By BRIJ PARASNATH

CEPHAS Cooper presented himself with a match-winning birthday fifty and in the process piloted Trinidad and Tobago to a 78-run victory over defending champions Windward Islands in their West Indies Cricket Board Under-17 50-overs-a-side first-round encounter at Gilbert Park, California, Couva yesterday.Cooper once again displayed his potential with a sterling 57 and engineered a brilliant recovery and together with solid contributions from Mervin Patrick and Brandon Singh ensured that T&T amassed a challenging 171 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, Windwards folded up for 93 in 27.3 overs.
Batting first, T&T were reeling and in a state of shock at 23 for three in 8.3 overs with both openers Navin Bidaisee and Leonardo Francis dismissed for a zero each and captain Kirstan Kallicharran gone for a solitary run to his name.
Bidaisee was caught by Tahj Tavanier off Danell Dupigney off the second ball of the innings while Francis was clean-bowled by Urnell Thomas with the third delivery of the second.
Kallicharan faced seventeen deliveries before he was adjudged lbw to Dupigney for one.
However, Cooper mixed disciplined application with timely aggression and gradually took charge of the proceedings. He restored confidence among his teammates. He was ably supported by Matthew Patrick and together they fashioned a crucial 60-run fourth-wicket partnership that swung the pendulum in favour of Trinidad and Tobago.
Patrick batted for 59 minutes and hit one four off 50 balls received, before he was caught by Tavanier off Johan Jeremiah for 15 with the scoreboard reading 83 for 4 off 24.1 overs.
Cooper was the dominant batsman and he celebrated his fifty which included one six and five fours. But he was ruled lbw to Jeremiah for 57 and T&T were 95 for 6 after 28.2 overs. Leonardo Julien was caught and bowled by Johnel Eugene for five at 93 for 5 (27.3 overs).
Brandon Singh assumed the responsibility to rally the lower order and he remained undefeated on a well-played 37 that included one four off 63 deliveries. He featured in a 51-run eight-wicket partnership with Tee-Shawn Alleyne who made 21 runs off 32 balls.
Dupigney (10-3-26-3), Jeremiah (10-1-30-3), Thomas (6-0-28-1), Eugene (10-1-31-1) and Jahsen Alexander (7-0-27-1) shared the wickets.
Buoyed by his confident display with the bat and a signal that he needs to bat higher than seven, Brandon Singh struck the early blow by removing opener Kimani Melius (caught by Justyn Gangoo for zero) with the very first delivery of Windwards’ innings.
Tee-Shawn Alleyne also struck early and dismissed the other opener Johan Jeremiah, caught by Leonardo Julien for two. All-rounder Nathaniel McDavid starred with the ball and prised out three batsmen Dane Edward (0, caught Bidaisee); Tijourne Pope (c Tee-Shawn Alleyne) and Micah Joseph (10, caught Francis) in quick succession to leave Windwards tottering at 51 for 6 after 19.1 overs.
Kallicharan dismissed his opposite number Eugene who topscored for his team with 41 that included three sixes and three fours off 68 deliveries. The score was 80 for 7 after 24.1 overs and a crushing defeat was imminent.
Gangoo wrapped up the lower-order with the final three wickets in a nine-ball spell that yielded only three runs.
T&T celebrated a heart-warning victory and will be buoyed as they take on Jamaica in the second round clash today at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain today from 09:30hrs
Guyana and Barbados will meet at the Inshan Ali Park, Preysal, while Windwards and Leewards will clash at Gilbert Park in their second-round fixtures.