Gros Islet, St Lucia – Trinidad and Tobago won the Caribbean T20 tournament for the third consecutive year when they beat Guyana by nine wickets in the Grand Final on Sunday night.
Playing in front a large number of their supporters who came to the Beausejour Cricket Ground, the Trinis easily won with 45 balls to spare and maintained the unbeaten record in the tournament.
Their bowlers restricted Guyana to 116-6 off 20 overs. Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel took 2-16 and seamer Rayad Emrit ended with 2-18. T&T batted brilliantly to reach 120-1 off 12.3 overs. Lendl Simmons topscored (52 not out off 37 balls) and added an opening stand of 52 with rookie opener Evin Lewis (32 off 18 balls). Kieron Pollard ended on 25 not out and finished the match in grand style.
The Man-of-the-Match award went to Gabriel, while Darren Bravo was voted Most Valuable of Player of the tournament.
SCORES: GUYANA 116-6 off 20 overs (Chris Barnwell 32, Trevon Griffith 29; Shannon Gabriel 2-16, Rayad Emrit 2-18) Trinidad & Tobago 120-1 off 12.3 overs (Lendl Simmons 52 not out, Evin Lewis 32, Kieron Pollard 25 not out).
I watched the last 3 games of the tournament. Having seen Guyana’s approach to the game against Jamaica, I expected a better showing from them. It was disappointing that they did not put up a better fight. Trinidad outplayed them. This was a no-contest.
When calypso and cricket combine we get calypso- cricket. That’s what T20 cricket is all about. And which team but Trinidad could best represent and win that kind of game.