TT spank Windwards at Oval

TRINIDAD and Tobago completed an 81-run victory over the Windward Islands on the third day of  their fourth round Carib Beer Cricket Series match at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday.

Scores: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 203 and 160. WINDWARD ISLANDS 73 and 209. Windwards chasing a  target of 291 runs fought on doggedly yesterday on a wearing pitch but were unable to stem the Trinidad and Tobago bowling attack, with ex-West Indies wicketkeeper Junior Murray once again being unable to bat because of  an injured back. A decisive spell of three wickets for no runs just before the tea break by Dwayne Bravo broke the back of the Windwards resistance. The victory and 12 points lifted Trinidad and Tobago to second position on  the standings with 36. The Trinidad and Tobago bowlers had to struggle for their wickets and at one time the visitors  threatened a come-from-behind the victory. Openers Dwayne Smith and Romel Currency started off well,  posting an opening partnership of 91 runs.

And the Windwards pair went to lunch without being separated and things were really looking good for the islanders. Smith played some beautiful strokes in compiling his half century which came off  88 balls in 116 minutes with six fours and a five. Currency on the other end batted solidly and to gave the West Indies opener good support. However with the score at 91, Smith was dismissed by the impressive young off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth for 60. The PowerGen player then struck almost immediately getting Roland Wilkinson for four. Currency was joined by Andre Fletcher and soon brought up his half century off 155 balls in 185 minutes, inclusive of three fours. The duo added 25 runs for the third wicket when Bravo bowling from the Pavilion End ripped apart the islanders’ middle order.

The all-rounder grabbed three wickets in eight balls for no runs including Currency for 57. At the end of his spell  skipper Rawle Lewis entered the fray and blasted a quickfire 35 that took the score to 173. Bravo returned to remove Lewis, having him brilliantly caught and bowled and the Windwards’ last hope of challenging  the target went through the window. Dave Mohammed just back from South Africa after playing for the West Indies, wrapped up the tail taking the last three wickets. Bravo finished with the impressive figures of four wickets for 29 runs to move to 19 wickets for the series to date, while Jaggernauth  ahead by one after his two wickets for 50 runs in the second innings. For his six wickets and a score of 46 in the first innings, Bravo won his third consecutive Man of the Match award.

Scoreboard:

TT vs Windwards
TT 1st inns: 203
Windwards 1st inns: 73
TT 2nd inns: 160
Windward 2nd inns:
D Smith c Babwah b Jaggernauth..............60
R Currency b Bravo....................................60
R Wilkinson c Emrit b Jaggernauth..............4
A Fletcher LBW b Bravo...............................4
D Sammy c Jan b Bravo...............................0
R Lewis c & b Bravo...................................35
S Shillingford c Modeste b Mohammed......26
D Butler not out...........................................11
F Thomas c Emrit b Mohammed..................4
C Cuffy b Mohammed...................................5
J Murray (absent injured
EXTRAS (W2, LB1)......................................3
Total..........................................................209
Fall of wickets: 91; 97; 122; 122; 125; 173; 198; 204; 209.
BOWLING: Black 9-1-36-0, Emrit 4-1-24-0, Bravo 17-4-39-4, Jaggernauth 26-8-50-2, Mohammed 23.3-6-59-3, Jan 1-1-0-0.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 12 pts; WINDWARDS 0 pt.