Dillon, Kelly bowl TT to victory

A MAGNIFICENT spell of penetrative seam bowling by rising star Richard Kelly  (5/34) and West Indies Test fastbowler Mervyn Dillon (5/28) set the stage for a r sensational come-from-behind seven-wicket victory by Trinidad and Tobago over Windward Islands at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, South Trinidad, yesterday. Kelly and Dillon combined with deadly accuracy and precision as they bombed out Windwards for a new record lowest first class score of 67 in their second innings.

Having dismissed the visitors for their third score below 100 runs this season,  Trinidad and Tobago led by Lendl Simmons who hit an attractive 54, reached the 182-run target set them off 69 overs.

Scores: WINDWARD ISLANDS 346 and 67.  TRIONIDAD & TOBAGO 232 and 183 for three wickets. Skipper Daren Ganga who was unbeaten on 38, and his “Young Stars” finished the job with nine overs and a full day’s play to spare. TT resumed at 219 for eight wickets but lost their remaining two wickets for the  addition of 13 runs. Denesh Ramdin, 38 overnight, went on to reach joint topscore with Simmons, 43, before being brilliantly caught and bowled by Windwards captain Rawl Lewis who finished with four wickets for 49 while the injured Jean Paul took four for 52.

Kelly started to undermine the Windwards second innings, which began with a comfortable lead of 114 runs. The young pacer who celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday, gave himself a fine five-wicket present, claiming the wickets of Devon Smith for two runs, Sergio Fedee duck, Darren Sammy 15, Deighton Butler 4 and Shane Shillingford duck, to earn the Man of the Match award.

Dillon in his turn, removed Craig Emmanuel 0, Alvin LaFuille 4, Rawl Lewis 2, Junior Murray 10 and Kenroy Peters 13. Simmons hit six fours in his 54 and Imran Khan had four in his 26-run cameo to give Trinidad and Tobago the ideal start in their run chase.  They put on 62 for the first wicket. And after Dwayne Bravo spanked a quick-fire 27 including three fours it was left to skipper Ganga and Ricardo Powell 24 not out to see them to victory.