TT put Bajans on the run

BRIDGETOWN: Trinidad and  Tobago had front-runners Barbados on the back-foot yesterday on a day of drama on the opening day in their Carib Beer Series match. Replying to TT’s first innings total of 259, the Barbadians, in pursuit of one point to secure the Carib Beer Cup, crumbled to 15 for four when stumps were drawn at the Carlton Sports Club, Barbados’ newest First-Class venue. In an electrifying 45 minutes before the close, Mervyn Dillon snared two wickets for six runs from five overs, Dwayne Bravo engineered a sensational run-out, and Richard Kelly added another wicket to set things up nicely for TT.

Lendl Simmons had hit the top score of 58, batting superstar Brian Lara gave support with 54, and Denesh Ramdin, batting at five, contributed a vital 51, after the visitors were sent in to bat. Fidel Edwards was the most successful Barbados bowler with three wickets for 87 runs from 17 overs. Barbados captain Ryan Hinds, off-spin bowler Ryan Austin, and left-arm medium-fast bowler Ian Bradshaw all collected two wickets. The real drama however, unfolded in the 13 overs available to Barbados before stumps, when Dillon struck with his first delivery to have opening batsman Wayne Blackman leg before wicket for one.

Four overs later, Kurt Wilkinson, playing on his home ground, was run out for three, when Bravo ran about 10 yards from point to cover, swooped on the ball, and hit the stumps at the bowler’s end in one fluid motion. Bravo was in the action again next over, when Dillon had Hinds, a century-maker in each innings of the previous match, caught at square-cover for a duck essaying a backfoot drive. Opening batsman Dale Richards, also playing on home turf, was soon caught behind for eight to prompt Carnival-like scenes among the rejoicing Trinidadians. Earlier, TT had reached 84 for two at the lunch interval on a hard, true pitch under sunny skies. Edwards gave Barbados early success, when he had opening batsman Imran Khan caught behind for two edging a back-foot drive.

TT captain Daren Ganga joined Simmons at the crease and consolidated T&T’s position with a 67-run stand for the second wicket. Fortune favoured Simmons twice in this period though. On 11, first slip fielder Floyd Reifer floored an easy chance off Ryan Nurse, and on 13, Bradshaw failed to react quickly enough to hold a low chance from a flawed cross-batted stroke. Just when it looked like these two were getting on top, Ganga was deceived by the flight of a delivery from Hinds, bowling his left-arm spin, and was caught and bowled for 33 just before the interval. After lunch, TT lost their way, although they continued at score runs at a steady pace to reach 184 for six.

Lara survived two loud shouts for LBW just prior to lunch, but entertained the crowd after the interval with a few of his trademark strokes. Lara and Simmons too, looked to be in total control, but the young opening batsman essayed a sweep at his 133rd ball and top-edged to give the fine leg fielder a simple catch. Simmons struck eight fours in close to three hours. Lara had just reached his half-century and celebrated with a boundary off Bradshaw, before substitute fielder Kirk Edwards held a stunning, low catch at cover to send the multiple World batting record-holder on his way after one and three quarter hours in which he struck seven fours and one six from 75 balls. Barbados did not have to wait long for more success.

Bravo’s wretched form continued, when he offered a straightforward bat-pad catch to forward short leg off spin bowler Austin. He made one. Then on the stroke of tea, Kelly was adjudged LBW to Bradshaw for one coming forward to a full-length delivery. After the break, Ramdin, who Hinds dropped on five at second slip off Bradshaw, helped put some beef on the TT total alongside the tailenders. He added a valuable 52 for seventh wicket with Rayad Emrit, who struck four fours and one six in 28 from 29 balls before edging Edwards to the wicketkeeper. The rest of the TT batsman failed to give the scorers too much work, but Ramdin kept them going before he was last out having struck seven fours from 111 balls in just over two and a half hours. Barbados top the standing with 36 points, and TT are tied for second with Guyana on 24 points. Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals of the knock-out competition. (CMC)