By GARTH WATTLEY
IT'S nearly 48 hours since the Prince of Port of Spain was crowned leader of West Indies cricket.
But it has taken Brian Lara even less time to show he's ``ready to run de show.''
Calypsonian Contender has been saying so for days now. But yesterday on the first day of the 1998 Gerry Gomez North/South Classic at the Queen's Park Oval, Lara turned words into deeds.
As the players came off the field at the close of play, the clusters of spectators spread around the ground were congregating near the pavilion. They were getting closer to hail a most perfectly timed unbeaten century (103) by the new captain.
That young Lincoln Roberts was walking in behind him on an impressive unbeaten 71 and that North were powerfully placed on 229 for 3 was almost lost on the starstruck throng. And when the party in the Cricket Board's office said 'cheers' to the new captain, the subjects had eyes only for the Prince, hanging on his every word. And he had some news for them.
``The way I approached my innings today is the way I'll approach every innings from now on.'' Of all his captaincy statements so far, that declaration may prove to be the most significant of all. But it was not necessary.
For conchshell man Keller and the curious folk that turned up yesterday, Lara's innings was proof enough.
The ``501'' that Lara wielded, could have been a shovel as yesterday's innings seemed to have been laying the foundation for more than just a tall North total.
Putting forbearance before flashing strokes and keeping his head down, not in the air, Lara showed a different side of himself, perhaps intent on making yesterday the dawn of a brand new day.
Clearly searching for his best form, he dug in. And South skipper Anil Balliram and his bowlers, having sent the opposition in, were forced to sing the work song.
Replacing AndrŽ Lawrence with the score just 15, Lara stayed for five hours and 250 balls for his hundred while Balliram, leading in place of South Africa-bound Daren Ganga, used nine bowlers, including himself.
But Lara, studious, playing straight and, on occasion, with some style, would not move. It was not an exhilarating innings characterised by flawless timing and placement.
But neither was it ugly. It could not possibly be once the otherwise testing offspin of Mukesh Persad was elegantly stroked through a packed cover field, persevering Marlon Black was hit for an equally exquisite off-drive and late addition Robert Mahabir was clouted onto the cycle track.
Those were three of 12 boundaries Lara struck (11 fours, 1 six), the last one, a four to midwicket off Persad, bringing up the three figures. But his sojourn could have ended at 70 had Jerry Jumadeen held a firm, low return catch.
Roberts also had a narrow escape in the slips on 67. But he also held the spectators' interest for the right reasons.
When the restricted Leon Romero (15) prodded Persad to leg-gully at 54 and Richard Smith (11) became Black's second victim at 95, he settled in to add 134 with Lara. Tentative early on against the clever variation of Persad, he blossomed quickly to play some authoritative strokes.
Quick to seize on anything short, he has so far hit seven fours including many lofted over the infield.
``Uhmmm'' old Gerry might have mumbled approvingly had he been around to watch young Lincoln walk in.
And he would hope the Tobagonian's innings of application reaches three figures today. As for WI skipper, Gerry's wish would be to keep the show going.
Saturday, January 10, 1998
Day 2: North 'Cruz'
By GARTH WATTLEY
THE Santa Cruz posse in the Concrete Stand had already got a treat from a son of the soil by the time the second day of the Gerry Gomez North-South Classic got underway.
But yesterday, they also got a century from an adopted son, Lincoln Roberts. And a lagniappe from Brian Lara. And after watching the northerners share blows like peas to the tune of 450 for 5, they saw four South wickets tumble for 70, leaving the defending champions in a hole by the close.
As they headed for home, Dexter, Joseph, Ramas and the rest may have thought about toasting the Santa Cruz Sports Club linchpin on his fine, first 'Classic' ton (112, 11 fours, 1 six). But they also had to remember Lara.
If the first day of this game at the Queen's Park Oval was a momentous one, the Prince Regent of West Indies cricket made yesterday one for the record books.
This match may still bear his name, but the late Gerry is no longer the man with the highest score in North-South contests.
Prince Charles with an historic 216 not out made sure of that. By then, he had wiped Gomez out of the books after 51 years, breaking the record when he tucked Rajindra Dhanraj off his legs for a single to move past 189.
And it was not with a little relief that captain Anil Balliram and his bedraggled band trooped off the field at tea behind Lara and Ian Bishop (54 not out).
It was the only time the luckless Dhanraj, Mukesh Persad and the otherwise successful Marlon Black were able to see the left-hander's back.
He was occasionally deceived in flight and prompted into error. But there was again little about Lara's knock to offer the opposition consolation.
For nine hours (five on Thursday, four yesterday), Charles was in charge, spending time at the crease and sharing licks.
But, in the morning session at least, he deferred to Roberts. A player of promise without the senior record to prove it, the Tobagonian youngster took the cue from his captain.
Resuming on 71, he had to battle through a testing opening period when both Dhanraj's leg spin and Persad's off-spin kept the batsmen watchful. But Danny could not sustain the pressure and Lincoln made hay. Roberts moved into the 90s with a typically loose-limbed, flowing off driven six off Dhanraj.
Roberts and Lara later combined to spank the same bowler for three consecutive boundaries in one over. But it was a fine tickle for four off Black that brought up the ton and got the audiences in the Concrete Stand and the players balcony on their feet.
By the time Roberts edged Black into his stumps, he had added 224 in 350 minutes with Lara. However, Roberts' departure, and the quick dismissal of Zaheer Ali (0), also to Black, only gave the south boys brief respite.
Steady Bishop added 129 with his skipper for the sixth wicket before tea and the declaration came.
Finally, Lara's innings of masterful concentration was at an end. But the misery continued for ``Bally.''
Fighting for form himself, Balliram inched to eight in 52 minutes before Bishop got him.
Switching to the pavilion end, the big pacer cut one back at the surprised opener. He offered no shot, was struck plumb in front and was soon slowly on his way.
By the close, key batsman Denis Rampersad, Shazam Babwah, and Jerry Jumadeen (42) had joined him, Jumadeen the victim of a swift stumping by wicketkeeper Kendall Joseph.
A Santa Cruz homeboy had struck again. Mas on the field. And as the posse reached Sam Boucaud, there was also fete in the valley.
Pepsico sponsors dynamic three
By LASANA LIBURD
CARIBBEAN Pepsico International Inc yesterday signed sponsorship agreements with three ``dynamic young cricketers'' in Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Franklyn Rose and Sherwin Campbell. At a launching at the Ambassador's Hotel in Port of Spain, they announced the start of a two-year partnership with West Indies cricket which, they hope, will prove ``a very successful opening innings''.
The three cricketers will be used in the Pepsi advertising campaign region-wide, which will also feature the vocals of local soca bard, Machel Montano.
Speaking on behalf of Pepsi-Cola International, Marketing Manager Nick Bogle described the partnership as having the makings of a historic one, due to the reputation of both parties as ``first-class performers'' and ``crowdpleasers'' with ``the flexibility and creativity'' to succeed on the world stage.
While refusing to reveal financial details of the sponsorship, Bogle stressed their hope for a long-term commitment, citing a clause which gives Pepsi-Cola an option for a third year. The initial contract, though, takes West Indies into the 1999 Pepsi-sponsored World Cup in England where they will be joined by India and Pakistan, both also sponsored by the popular soft drink company.
Tribute was paid to the strategic timing of the deal which, according to Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Pamela Nicholson, when combined with the recent appointment of star batsman Brian Lara as WI captain, should serve as a catalyst for the re-emergence of West Indies on top of the cricket world.
Nicholson also took the opportunity to call Bogle's attention to young Trinidad and Tobago pacer, Mervyn Dillon, who she hopes will be coming down the road with Pepsico by next year.
Also present at the launch were West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) CEO, Steve Camacho, and WICB Chief Marketing Executive, Christopher Dehring.
Day 3: North complete the rout
Balliram's plays vain skipper's knock
By GARTH WATTLEY
AN INNINGS defeat may just be 2-1 in cricket.
But if the Gerry Gomez Classic were the football equivalent of the North/South Classic, the scoreline at the Queen's Park Oval may have been North 6 South 0.
Instead, in the game of bat and ball, Brian Lara's team had to settle for victory by an innings and 147 runs with a day to spare.
When Ricardo Paty held a very good catch to dismiss Marlon Black at 5.22 pm, the game was up for the southerners. It was a long day for South captain Anil Balliram.
He was forced to watch his side flounder at the hands of five-wicket Ken Hazel and follow on before lunch, losing their last six wickets for 61 runs.
But as he watched the players come off the field one final time, having been dismissed in the second innings in two sessions and a bit, there was some consolation.
For most of the afternoon, he stood in the way of North and victory with a defiant 92. And while he was not actually on board the ship when it sank, he fought a good fight.
Man-of-the-Match'' Brian Lara's huge effort was too much for him to equal. And it is true that North did not have to play a ``high mas'' to trigger a South procession.
But as he went out to start the second innings, a few things would have crossed his mind. An opening spot on the national team was still there for the taking. So ``how it go look'' if the captain failed twice?
And after watching his batsmen succumb to Hazel's teasing left-arm spin (9-6-9-5), he set out to salvage southern pride. Balliram got early help from Andy Jackson. The enterprising Preysal allrounder ended unbeaten on 39 in the first innings.
And restored to his regular opening spot in the second, he posted 59 with Balliram as South set about erasing the deficit of 319. But on 29, he lost his head, getting himself out lbw as he tried to pull a Lincoln Roberts' medium-paced delivery.
Southern indiscretion was showing itself again, prompted once more by Lara's thoughtful use of his bowling resources. Richard Smith had done the trick in the first innings when his part-time off-spin got rid of Denis Rampersad.
And when Roberts picked up Jerry Jumadeen with the score on 81, gaping holes were appearing in the side of the good ship. Things got even worse when Rampersad went.
The right-hander completed a nightmarish match with a pair. Playing across the line, he edged Vishal Persad-Maharaj into forward short-leg's hands. It was 88 for 3 at tea, with ``Bally'' on a patient but not terribly ponderous 50.
And as the afternoon wore on, he seemed set to push the match into the final day. Wicketkeeper Amarnath Basdeo gave support for a while putting on 49 for the fifth wicket before Hazel got him to give a catch to Zaheer Ali.
By this time the Cricket Board officials were putting the microphones in place for the post-match ceremony. And there was little the remaining batters could do to delay them.
But ``Bally'' fought on, taking his runs when he could get them and riding his luck. Twice Ian Bishop felt he had him lbw. However, the South captain survived and got into the nineties, even as Randy Bachan and Mukesh Persad gave the rampant Hazel his 7th and 8th wickets of the match.
Eventually Balliram's patience ran out. And trying to clear the infield for a boudary, he succeeded only in lifting Persad-Maharaj into short extra-cover's hands.
North had scored the decisive ``goal.'' And, with Shazam Babwah absent owing to the funeral of his grandmother, Paty's fine assist gave Smith another strike and the rout was complete. Lara's momentous match was won. And Gerry Gomez's trophy had come back 'home.'