Bravo (4/18) puts TT on top

A sensational burst of bowling by Dwayne Bravo who took four wickets for no runs in 19 deliveries gave Trinidad and Tobago the upper hand against Kenya yesterday, the second day of their Carib Beer Series regional cricket clash at Shaw Park Recreation Grounds in Tobago.

SCORES: T’dad/Tobago 257 versus Kenya 147/8. Kenya, chasing TT’s first innings effort of 257, slipped from 91 for four to 95 for eight after the Bravo blitz. The talented allrounder, who hit 69 in his team’s first innings on Friday first got rid of Brijal Patel for 19 and followed up by removing the dangerous Maurice Odumbe for 11. Odumbe, who scored a double hundred against the Leewards last weekend was caught behind by wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed who looked impressive behind the stumps.

At this stage Kenya was 95 for six  and more disaster was to follow in Bravo’s next over. The Queen’s Park player continued his destruction with the wicket of Collin Obuya bowled for a duck and next ball did the same number on a hapless Francis Otieno. Bravo’s figures after his first four overs read 4-4-0-4. Kenya were in the dumps after his display at 95 for eight —- still needing 12 runs to avoid the follow-on. However wicket keeper Maurice Ouma and fast bowler Martin Suji batted bravely for nearly two hours in an unbroken 52-run partnership for the ninth-wicket. At the close Ouma was unbeaten on 31 made in 157 minutes off 127 balls. His innings was contained one six and a four. Suji was 18 not out scored in 147 minutes off 105 balls. With Kenya still 110 runs shy of the homesters’ score, these two will be looking to continue their stand when play resumes today.

Earlier openers Ravindu Shah and Kennedy Obuya posted a 54-run opening stand after Trinidad and Tobago took their overnight score of 221 for nine to 257 all out. Both Shah and Kennedy Obuya got early let-offs off the bowling of Marlon Black who is stranded on 99 regional wickets. With runs coming easily off the fast bowlers, skipper Imran Jan reverted to his trump card Amit Jaggernauth and the off-spinner responded. He had Shah caught behind for 19 and quickly followed up with the wicket of Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo who was out-foxed and bowled. The score at that stage was 71 for two and four runs later Kennedy Obuya was run out for 39 after a mix-up with Brijal Patel. Kennedy had batted well for his 39 that was laced with four fours and his disappointment at being run out was very evident as he threw his bat away in frustration. The score progressed to 91 before the fall of Hitesh Modi via the run out route and from there on the good crowd on hand was introduced to the Bravo show.

There was loud beating of drums and chanting as Bravo ignited the cricket passions.Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago team, Omar Khan who has introduced “Player Goals” this season said he was very impressed with the performance of Bravo who is well on his way to achieving his personal tally of wickets and runs. Khan also heaped praises on the team saying: “We showed great fight today and it started with Marlon and Devindra with the bat. After getting the score to 257, the guys went out there positively and made a great effort to get on top. “Looking at the way things stand at the moment, I am confident that we can get the first innings lead. From there the batsmen will have to bat well to give the bowlers a good total to defend on this pitch that will get difficult to bat on as the days go by.” Play on the third day today begins at 10 am.