ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad & Tobago could have their hands full again, when they face Combined Campuses & Colleges in their second round match of the WICB Regional first-class championship, starting today at the UWI Sports & Physical Education Complex. T&T had to settle for first innings points in a hard-fought, drawn opening match against arch-rivals Barbados last weekend at Guaracara Park.
But the CCC will be buoyed, after they came from behind to take full points over Windward Islands on home soil at the Three Ws Oval.
There is further cause for optimism from the CCC. They have won the last two regional first-class matches they have contested against T&T.
Two years ago, they beat the Soca Boyz by 63 runs at the Three Ws Oval, and last year crushed them by 151 runs at Jarrett Park in Jamaica.
T&T manager Omar Khan however, asserted that his side wanted nothing less than full points from this match.
“We have four home games, and the plan was to maximise and get full points,” he said.
“We obviously cannot do it again because we got six points from Barbados, so the plan from now is to get two outright wins, and at least first innings from the remaining home games.
He added: “We are targeting this game for full points, and the players know what is required of them.”
“This team has a never-say-die attitude, and it was evident in the first game. We drill into the players’ thinking the fact that they are playing for their country, and they need to be purposeful in their approach. They need to play with pride and passion, and we are seeing this at the moment.”
T&T have been boosted with the return of regular captain Daren Ganga. He missed the opening match with a hand injury, and has been cleared by doctors to play again.
Ganga is the only change to the squad chosen for the Barbados match, and replaces Jason Mohammed, who failed to make an impression in the opening game.
Rayad Emrit was injured during his 97, which led T&T to first innings points, and earned him the Man-of-the-Match award in the first game, following a collision with Barbados fast bowler Tino Best.
But Khan dismissed suggestions that the all-rounder was battling for full fitness ahead of the match.
“Rayad is fully fit to take his place on the team,” he said. “He had a toe injury in the first game, but he is fine now, so there is no issue with him battling to be fit.”
With the match being played on the St Augustine Campus of UWI, the match could be equally a home contest for the CCC, most of whom are students at UWI institutions across the region.
Assistant manager Stephen Leslie hopes his side feel right at home, and look to build on their good start.
“We have had success over T&T in the past, and we are hoping to continue in the same vein,” he said. “We are going into this match quietly confident.
“T&T have had a good run in regional cricket in recent times, but we are not intimidated by them, and will be coming out ready for a fight.”
He said: “We keep reminding the players they are student-athletes, and they need to continue performing in order to continue their tertiary level education to a good standard.
“We constantly remind them to be professionals on and off the field, and we are getting through to them.”