Defending champions South Zone will bowl off their 2018 campaign to retain their crown against Central today in the annual Shell Under-15 Inter Zone cricket championship.
This clash at the PowerGen Ground in Penal is the highlight of the first round of matches, over 50 overs, which gets underway at two other venues in Trinidad.
The other key fixtures planned for today are at St Mary's College Ground in St James,where North come up against East; while South East tackle North East at Cunjal Recreation Ground in Barrackpore.
There will be a brief official bowling-off ceremony at St Mary's College Ground on Serpentine Road from 9 am, when Chief Executive Officer of the T&T Cricket Board, Suruj Ragoonath, and a representative of Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited will meet the young cricketers.
South Zone coach Stephen Ramkissoon says his strong bowling unit will be a handful. "We have an inexperience outfit and we are hoping that the three players from the winning team last year in Liam Mamchan, Avalon Changoor and Jacen Agard carry this unit. The three are good bowlers and will have other newcomers joining them to make a competent bowling unit. Where we may lack in the batting, the bowlers will surely make up, so we are confident. We have a good leader in Liam and he has shown that he has a good understanding of the game and a good command of the players. Last season he took the U-13s to the semis and rain unfortunately washed out the game. We are looking towards his leadership as he is definitely a leader for the future."
Tobago are also involved in the Shell Under-15 competition but their matches have been delayed until after the Carnival, when adequate flight arrangements can be made to facilitate their matches here in Trinidad, and for them to host visiting teams at home.
TODAY'S MATCHES
South vs Central at Syne Village in Penal
North vs East at St. James
North East vs South East at Cunjal