Ganga praises TT teammates

"I think it was an excellent victory for Trinidad and Tobago," he said. "I think, overall, although Denesh Ramdin got the Man of the Match award and congratulations to him, I think every single player played their part and we’re quite happy with the outcome of the match."

He also praised the roles played by West Indies youth team vice-captain, middle-order batsman Jason Mohammed, and leg-spinner Sanjiv Gooljar, who were making their First-Class debuts.

"I think they have bright futures ahead of them," said Ganga. "We’re just looking forward to the rest of the team playing in that sort of manner and continuing with the good form that we have for the rest of the series."

And Ganga noted that the balance of the match shifted in Trinidad and Tobago’s favour following their first innings score of 362.

"That really put pressure on the Jamaicans," admitted Ganga. "We always knew that the wicket was going to deteriorate so that our spinners would play an important role," he said.

"Jamaica did not bat as well in the first innings," he added. "Having a lead of 190-odd (in the first innings), it’s always going to be tough. Choosing to bat, scoring (193), having a total of 371 on the last day (was) always going to be difficult," he said.

"The Jamaicans just weren’t up for it and we got the better of them on the last day," Ganga said.

Jamaican skipper Wavell Hinds said he was disappointed with his team’s performance. "On the first day, we were ‘even stevens’, we fielded well and bowled in the right areas. For the next three days, I think the Trinidadians outplayed us and I must say congratulations to Daren Ganga and his team, for playing a fine first-class game," Hinds said.

"I think we have to regroup and try to assess situations better, a lot more quicker and try to execute a lot more efficient," he said. "We didn’t bat as clinical as we should have. The commitment was not there."

"It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on," Hinds said. "It calls for more commitment and determination and we were lacking in those departments."

Hinds, after winning the toss on Friday, was pleased with the performances of his pacers Jerome Taylor, Jermaine Lawson and Andrew Richardson on the first day, restricting the hosts to 201 for six.

"But the next three days we were lacking in our bowling somewhat and definitely our batting," Hinds said.

"We need to regroup and reassess, try to come up with the right combination and improve our performance in our next game against Barbados."

The left-handed opener was dismissed for four in both innings. "I need to get some runs," he said.

"I think, as the captain of the team, I need to make sure I’m leading from the front and setting the tone for the team," he continued, "given my extra responsibility of opening the innings, I have to lay the foundation for the guys."

And he pointed out that the Jamaicans lost the plot when they batted in the first innings.

"We left too much of a lead for the Trinidadians.

The first innings is very important in any cricket game, to try to get as big a total as possible and even if you don’t overcome your opponents’ total, you get as close as possible to make sure the lead is not that big and the game remains open," Hinds said.