiple disciplines.

RSS Phoenix’s Darion Whiteman delivered a breathtaking performance in the boys’ under-20 400-meter event, securing victory in a nail-biting finish against formidable competitors. Whiteman demonstrated remarkable resilience in heat three, outpacing 2025 Carifta gold medalists Brion Scott and Christopher Sammy with a winning time of 50.54 seconds—the fastest across all heats. Scott followed closely at 50.56 seconds, while Sammy finished third in the heat at 53.97 seconds. The overall standings saw Khordae Lewis (50.88s) and Keiel Samuel (52.26s) claiming third and fourth positions respectively.

Whiteman continued his dominance by capturing the boys’ under-20 200-meter title, triumphing in a competitive field of 13 athletes with a time of 22.93 seconds. The rivalry between Whiteman and Scott extended to the 800-meter event, where Scott emerged victorious with a time of 2:00.35 minutes, followed by Whiteman (2:01.60) and Samuel (2:03.15).

Christopher Sammy redeemed himself in the 1,600-meter race, displaying extraordinary endurance to win by a significant margin. His time of 4:49.54 minutes placed him nearly thirty seconds ahead of runner-up Malique Young (5:16.94) from Zenith.

Shian Lewis demonstrated remarkable versatility by achieving a double victory in the girls’ under-20 category. She claimed the 200-meter title with 26.47 seconds, ahead of Alisha Sampson (26.90s), and secured the 400-meter win in 1:00.86, outperforming Kaori Robley (1:01.40).

Several other athletes delivered standout performances: Young Azzirion Williams dominated the boys’ under-13 category with wins in 60m, 200m, and 400m events. Multiple winners included Ace Beckles (boys’ under-9 60m and 150m), Keanna Cummings (girls’ under-15 60m and 200m), J’Quan Douglas (boys’ under-17 60m and 200m), Kelcey Roach (girls’ under-13 60m and 400m), and Cai Williams (boys’ under-15 200m and 400m).

Field events featured notable achievements, including Lebron James winning the men’s discus and shot put competitions, while Eli’jah Titus secured a double victory in the boys’ under-15 discus and shot put events.

The athletic series continues with its third meet scheduled for January 31 at Toco Secondary School grounds, promising more exceptional performances from Trinidad and Tobago’s emerging track and field talents.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-20 men’s national team delivered a commanding performance on January 19th, securing an impressive 6-0 victory against St Vincent and the Grenadines at Couva’s Ato Boldon Stadium. The comprehensive win served as crucial preparation for upcoming Concacaf qualifiers scheduled to begin next month.

The match saw exceptional performances from captain Derrel Garcia and Fatima College student Phillip Nelson, each contributing two goals to the scoreline. Garcia, who already boasts experience in senior professional football, initiated the scoring in the 22nd minute. Nelson followed with his first goal in the 32nd minute, establishing a 2-0 lead by halftime.

The second half began with explosive intensity as Garcia and Nelson each found the net again within a remarkable two-minute span—Garcia scoring in the 51st minute and Nelson completing his brace in the 53rd minute. Despite St Vincent’s efforts to stabilize their defense, Giovanni Hospedales extended TT’s lead in the 77th minute before Caden Trestrail concluded the scoring in the 85th minute.

Head coach Marvin Gordon provided measured post-match commentary, expressing only partial satisfaction with the performance. ‘I think I am holding this group to a high standard,’ Gordon told TTFA media. ‘I was pleased with the ball movement today at times and then at times I was not pleased.’ The coach specifically noted that passing sequences could have been executed with greater speed and precision.

In parallel action at the same venue, Defence Force secured a 3-2 comeback victory against Grenada’s U-20 squad. Grenada’s Nathan Mc Intosh scored twice (18th and 60th minutes), but Defence Force responded with goals from Nicholas Bobcombe (37th), Jonathan Mason (74th), and a dramatic 89th-minute winner from Josiah Superville.

The practice tournament continues with upcoming fixtures at Hasely Crawford Stadium on January 21st featuring Grenada U-20 vs St Vincent U-20 (6 pm) followed by TT U-20 vs AC Port of Spain (8 pm). The tournament concludes on January 23rd at Ato Boldon Stadium with TT U-20 facing Grenada U-20 (6 pm) and St Vincent U-20 meeting AC Port of Spain (8 pm).

In a significant boost for Caribbean cricket development, Bess Motors Ltd has pledged a substantial $175,000 sponsorship to Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s (TTCB) Under-15 Youth Development Interzone Tournament. The partnership was formally established on January 21 when managing director Krystal Maharaj presented the sponsorship cheque to TTCB president Azim Bassarath at the National Cricket Centre in Couva.

The upcoming tournament, scheduled to commence on January 28, will showcase emerging talent from eight zonal teams across Trinidad and Tobago: North, North East, Central, South, South West, South East, East, and Tobago. These teams will compete in two groups, with the event serving as a crucial talent identification platform ahead of Cricket West Indies’ Rising Stars Under-15 championship later this year.

TTCB general secretary Henry Chase emphasized the tournament’s comprehensive reach, noting that it guarantees young athletes from every region of Trinidad and Tobago equal opportunity for recognition and development. “This interzone competition acts as a primary evaluation mechanism for national team selection,” Chase stated, “providing a clear pathway for players to advance to regional representation, including the prestigious West Indies Under-15 tournament.”

Bassarath hailed the corporate partnership as a transformative moment for youth cricket development, praising Bess Motors for their strategic investment at this critical developmental stage. The TTCB president highlighted the tournament’s historical significance as a launching pad for numerous Trinidadian cricket legends, including former West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin, T20 phenomenon Nicholas Pooran, and current Red Force head coach Rayad Emrit.

Beyond competitive matches, the 2026 tournament features comprehensive off-field development initiatives including specialized coaching education and umpire training programs. The event is specifically designed to foster character development, instill discipline, enhance communication skills, and promote personal growth among participants from all seven TTCB zonal councils, including Tobago.

The sponsorship represents a long-term commitment to structured youth development, with Chase describing the initiative as “a deliberate investment in the future of Trinidad and Tobago cricket.” The partnership was facilitated through the efforts of Adrian Ali, captain of Marchin Sports Club and Chaguanas Borough Corporation councillor, who helped bridge the collaboration between TTCB and Bess Motors Ltd.

In a significant development for youth sports in Trinidad and Tobago, the Secondary Schools Cricket League (SSCL) has formally renewed its sponsorship agreement with PowerGen for the 2026 cricket season. This partnership celebration marks an extraordinary 28-year continuum of corporate backing for SSCL competitions and developmental programs.

The ceremonial contract signing occurred between SSCL President Nigel Maraj and PowerGen General Manager Ian Rogers, witnessed by Dudnath Nagessar, cricket curriculum officer at the Ministry of Education. The 2026 season has already commenced this month, featuring the premier division I 50-over competition that began on January 20.

According to an official SSCL statement, this collaboration represents “one of the longest-standing and most impactful partnerships in the history of school sport in TT.” The release emphasized PowerGen’s “exemplary corporate social responsibility” through nearly three decades of consistent support, describing the company as “a beacon that lights the pathway for young male and female cricketers across the nation.”

The partnership has profoundly influenced student development beyond athletic skills. Cricket has served as an instrumental vehicle for fostering discipline, teamwork, leadership, and national pride among thousands of student-athletes. PowerGen’s sustained investment has enabled the SSCL to broaden opportunities, enhance programming, and establish secure, structured environments for youth to develop both athletic and life skills.

SSCL President Nigel Maraj reflected on the partnership’s deeper significance: “This contract signing represents far more than sponsorship. It represents belief – belief in our youth, belief in sport as a vehicle for development, and belief in the future of TT.”

The philosophical alignment between cricket and character development finds resonance in comments from West Indies legends. Sir Vivian Richards’ assertion that “Cricket is more than a game, it is a way of life” mirrors the SSCL’s educational mission. Similarly, Sir Garfield Sobers’ emphasis on “hard work, discipline and respect” as keys to success reflects core values embedded in SSCL programs.

National hero Brian Lara’s wisdom that “it is not where you start, but how you finish” underscores the league’s focus on resilience and perseverance—qualities that extend beyond cricket into all life domains.

Looking forward, the SSCL remains dedicated to enhancing competitions, advancing player development, and promoting gender inclusivity in cricket. The league expressed profound gratitude for PowerGen’s 28 years of support and anticipates another successful season of collaborative achievement.

San Juan South Secondary launched a formidable defense of their boys’ open volleyball title with a commanding performance on January 18, securing three consecutive victories during the opening matches of the 2026 Secondary Schools Volleyball League (SSVL) at Aranguez North Secondary School.

The reigning champions capitalized immediately when opponents Fatima College arrived late from Mucurapo, resulting in an automatic first-set forfeit. San Juan then demonstrated their technical superiority by capturing the second set 25-15 to claim their opening match.

Their second encounter against Presentation College Chaguanas showcased San Juan’s competitive dominance as they secured a decisive straight-sets victory. After winning the first set 25-17, the champions accelerated their performance with a convincing 25-10 second-set triumph.

The day’s most anticipated match saw San Juan confront Naparima College, who had themselves recorded impressive victories against both Fatima and Presentation. San Juan asserted their championship credentials with a dominant 25-11 first-set performance before overcoming a more determined Naparima challenge to claim the second set 25-19.

Naparima College demonstrated significant promise throughout the competition, beginning with a straight-sets victory against Presentation (25-10, 25-18) followed by a dramatic three-set thriller against Fatima. After splitting the first two sets (25-18, 17-25), Naparima displayed remarkable composure to edge the decisive third set 15-14.

Fatima College salvaged their tournament performance with a straight-sets victory against Presentation, overcoming determined resistance to secure the match 25-18, 25-23.

The SSVL competition continues at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sport Arena in Tacarigua with girls’ under-15 category matches, where International School of Port of Spain will begin their title defense.