Ahead of the field Ganga hits highest individual score for T&T.
By: Vinode Mamchan.
T&T skipper Daren Ganga had to bat through the “pain barrier” to get to his record-breaking score of 265 runs against the Leeward Islands.
“Half-way through the innings, the tennis elbow injury that I suffered a while ago, acted up. But I told myself, this injury and the extreme heat at Salem Park were not going to stop me from recording a big one this time,” the delighted Ganga revealed.
The innings followed Ganga’s 113, made one match earlie, which paved the way for T&T to defeat the 2005 champion side Jamaica at Shaw Park, Tobago.
It was also Ganga’s sixth regional century and he bettered the previous innings of 220 by Tobagonian Lincoln Roberts, which was made in 2003 against the West Indies “B” team.
In becoming T&T’s highest individual scorer since 1966, Ganga also added another milestone to his name by becoming the first local batsman to score a century against all the regional teams.
These include 138 versus Barbados in 1998; 151 vs the Windward Islands (2002); 111 not out vs Guyana (2003); 113 vs Jamaica (2005); and, of course, his 265 against the Leewards. His other century was against Barbados in 2001, when he hit 105.
The versatile right-handed batsman also had the satisfaction of leading T&T to the President’s trophy to give the team its first regional title in more than a decade.
Ganga received praise from Roberts, who said he did not see the knock but concluded that it was magnificent.
“I would like to congratulate Daren on a magnificent innings. Getting 220 runs a couple of years ago was a real effort. It took a tremendous amount of concentration and willpower in the heat, so I can imagine it must have been even harder for Daren.
“I hope that he goes on and breaks the overall regional record.”
The highest mark in Caribbean regional First Class cricket is 303, held by Guyana’s Shivnarine Chanderpaul and made against Jamaica at Sabina Park in 1996.
Ganga says he was disappointed at not breaking the record. “I was so close. When I got out, I felt really down. After a while I just reflected on the innings and felt good.
“What was even more important was the fact that the innings helped T&T get first innings points. Records are great, but when it benefits the team, you get the true enjoyment.”
Ganga feels that he still has a long way to go in regional cricket, so the opportunity may very well come again. “You can’t predict these things, but I would really like to have another go at the record and see what happens. My form at present is very good and is similar to 2003 when we played against Australia.”
On that occasion Ganga scored back-to-back Test centuries.
Ganga, who ended the season with 600-odd runs and has earned a recall to the West Indies squad, said he is hoping to get back in the final WI 11 for the First Test. “I would really like to get back into the squad and get some big scores for the West Indies to do well.”
Ganga described himself as a student of the game and said he has certainly learnt a lot over the past few seasons. “I am still learning,” he stated.
Ganga is the seventh T&T player to score a double-century in regional First Class cricket.
Apart from Roberts, Sheldon Gomes scored 213 against Jamaica at Jarrett Park in 1977; Brian Lara hit 206 versus Barbados at Queen’s Park Oval in 1994’ Phil Simmons struck 202 against Guyana in 1992; and his nephew, Lendl, got 200 against Jamaica at Shaw Park earlier this season.
The other T&T batsman to reach the mark is Aneil Kanhai. However, his 223 was made against T&T while he was playing for the West Indies “B” team in 2003.
Double centuries in regional cricket since 1966
BATSMAN SCORE C OPP VENUE YEAR
S Chanderpaul 303 Guy Jam Sabina Park 1996
D Ganga 265 T&T LI Salem Park 2005
C Lambert 263no Guy Win Berbice 1993
S Williams 252 LI Guy Albion 2002
R Fredericks 250* Guy Bar Kensington Oval 1975
D Haynes 246 Bar Win Kensington Oval 1992
A Hannif 235 Guy Bang Bourda 2002
M Foster 234 Jam T&T Jarret Park 1977
A Kanhai 223 WIB T&T Couva 2003
C Hooper 222 Guy LI Albion 2002
L Roberts 220 T&T WI Couva 2003
E McMorris 218 Win Guy Bourda 1967
J Murray 218 Win Guy Tanteen 1997
R Federicks 217 Guy Jam Bourda 1983
S Gomes 213 T&T Jam Jarrett Park 1977
S Joseph 211no LI WIB Jarrett Park 2002
S Campbell 211 Bar LI St. Thomas 2004
C Gayle 208no Jam WIB Jarrett Park 2001
M Odumbe 207 Ken LI The Valley 2004
B Lara 206 T&T Bar QPCC 1994
GA Greenidge 205 Bar Jam Kensington Oval 1967
G Sobers 204 Bar Guy Kensington Oval 1966
PD Lashley 204 Bar Guy Bourda 1967
LG Rowe 204 Jam Guy Sabina Park 1974
B Butcher 203no Guy Bar Bourda 1970
J Adams 203 Jam T&T Chedwin Park 1998
P Simmons 202 T&T Guy Guaracara Park 1992
CG Greenidge 202 Bar T&T Kensington Oval 1987
R Harper 202 Guyana Win Bourda 1995
T Mohammed 200no Guy Win Berbice 1986
C Davidson 200no Jam LI Sabina 1989
D Haynes 200no Bar Win Arnos Vale 1995
F Reifer 200 Bar Win Kensington Oval 1997
L Garrick 200no Jam WIB Jarrett Park 2001
L Simmons 200 T&T Jam Shaw Park 2005
