Simmons blazes double century

LENDL SIMMONS entered his name into the record books with a blazing double century (200) and together with Denesh Ramdin (60) and Richard Kelly (62) put Trinidad and Tobago in the driver’s seat and provided the homesters with a chance to force an outright victory over Jamaica in the Carib Beer series eighth round match at Shaw Park, Tobago. Simmons, overnight on 12, got his maiden century in regional First Class cricket and emulated skipper Daren Ganga who chalked up the first triple-figure in the sister-isle. But the youthful right-handed went on to become the first double centurion at Shaw Park.

It was an innings full of character and determination and his partnership with Ganga, Ramdin and Kelly placed TT well ahead of the Jamaicans with a significant lead of 359 runs at the close of play yesterday. TT resumed at 21 for the loss of Imran Khan (8) wicket on Saturday. The two not out batsmen were Simmons (12) and Mervyn Dillon (0) who stayed around for a brief period before Jerome Taylor bowled him for five and the score 33 for the loss of two wickets. Simmons was partnered by skipper Ganga and they defied the Jamaicans for another 78 minutes and added 51 runs for the third wicket partnership. They had done the job of seeing off the frontline pacers Taylor and Darren Powell but it was medium pacer Dave Bernard who effected the breakthrough by knocking back Ganga’s off stump and his personal tally at 17.

The homesters lost another wicket at 103 when big-hitter Ricardo Powell was adjudged  leg before wicket to Nikita Miller for nine and lunch was taken at 111 for 4 off 36 overs. But the Jamaicans’ hopes of further success were thwarted by Ramdin who joined Simmons in a valuable partnership. They batted through the post-luncheon session without being separated adding 110 runs off 31 overs in the two-hour period. Simmons was undefeated on 121, having registered his maiden First Class century, and Ramdin on 49. They posted 168 for the fifth wicket with Ramdin being the perfect foil for the aggressive partner before he departed, brilliantly caught low down at extra-cover off the bowling of the persistent and tireless Taylor, who finished the day with three wickets for 62 runs.

Ramdin’s 50 contained one six and five fours off 103 balls while his overall 62 was scored in 163 minutes of solid batsmanship. Simmons motored along merrily hitting fours and sixes at will which took him into the special group of players to have scored a regional double hundred. He joined Merry Boys clubmates Lincoln Roberts (220) and Aneil Kanhai (223) and his uncle Philip Simmons (202) as well as Sheldon Gomes (213) and WI captain Brian Lara (206). Simmons became the sixth Trinidadian to achieve the landmark and his overall innings lasted 449 minutes. He smashed four sixes and 19 fours off 290 balls. His fellow Merry Boys clubmate Richard Kelly, lighted up Shaw Park with four towering sixes and two fours for a hurricane 62, adding another brisk 94 for the seventh wicket partnership.