T&T school girls return from historic tour

THE first Trinidad and Tobago primary school girls cricket team to
embark on a goodwill tour faced a true baptism of fire, losing all
five matches during their week-long visit to Guyana last week.

The 14-member team, which returned home on Monday, were at a distinct
disadvantage, playing against a Guyana Under-15 squad comprised of
players from that country's secondary schools.

"We were really up against it in Guyana. Our girls, some come from the
primary school system, had to play against much older opponents who
were drawn from their secondary schools and who had already
represented their country," said Joyce Ishmael, manager of the T&T
squad.

Ishmael also pointed out that the matches, which were played on
concrete, were a new experience for them and that also put them at a
further disadvantage.

The 20-over matches were played on "the tarmac" at the National Park
in Georgetown.

Ishmael said the girls performed "creditably under the circumstances"
and that the experience would serve them well in the future.

The goodwill tour was the first ever by a primary schools girls
cricket team and served as a developmental project for the youngsters.

Despite the whitewash, several of the T&T players made their mark with
outstanding performances.

Vice-captain Rackael Bissoon and Darian Diaz were the most outstanding
players, while Sh'ayn Martyr, Rosalie Dolabaille and Candice Dookree,
all made valuable contributions.

In the first match played on August 21, T&T scored 103 all out, with
Dollabaille, 29, and Diaz, 15, the main contributors. Guyana romped
home with 106 for two.

Guyana made 162 for nine in the second match, with Diaz (three for
16), Dookree (two for 11) and Bissoon (two for 34) the best bowlers
for T&T. The local girls reached 104 for nine, with the batting held
together by Dolabaille, 19, Martyr, 17, and Diaz, 15 not out.

In the third match, Guyana scored 113 for seven. Bissoon (three for
13), Diaz (two for 11) and Martyr (two for 18) took the wickets for
T&T, who replied with 99 for seven. Main contributors for T&T were
Dolabaille, 27, Diaz, 24, Martyr, 21 and Dookree, 12 not out.

The fourth match was restricted to 10 overs, with T&T scoring 68 for
eight, as only Bissoon, 27, stood up to the Guyanese bowlers. Guyana
replied with 71 for four, with Martyr taking two for 15.

The final match saw Bissoon, 26, Dolabaille, 24, Benito, 13, and Diaz,
12, taking T&T to 105 for eight. Guyana won by a canter, scoring 109
for one.

The coach of the team was Tessa Dasent, with Brent Francis as their
trainer and the tour was facilitated by the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB)
through financing from the Sports Company of Trinidad & Tobago, the
Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Sport and league partner
Atlantic LNG.

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