World Test record-holder Brian Lara made a winning return to club cricket in T&T, helping his boyhood club, Harvard Sports Club, to a resounding eight-wicket win over Ebony Sports in the North Zone Cricket Council T20 Festival at the Diego Martin Regional Sports Complex in a 15-over affair.He cut the first delivery he faced to the square boundary to get off the mark with a four after coming out to bat at 48 for two after seven overs.

Lara, who holds the record for the highest individual Test innings of 400 not out, which he scored against England in 2004 at the Antigua Recreation Ground, hit 26 not out, including the winning runs in an innings that lasted 17 deliveries and consisted of five fours. He shared in an unbroken 56-run stand with Andre Yard, who counted four fours in his 31 not out, as Harvard reached 104 for two.

The innings' foundation was laid by Kegan Jones (25) and Yohance Kwesi (13).Earlier, the Morvant-based Ebony scored 100 for 6 from their allotment of 15 overs, reduced from 20 because of rain.Opener Clevon Frederick was their best batsman with 19, but it was a slow innings that took 27 deliveries, as the Harvard bowlers were stingy in their approach. Led by Jerome Simpson, who conceded just 12 runs from his three overs.

Jonathan Lacario added a further 16 from 20 balls, and Dominic Redhead scored 15 off 11 balls at the back end of the innings and was the only Ebony batter who scored in double figures with a strike rate of above 100.In the match on Friday, Kyle Ramdoo scored an unbeaten 50 to lead North Side Future Stars to a seven-wicket win over Savannah Boys. North Side Stars successfully got 149 for 3, after Savannah Boys scored 148 for 8. Presentation College captain Luke Ali was the mainstay of Savannah Boys with 39.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)