Ottley XI make strong reply in TT trials

The Ottley XI closed the day on 228 runs for five wickets, with useful knocks from Petrock Nicholas (60), Adrian Barath (47), Evin Lewis (43), Sherwin Ganga (30) and Kjorn Ottley (29).

Ottley’s younger brother Yannick was unbeaten on five while veteran TT leg-spinning all- rounder Imran Khan is yet to open his account.

Barath, the former West Indies opening batsman, failed miserably in last weekend’s trial match, but was looking to make amends with a 68-ball knock, decorated with seven fours, before he was caught behind by wicket-keeper Steven Katwaroo off left-arm spinner Derone Davis with the score on 94.

Another spinner, long-standing off-break bowler Amit Jaggernauth, trapped Lewis leg-before three balls later, ending the left-hander’s 53-ball innings which included four fours and two sixes.

Kjorn Ottley was joined by Nicholas and they pushed the total to 135 before the left-handed Ottley was bowled by Jaggernauth (his innings included four boundaries off 44 balls). Nicholas was the dominant partner in his 73-ball fourth-wicket partnership with Ganga but the Queen’s Park batsman was undone by a delivery from skipper Jason Mohammed which trapped him in front. His team-high 60 included seven fours and lasted 115 deliveries.

Ganga was caught behind off West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel in the final over, but his captain Yannick Ottley and Khan will be keen to ensure their team gain a first innings lead, with Nicholas Pooran, Marlon Richards, Tevin Robertson and Dane Teelucksingh to come.

Jaggernauth has claimed 2/25 off 15 overs, while Davis has 1/34 in seven and Gabriel 1/45 in 11.

Earlier on the day, the Mohammed XI carried their score from an overnight 240/8 to 276, with left-hander Yannic Cariah last out for 45 (four fours off 111 deliveries), after presenting Khan with a return catch.

Davis was earlier dismissed for 11, adjudged leg-before off pacer Marlon Richards, while Daron Cruickshank was unbeaten on 15. Khan finished with 3/31, while left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh took 2/26. Rayad Emrit, Ganga, Robertson, Richards and Ancil Bhagan each collected a wicket apiece.