First-Class Matches Trinidad and Guyana 1958/59 to 1989/90

15 Although no longer first-class after 1985, a four-day internal match between North-East-Tobago and South-Central continued to be played (as the Trintoc Trophy, and later the Gerry Gomez Memorial Trophy) into the 21st century, still attracting some of the islands’ finest players, including Brian Lara in matches between 1988 and 1998. In 1990 the West Indies Board of Control rejected a request to restore its first-class status; and that finally settled the issue. First-class matches: Season-by-season review 1958/59 North had slightly the better of the inaugural first-class Beaumont Cup match, but the match ended in a draw with the result still in the balance. Among those taking part were three past, present or future Test players: Norman Marshall (playing his last first-class match) and Joey Carew for the North, and Nyron Asgarali for the South. Asgarali and Carl Furlonge (North) came close to recording the first first-class century of the competition, with scores of 98 and 99 respectively, but that first century had to wait another two years. 1959/60 Another draw, this time in favour of South. Three more Test players added their names to the list of internationals playing in these matches: Hammond Furlonge, Bryan Davis and Charran Singh (all for North). 1960/61 North won by an innings to become the first outright winners of the first-class Beaumont Cup. Bryan Davis played for North alongside his brother Charlie (another future Test cricketer), who hit the first first-class century in the competition. As many as seven of the North players were, or would become, Test cricketers – a record for any of the sides in these matches. 1961/62 Another win for the North, who this time featured ‘only’ six Test cricketers (including newcomer Jack Noreiga) against the South’s one. 1962/63 North completed a hat-trick of wins. South included former Indian Test star Subhash Gupte, as well as Nyron Asgarali who was making his last first-class appearance. Alvin Corneal played for North after appearing for South in earlier matches – the only player to switch sides in this way before 1971. 1963/64 Four in four for North, thanks to innings of 64 and 88 from Joey Carew in an otherwise low-scoring game. 1964/65 North won a tight battle for first-innings lead, but bad weather ruled out any chance of a result over two innings. 1965/66 North won again. Future Test cricketer Inshan Ali, still only 16, made his first-class debut for South. His namesake Jamiel Ali, playing for North, became the first bowler to take seven wickets in an innings in one of these games. Players on the West Indies’ 1966 tour to England were not available for this year’s match because of a clash of dates, though in practice the only player so affected was Joey Carew. 1966/67 Adraw this time, in which Bryan Davis carried his bat for 188* in North’s first innings of 338, Harry Ramoutar made the first-ever first-class century for South (after his side had been made to follow on), and future Test cricketer Raphick Jumadeen made his first-class debut. 1967/68 Weather prevented the completion of the two sides’ first innings. Bernard Julien made his first-class debut for North. 1968/69 North were left to score 69 to win, but time ran out after only four overs. Bernard Julien took 7-63 in South’s innings, including a hat-trick, and then scored 54 in North’s innings. This time three players – Joey Carew, Charlie Davis and Pascall Roberts - were unavailable because they had already left for the 1969 tour to England 1969/70 Yet another draw, with North ending on 135-7 when needing 240 to win in the fourth innings. Trinidad – history