Babwah, Browne star on first day

Shazam Babwah underlined his growing reputation as one of the best batsmen in Trinidad and Tobago smashing 94 against the Leeward Islands on the opening day of the 2004 Carib Beer Cricket Series regional tournament at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre yesterday. SCORES: TT 293/8 vs Leeward Islands.

The Clico-Preysal right-hander was never troubled by the the Leeward Islands bowlers but his  only error of judgement against Virgil Browne cost him his wicket six runs short of what would have been his first First Class century for Trinidad and Tobago in his only second match. Browne was the pick of the visitors bowlers claiming seven wickets 123 on debut with his left- arm orthodox spinners. Coming to the wicket with the Trinidad and Tobago score at 107 for four Babwah added 110 runs for the fifth wicket with Tishan Maraj who was playing his first match for the senior team. The duo batted with ease in posting their century stand and took the match away from he Leewards in he afternoon session, after Browne had undone the fine work of skipper Imran Jan who got 55 off 85 balls with seven fours and one six.

Browne started the slide with the wicket of the patient Dwayne Bravo caught and bowled for 26 with the score at 75. Jan then left 20 runs later bowled round his legs attempting a sweep with his score at 55. Jamaican Ricardo Powell now playing for Trinidad and Tobago entered to a rousing applause but left for just three, stumped off Browne. The talented Aneil Kanhai then stepped forward and was unlucky to play-on after coming forward against Browne. At 107 for four, Maraj joined forces with Babwah to rescue the local innings. Maraj played an excellent innings and was the first to get to his half century off 113 balls with eight fours in 128 minutes.

Babwah soon followed getting to his landmark off just 84 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes — one of which will remain etched in the memory of those who saw it. On bended knees he struck Browne over long-off much to the amazement of the sizeable crowd on hand for the first day’s play. Maraj impressed all as he played an innings that belied his age. He got to 61 and then played drive straight back into the hands of Browne. This 61 followed his knocks of 65 and 64 in the Pizza Hut North/South Classic last week. At the fall of Maraj’s wicket, Babwah soldiered on and together with wicket-keeper Gibran Mohammed added 47 runs for the sixth wicket. However with a century in sight he advanced down the wicket and was stumped by Jason Williams off Browne. In all he batted for 168 minutes, faced 141 balls and struck nine fours. Before the close Trinidad and Tobago lost two further wickets, that of Mohammed for 22 and Emrit for 13. The not out batsmen when stumps were drawn were Amit Jaggernauth who is yet to score, and Marlon Black, undefeated on three. Play on the second day begins at 10 am this morning.

Guaracara Scoreboard
T’DAD/TOBAGO VS LEEWARD ISLANDS

I Jan b Browne 55
D Bravo c&b Browne 26
T Maraj c&b Browne 61
R Powell st Williams b Browne 3
A Kanhai b Browne 2
S Babwah st Williams b Browne 94
G Mohammed c Williams b Jeremy 22
R Emrit c Powell b Browne 13
M Black not out 3
A Jaggernauth not out 0
EXTRAS (B1, LB2, NB11) 14
TOTAL (For 8 wkts) 293
Fall of wkts: 75, 95, 105, 107, 217, 264, 290, 290.
BOWLING: Jeremy 18-10-34-1 (NB1), Weston 9-2-35-0 (NB2), Browne 35-2-123-7,Cornwall 18-3-55-0 (NB6), Willet 8-2-32-0 (NB2), Adams 3-1-11-0.