TT whip Bajans to reach final

ST PHILIP: Trinidad and Tobago powered to a dramatic victory yesterday in fading light over Barbados in a pulsating first semi-final of the West Indies Cricket Board President’s Cup at the Windward Club. The Trinidadians were set up by half centuries by the Ganga brothers, Sherwin (64) and captain Daren (50), and an unbeaten 47 by Ricardo Powell. When bad light halted play, Trinidad and Tobago were 256 for five off 46.2 overs and were declared winners by 11 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method. Earlier, Barbados totalled 276 for five off 50 overs on the back of a topscore of 69 not out by Ryan Hinds and 67 by opener Dale Richards. But the visitors always had the target in their sights after Sherwin Ganga and Gregory Mahabir (27) put on 64 for the first wicket. The Ganga brothers added a further 69 for the second wicket, making full use of a true pitch and indisciplined Barbados bowling.

Off-spinner Ryan Hurley gave the Bajans hope midway through the chase by removing Daren Ganga and Imran Jan in quick succession as the score dipped to 190 for five. But Powell and wicket-keeper Dinesh Ramdin ensured Trinidad advance into the Sunday final with a boisterous and unbroken stand of 66 with some fine strokeplay. Ramdin ended 29 not out. Barbados dropped three vital catches off Powell, none more crucial than Hinds’ straightforward miss off a Hurley full toss when Powell was 29. The two other chances were off Pedro Collins’ pace and one resulted in a collision between Martin Nurse and Floyd Reifer at long on. Both players lay motionless on the outfield for several   minutes before being stretchered off the field and sent to the hospital for medical attention. Less than 10 minutes later, the light became dimmer and Trinidad were designated winners on the Duckworth/Lewis method. Barbados innings had earlier been paced by left-hander Nurse and Richards, who added 101 for the first wicket off 17.1 overs.

Trinidad’s spin bowlers put the brakes on the scoring after Nurse was bowled by Sherwin Ganga for 48 and Jan accounted for Sherwin Campbell for 2 and Richards for 67. Left-hander Floyd Reifer and Hinds batted carefully in a fourth wicket partnership of 40 off 13.5 overs. Reifer was stumped off leg-spinner Samuel Badree for 22 with Barbados 169 for four off the first ball of the 41st overs. It was the signal for Barbados’ final assault on the bowling that yielded 107 off the last 10 overs, carrying them past Jamaica’s 245 for nine that was the highest total in the 15 preliminary round matches. Hinds opened out to finish unbeaten 69 off 57 balls with one six and eight fours. Captain Courtney Browne blasted 22 off 17 balls with two leg-side sixes and Hurley provided the final  flourish with 37 off 14 balls with two sixes and three fours. Jan, with two for 28 from his 10 overs, and Ganga, one for 28 off 10 overs, were Trinidad and Tobago’s most successful and economical bowlers. Guyana play the Windward Islands in Barbados today in the second semi-final. (AP)