FORMER Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Neil Mc Garrell saved the day for defending champions Ce-ramic Merry Boys and spurred them on to victory and one of the three qualifying spots in Group A of the Carib Sunday League on Saturday.
Merryboys needing a win against Couva Sports to secure a place in the second round of the tournament got a resounding 211-run victory over at the Diego Martin Recreation Ground.
Mc Garrell had arrived in Trinidad the previous evening and was immediately handed the captaincy of the club and he led from the front.
Batting first, Merry Boys made a huge 294 for nine from the allotted 50 overs, with T&T opener Mario Belcon hitting a workmanlike 90 with 12 fours.
In reply, Couva were skittled out for a meagre 83, with former T&T player Aneil Kanhai grabbing 5/14 and Mc Garrell 2/5.
Elsewhere, at Felicity, Vishal Arjune turned bowler and grabbed 2/24 but could not stop his team from being embarrassed by Queen’s Park.
The “Parkities” tallied a competitive 156 in 46 overs, with promising left-handed batsman Justin Guillien scoring 46.
In response, Invaders were routed 31, the lowest ever total in the history of the competition. Doing the damage for Queen’s Park were pacers Ricardo Paty with five for 16, and Reshaad Harris three for eight.
Arjune failed to score.
At Chaguaramas, Guy-anese pacer Rayon Griffith took 2/22 to lead his team Alescon Comets to victory over the Defence Force.
Defence Force was dismissed for 86, with former T&T youth left-arm spinner Magnum Nanan taking four for 29. In reply, Comets hustled to victory for the loss of one wicket. Adrian Ali made 38 not out, and David Livingston was unbeaten on 33.
The quarterfinals will be contested today.
Summarised scores; Ro-und Five
