Ewart Nicholson and Vikash Mohan put on 83 in 11 overs. But their valiant unbroken fourth wicket partnership was still not enough to prevent the Trinidad and Tobago Academy XI from going down to a 42-run defeat to a Trinidad and Tobago Nationals side in a Twenty20 practice match at the National Cricket Centre yesterday.

Trinidad and Tobago's cricketers, recently back from a three-match tour of Barbados, are continuing their preparations for next month's Champions League tournament in South Africa. But yesterday, the T&T players, playing as the Nationals, had to share the spotlight with two of their National Under-19 counterparts.

Chasing 154 for victory, Under-19 skipper Mohan and Nicholson--two of the 16 players inducted last week into the Academy--came together with their side in trouble at 29 for three at the end of the ninth over. But the pair counter-attacked, Mohan getting to an unbeaten 42 off just 34 balls, which included three fours and two sixes and Nicholson 41 not out off 44 balls (two fours, one six). However, the earlier Academy batsmen--Jeremy Solozano (15), Andy Gobin (nine) and Mark Deyal (one)--had been so stymied by spinners Yannick Ottley (4-0-26-2) and Sherwin Ganga (3-1-4-1) that the recovery effort was in vain.

Earlier, opener Adrian Barath had anchored the innings of the T&T Nationals with 46 off 32 balls (five fours, one six). He shared 54 for the second wicket with Evin Lewis (10) after Barath's opening partner William Perkins had been removed by slow bowler Khary Pierre (opening the bowling) with his first ball via a Mohan catch at midwicket, in the second over of the match.

The T&T Nationals also got useful contributions from Jason Mohammed who struck 22 from 21 balls and Kevon Cooper (21 from 16). Mark Deyal and Jovan Ali took two wickets apiece for the Academy.

Summarised scores:

T&T Nationals: 154-8, 20 overs (Adrian Barath 46, Jason Mohammed 22, Kevon Cooper 21; Jovan Ali 2-35, Mark Deyal 2-39) vs T&T Academy 112-3, 20 overs (Vikash Mohan 42 n.o., Ewart Nicholson 41 n.o.; Yannick Ottley 2-26)

T&T Nationals won by 42 runs.