Kantasingh was brilliant with the ball, taking two six-wicket hauls to end with match figures of 12 for 84 while Phillips batted resolutely for scores of 88 and 70 not out as the students recorded a comprehensive 151-run victory over their more experienced and highly fancied opponents at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.
CCC captain Floyd Reifer said both players had been showing great improvement in recent months and the performances were the results of hard work put in.
“Kantasingh bowled really well … it was a joy to see him out their bowling at the Trinidad batsmen. He was consistent and got the ball to turn, which made life very difficult for them,” said Reifer, who captained the West Indies in two Tests last year during the bitter contracts impasse.
“They struggled against him and he kept coming at them and building the pressure. It was a good pitch for him to bowl on and he took full advantage, as any good bowler would do.”
Reifer added: “He is a hard worker and he has been working to improve his bowling as well as his overall game. When he first came to the CCC programme, you could see he needed some work, but he has displayed the commitment and dedication required and now he is coming into his own.”
According to Reifer, the Trinidadian Kantasingh had been the team’s most economical bowler in all forms of the game, and deserved recognition.
“I believe people will take note now that he managed to get a big match haul. In Trinidad they don’t seem to rate him very highly, but in the CCC programme we know he is a very good bowler, who offers an attacking option,” Reifer pointed out.
“He can also keep things very, very tight if required. He fits into our programme very well.”
Reifer described Phillips as the architect of the CCC’s victory, pointing out that the 23-year-old had set up the match nicely with his resolute batting.
The left-hander made his international debut during the players’ boycott last July against Bangladesh and showed great tenacity with a character-building 94 in his first Test innings at Arnos Vale, St Vincent.
“Omar batted really well on what was a very difficult pitch and deserved a century. On another day, on a less challenging pitch he would have definitely made a hundred,” Reifer said.
“He showed great application, assessed the conditions really well and his concentration was solid. He played some great shots, especially in the second innings when we were looking to set a target.
“He is developing really well as a batsman and he is another one of our players who has been working very hard in the nets and during the off-season.”
