Holder slams 102 as Merry Boys eye win

Given the task of batting first, the runaway league leaders declared, on the stroke of tea, at 303 runs for five wickets with Barbadian Alcindo Holder notching 102, while Clifton Halls added 67.

Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Richard Kelly and Franklyn Rouse were unbeaten on 52 and 24 respectively when the declaration was made by captain Aneil Kanhai.

Kanhai, an ex-national player, starred with the ball thereafter, taking four wickets for 27, while another former TT youth player and fellow off-spinner Kenton Thompson had 2/15 as Evergreen were routed for 78 in reply.

Queen’s Park were on the brink of claiming first innings points in their third round match against hosts W Connection Wanderers at Gilbert Park, California.

The Parkites, after being sent in to bat, were bowled out for 282 with national players Justin Guillen and Sunil Narine leading the way with 93 and 77 respectively, while C Braithwaite made 38.

Veteran pacer Theodore Modeste grabbed 5/87 for Wanderers while Javed Ramdhanie took 2/38 and Omesh Ramoutar 2/74.

But Wanderers, who began the round in cellar position, were tottering on 173/9 at the close of play, despite 39 from all-rounder Navin Stewart and 38 from Ramoutar.

Kevon Cooper was the most successful bowler for Queen’s Park with 3/46, while Braithwaite had 2/17. National off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth and Gareth Boodhai each claimed 2/28.

Another team who required a wicket to claim first innings points were First Citizens Clarke Road.

Put in to bat first by hosts Alescon Comets at Pierre Road in Charlieville, Clarke Road were dismissed for 231 with ex-national opener Tishan Maraj top-scoring with 69 while Mahadeo Moonasar added 45 and Ian Bennett 43. Leg-spinner Kissoondath Magram returned figures of 6/62 in 15 overs for Comets.

But, at their turn at the crease, the Comets’ batsmen were unable to deal with the off-breaks of the evergreen Mukesh Persad — the ex-national standout had 4/53 while Dane Teelucksingh took 2/19 and Dominican pacer Mervyn Matthews 2/30 as Comets ended play on 166/9.

The Comets’ batting was reliant on a pair of national players, with Imran Khan hitting 48 and TT captain Daren Ganga, 31.

CLICO Preysal also ended the day in the ascendancy, as they had hosts Central Sports reeling on 84/5 in response to Preysal’s 207 at the Presentation College Ground, Chaguanas.

Michael Brown notched 84 for Preysal, who were sent in to bat, while Gary Mathurin captured 7/51 for Central Sports.

Reigning champs PowerGen is in a strong position against newcomers University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) at Syne Village, Penal.

National left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed claimed figures of 4/50 as UTT, who chose to bat after winning the toss, was dismissed for 198.

Mohammed’s former national and West Indies team-mate Mervyn Dillon claimed two early wickets but PowerGen rallied with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand between Rondell Ramlochan (74) and Akil Cooper (41) to close on 141/3.

Today’s final day of action will bowl off at 9.30 am.