PowerGen retain Premiership title

In a game affected by the weekend’s rains, PowerGen, replying to Comets’ first innings tally of 114, declared their first innings on 251 for the loss of seven wickets with contributions from openers Nicholas Sookdeosingh and Evin Lewis (68 and 58 respectively) and captain Samuel Badree (an unbeaten 45).

Taking two wickets apiece for Comets were Barbadian pacer Javon Searles (for 21 runs), Magnum Nanan (for 45) and Kissoondath Magram (for 58).

Comets, in their second innings, reached 196/9 when stumps were drawn, with an unbeaten 84 from another Barbadian all-rounder, Kevin Stoute, while Rayad Emrit added 39. Left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed (3/87) and leg-spinner Badree (2/32) were the best bowlers for PowerGen added 19 points to finish with 188, while Comets got five.

Second-placed Queen’s Park earned a first innings cushion over SIS Central Sports Invaders at Felicity.

The visitors started the day on 121/1, replying to Central Sports’ 90, and declared on 151/4 with Nicholas Alexis making 76 while Beetan Ram got 2/35 and Gary Mathurin 2/50 for the hosts.

In their second turn at the crease, Central were bowled out for 283 with knocks from Keddy Lesporis and Avinash Bhola (44 apiece) and Denzil James (40), while Sunil Narine got 3/93 with his off-breaks.

Setting an unlikely victory target of 223, the Parkites closed on 37/2, and they received 17 points, with Central Sports getting nine.

Ceramic Merry Boys, who led for the initial stages of the season, got a first-innings triumph over First Citizens Clarke Road at Wilson Road,

Penal. Responding to Merry Boys’ 291, Clarke Road were dismissed for 214 despite an unbeaten 121 by Gregory Mahabir and 28 from Dion Bennett. Off-spinners Kenton Thompson (2/24) and Aniel Kanhai (2/36) were the main destroyers for the visitors.

In their second innings, Merry Boys ended on 201/9 with Barbadian Alcindo Holder notching 62 and veteran Lincoln Roberts 34, while leg-spinner Sanjiv Gooljar grabbed 6/54. Merry Boys collected 17 points and Clarke Road ten.

CLICO Preysal also secured a first-innings advantage over W Connection Wanderers, at the Inshan Ali Park in Preysal.

Resuming on 145/3 in their first innings, Wanderers were bowled out for 233 with contributions from Guyanese Christopher Barnwell (45), Navin Stewart and Omesh Ramoutar (36 apiece), Deems Baird and William Perkins (32 apiece) and Mark Deyal (30). Left-arm spinner Davindra Krishna (4/37) and pacer Kwesi Roy (3/70) did the damage for the hosts.

In response, Preysal made 261/8 with Nicholas Ramjass posting 100 not-out, teenager Stephen Katwaroo 47 and Kjorn Ottley 37. Stewart got 3/48 and Deyal 2/26 for Wanderers, who only got seven points and Preysal 15.

Both the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and Rahamut’s Evergreen Sports have been relegated to the First Division, but their clash was the only one to feature an outright win — UTT prevailed by ten wickets at Pluck Road, Fyzabad.

Already holding a 62-run first innings lead, after both teams finished their first innings on Saturday, Evergreen were dismissed for a paltry 91 with Satish Goolcharan taking 5/34 and Keon Isaac 3/ 4. Guyanese Steven Jacobs (28) and Keshava Ramphal (26) were the only scorers of note for the hosts.

Set a meager target of 30 to win, UTT’s openers posted 32 to seal their lone win of a troublesome season — UTT got 26 points and Evergreen four.

Points Standings — 1.Powergen 188; 2.Queen’s Park 180; 3.Merry Boys 164; 4.Central Sports 139; 5.Clarke Road 136; 6.Comets 127; 7.Preysal 112; 8.Wanderers 89; 9.UTT 63; 10.Evergreen 61.