TT set Windwards 291 to win

It was a bowlers’ day on the second day of the fourth round Carib Beer Series regional cricket clash between Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

So much so that the match hangs in the balance going into the third day’s play today. SCORES: TT 203 & 160 VS Windwards 73/9. After bowling out the Windward Islands for 73 in their first innings and securing a lead of 130 runs, the homesters squandered a good opportunity to bat the visitors out of the match and closed on 160 all out. This set the Windwards a victory target of 291 runs with two days remaining. A combination of pace and spin by the visitors crippled the local batsmen on a wicket that is already showing signs of wear after two days play.

Skipper Imran Jan opened with Queen’s Park team mate Earnil Ryan and the former continued his wretched run with the willow. He fell for just five runs and after his fine start of two half centuries in the opening match must now be a worried man. Debutant Sherwin Ganga joined Ryan, who is playing in only his second match but the deminutive right hander scored runs with a positive attitude on both sides of the wicket. He progressed to 31 before be was sent packing by left arm pacer Deighton Butler for 31. Ganga after looking very solid departed for 17 with the score at 72 and things just went downhill from there for the locals.

First innings top-scorer Dwayne Bravo played a patient innings, while the left handed Aneil Kanhai struggled to find his touch at the other end. They limped along to 91 when Bravo fell to Shane Shillingford for 22. Babwah came and followed quickly for two and TT’s score read a sorry 94 for five. Kanhai in the meantime was battling to shake off the shackles imposed by the Islanders and in trying to play his free game fell bowled round his legs for 12. TT had lost yet another wicket for the addition of just four runs. The obdurate Gibran Mohammed then in partnership with Dave Mohammed then added 21 valuable runs for the seventh wicket. And just as TT were looking to dig themselves out of a hole, Dave Mohammed lost his patience and wicket for 13. Ten runs later it was the turn of all-rounder Rayad Emrit to depart and Trinidad and Tobago were 129 for eight. Soon after Marlon Black trudged back to the pavilion a disgruntled man and it took a last wicket stand of 27 runs between Gibran Mohammed 19 not out and Amit Jaggernauth 17 to carry the score to 160.

Earlier, off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth spun out the Windwards who resumed on 24 for two, in reply to Trinidad and Tobago’s 203. The talented mystery spinner created havoc with the Windwards batting and rout them for just 73. Junior Murray who has a back injury did not bat and it is very likely he will play no further part in the match. Jaggernauth finished the innings with figures off 8-4-2-8-3. And took his tally in the series to 18, the most wickets by a Trinidadian this season. Jaggernauth was well supported by all-rounder Bravo who chipped in with 2/13 to take his tally to 15 wickets.