WI reject Dillon gets a hat-trick

WEST INDIES fast bowling reject Mervyn Dillon turned in a fine allround performance to put Queen’s Park in a strong position against Alescon Comets at the end of the first day of their second round Carib National League cricket clash at Pierre Road, Charlieville, yesterday. Dillon showed his worth with the willow, top-scoring with 61 in the Parkites’ first innings 203. He smashed the Comets bowlers all round the park, counting four fours and five sixes in his knock. Then with the ball he reduced Comets to 47 runs for five wickets at one stage, taking all five wickets inclusive of a hat-trick. The lanky pacer sent back Chris Magram (20), Junior Sadhoo (0) and Rajendra Mangallie (3) off successive balls to rip the heart out of  the Comets batting.

At the close Comets had struggled to 84 for seven, still 119 runs adrift of the Parkites score. Dillon finished the day with the remarkable figures of 5/26. When Queen’s Park batted, the fast improving left-arm spinner Nicholas Ramjass took six wickets for 43 runs. At Syne Village, CLICO Preysal and PowerGen were in a tense battle. Preysal scored 233, with Hollister Pajotte hitting an  unbeaten 63, and  West Indies allrounder Ryan Hurley 56. And when rain brought an early close, PowerGen had replied with 49 for two wickets.  Opener Sherwin Ganga was on 27 not out. PowerGen need another 185 runs if they are to gain first innings points. At Presentation College, Tile It Central Sports the front runners in this year’s series, have already pocketed first innings points against Couva Sports. The “Tilemen” were 178 for five wickets at the close in response to the paltry 94-run total of Couva Sports.

National off-spinner Rodney Sooklal grabbed six for 13 in the  Couva Sports innings. St. Mary’s College student Varindra Maharaj 48 and Ryad Emrit 43 not out led Central Sports who hold an 84-run lead. At Diego Martin, Gregory Mahabir continued his fine early season form with an unbeaten 136 as FCB Clarke Road reached 236 for two wickets against Merryboys. He lashed 14 boundaries in his knock which followed his 46 in the first round. Mahabir scored an even 100 against Green Arrow and 80 against PowerGen in the Carib Shield over the past two rounds, and carried his form into the National League.

Summarised scores: At Diego Martin: FCB CLARKE ROAD 226/2 — G Mahabir 136 not out, Gibran Mohammed 56 vs CERAMIC MERRYBOYS.
At Syne Village: CLICO PREYSAL 233 - H Pajotte 63 not out, R Hurley 56, Andy Jackson 40, Aaron Ragoonath 38, Dave Mohammed 3/40, Samuel Badree 3/85 vs POWERGEN 49/2 - S Ganga 27 not out.
At Pierre Road: QUEEN’S PARK 203 — M Dillon 61, Earnil Ryan 45, Imran Jan 45, N Ramjass 6/43 vs ALESCON COMETS 84/7 — Chris Magram 20, M Dillon 5/26.
At Presentation College: COUVA SPORTS 94 — Deonarine Deyal 26, Azad Mohammed 24, R Sooklal 6/13, Keiron Lynch 3/35 vs TILE IT CENTRAL SPORTS 178/5 — V Maharaj 48, R Emrit 43 not out, Navin Chan 33 not out.