Clarke Road made to struggle

AFTER their excellent bowling performance in the opening period, First Citizens Clarke Road United batted themselves into a hole closing on 25 runs for three wickets against Alescon Comets at the close of play on the opening day of the final round of the Carib National League cricket series at Pierre Road yesterday. The “Greenbacks” lost national players Tishan Maraj, Gibran Mohammed and Gregory Mahabir before the close and will need a further 99 runs today to go past Comets first innings score of 123, to take the coveted title.

Alan Mahabir took four for 14 and veteran Mahadeo Bodoe three for 17 to wreck the Comets innings on a helpful Charlieville pitch. Clarke Road 15 points ahead of second place Queen’s Park needs to at least get a draw to clinch the title. Meanwhile, rain saved the Parkites at the Queen’s Park Oval as they reached 70 for seven wickets at lunch against Ceramic Trinidad Merryboys when the heavens opened up and prevented play for the rest of the day. Allrounder Richard Kelly grabbed six wickets for 20 runs to reduce Queen’s Park to 37 for seven before Rishard Harris 22 not out and Deepak Kumar 19 not out staged a mini-recovery. At Couva, PowerGen were 150 for four wickets in their relegation battle against Couva Sports at Couva Junior Secondary ground. Denzil James with an unbeaten 45 saved the day for PowerGen along with ex-national David Williams.

Summarised scores:
At the Oval:
QUEEN’S PARK 70/7 - R Harris 22 not out, D Kumar 19 not out, R Kelly 6/20 vs CERAMIC TRINIDAD MERRYBOYS.
At Charlieville:
ALESCON COMETS 123 - F Baksh 47, A Mahabir 4/14, M Bodoe 3/17 vs FCB CLARKE ROAD 25/3.
At Presentation College:
CLICO PREYSAL 312 - Aaron Ragoonath 70, Ryan Hurley 56, Dinesh Ramdin 52, Andy Jackson 43, Rodney Sooklal 5/99)  vs TILE IT CENTRAL SPORTS 69/4 - Lennox Cush 36.
At Couva Junior Secondary ground:
POWERGEN 150/4 - D James 45 not out, S Badree 30, D Williams 17 not out vs TRANSBROKERAGE COUVA SPORTS.