Rain plays havoc at Shaw Park

With the match interestingly poised, rain yesterday made an unwelcome appearance at Shaw Park cutting out 71 overs off the third day of the Carib Beer Series regional cricket match between Trinidad and Tobago and Kenya.

SCORES: TT 257 & 34/3 vs Kenya 150. After bowling out Kenya for 150 to earn a 107-run first innings lead, Trinidad and Tobago were tottering at 34 for three wickets before lunch when the heavens opened at 11.45 am to ruin the day’s play. Kenya, resuming on the overnight position of 147 for eight, added just three runs for the loss of their last two wickets to Marlon Black who in the process passed the 100-wicket mark in regional cricket. The 28-year-old pacer became the 11th bowler from Trinidad and Tobago to achievement the milestone. The last TT player to get past the mark was fast bowler Anthony Gray who finished with 137 scalps. TT yesterday started their second innings with a lead of 107 runs and were soon in trouble as opener Earnil Ryan was removed by the bustling Martin Suji for six with the score at 11. Talented Aneil Kanhai was next in and played his natural attacking game scoring 12 before Suji got a fortunate leg before decision. The left hander got an inside edge and departed with the score at 27.
Dwayne Bravo, a favourite with the Tobago crowd, entered to great applause but left a disappointed man, caught by Kennedy Obuya off Suji for three.

Skipper Imran Jan was unbeaten on 12 with the score at 34 for three when inclement weather intervened and drove the players off. Umpires Harry Rajkumar and Clyde Duncan made a pitch inspection just after lunch and ruled that the bowlers’ run-up was too wet. While waiting for the run-up to dry the rains came again and put paid to the day’s play. As only Trinidadians and Tobagonians can do, fans made the most of the delay. Those packed into the tent at the southern end came out unto the area in front of their seating area and held an impromptu jump-up to the sounds of the Mighty Shadow. Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago team Omar Khan said his team was very disappointed with the stoppage for rain but still thinks that his boys can pull off a win. “According to what the weather holds for tomorrow, we can still force an outright win. If we can bat until lunch and get to a position of safety then our bowlers can go at the Kenyans in the remaining two sessions, Khan said. Play on the final day today begins at 9.30 am.