POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad (CMC):

Trinidad and Tobago, on the back of a seven-wicket haul by pacer Ravi Rampaul, retained the Carib Beer Challenge after efficiently completing a victory by 49 runs over Barbados on the fourth day of the five-day final at Guaracara Park yesterday.

Set 276 to win, Barbados were further undermined by Rampaul and were dismissed for 226 on the stroke of lunch after resuming on 118 for five.

Rampaul, who dented the Cup - champions top-order with a three-wicket burst late Saturday, collected a further three scalps, including the key wicket of Barbados captain Ryan Hinds, to finish with the excellent figures of seven for 51 off 18.4 overs.

The victory provided Trinidad and Tobago with their second title in a week following their capture of the KFC Cup with a narrow five-run victory in a tense limited-overs final against Windward Islands in St Vincent last week Saturday.

Trinidad and Tobago's victory also avenged a defeat they suffered at the hands of Barbados in the Cup segment of the competition in which Barbados emerged champions.

Trinidad and Tobago captain Daren Ganga lauded the effort of his team for retaining the Challenge.

"In 2006, we won the double and a lot of people were questioning our quality as a team. The guys have risen to the challenge. A lot of people thought we would come this year and be a normal team," Ganga said.

"Congratulations must go out to theentire Trinidad and Tobago team, the management staff and the administrators.

Consistency

"The main effort has been to ensure that our cricket is consistent, strong and growing. I'm really proud of the guys," Ganga said.

Barbados captain Ryan Hinds put the defeat down to his batsmen.

"We are disappointed. All that was required was for one of the batters to bat through," Hinds said.

"Unfortunately, we did not do that. I must say well done to the bowlers for bringing us back into game."1

The main resistance from Barbados on the fourth morning came from Patrick Browne, who batted with enterprise in making 53 off 71 balls before he was ninth out.

Resuming the fourth day still needing a further 158 runs to win, Barbados had their hopes of a come-from-behind victory dashed when they lost the important wicket of skipper Hinds after 20 minutes.

Hinds, a century-maker in the first innings, made only eight before he was deceived by a slower ball from Rampaul and gave a catch to mid-on.

Nightwatchman Tino Best played solidly for three-quarters of an hour to move to 30, but threw his wicket away with an attempted big swing that was edged to the keeper, giving Rampaul his sixth wicket.

Alcindo Holder, incapacitated by a side strain he suffered on the first day, again batted with a runner and was restricted in his movements during the 40 minutes he spent at the crease before he top-edged an attempted pull off left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed to give a catch to slip.

Carib Beer Awards

Courtney Walsh Award (Top Bowler) - Amit Jaggernauth (T&T); Sir Vivian Richards Award (Top Batsman) - Daren Ganga (T&T); Clive Lloyd Award (Top Fielder) - Jason Mohammed (T&T); Malcolm Marshall Memorial Award (Top All-rounder) - Ryan Hinds (Barbados); Deryck Murray Award (Top Wicket-keeper) - Jason Williams (Leeward Islands); Carib Beer Challenge Final Man of the Match (shared) - Ravi Rampaul/Daren Ganga (T&T); Carib Beer Cup (League champions) - Barbados; Carib Beer Challenge Trophy - Trinidadand Tobago.