Taylor (5/42) has TT on the run

AFTER his first innings duck, Trinidad and Tobago opener Andy Jackson came to the party with an innings of 90 runs, but his team was still facing defeat at the end of  the third day of their Carib Beer Cricket Series clash at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday.

Scores: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 218 and 195/6  vs JAMAICA 332.

Trinidad and Tobago wrapped up  the last four Jamaican wickets for just 47 runs in the morning session. And the  Trinidad and Tobago team fought back to reach 154 for two wickets before fastbowler Jerome Taylor ripped apart the middle order to leave Jamaica poised for victory on the final day today, with the Trinidadians enjoying only an  81-run lead with four wickets intact. Starting his innings in typical aggressive fashion with shots all around the Oval ground, Jackson thrilled the small crowd.  However, with the score at 37 he lost fellow opener Imran Jan for just seven runs. Soon after the impressive Taylor yorked Dwayne Bravo for 11 to reduce the locals to 56 for two wickets.

At this point it looked as if Trinidad and Tobago would fold quickly but Jackson with his bold methods and the solid Ganga posted a determined 98-run  third wicket partnership to save face for the locals. Jackson raced to his 50 off just 64 balls in 93 minutes with seven fours and a six and with Ganga playing solidly took Trinidad and Tobago to 154 before Taylor struck again. Jackson going into his shell once in the eighties could never regain his fluency and he touched a delivery to wicketkeeper Hibbert with his score on 90. Soon after Zaheer Ali who replaced him, was back in the pavilion for two and the Jamaicans were in their glory again. With the score reading 157 for four,  a lot depended on skipper Ganga, but when he had scored 39, he was bowled by Taylor not offering a stroke.

Lincoln Roberts who has disappointed since his double hundred against the West Indies “B”, fell 10 runs later to Taylor for a duck and Trinidad and Tobago were in tatters on 166 for six wickets. First innings saviour Dave Mohammed then joined Lendl Simmons and they battled to the end of the day without being separated with Simmons on 23 not out and Mohammed one. Earlier in the day the talented Mohammed grabbed his fifth wicket as Jamaica folded. Gareth Breese, resuming on 81 not out, was unlucky to fall just two runs short of his century, trapped leg before by Dwayne Bravo.