TT in dramatic two-wicket victory

BOURDA: Led by tremendous rearguard fight by left-handed Gregory Mahabir (46) and intelligent batting from all-rounders Richard Kelly (39 not out) and Reyad Emrit (26 not out) who featured in an unbroken 52-run ninth wicket partnership, kept Trinidad and Tobago’s chance of qualifying for the President’s Cup Limited-Overs semi-finals carded for Barbados alive. Daren Ganga’s youthful and inexperienced team staged a great recovery and stunned the powerful Jamaicans in sensational two-wicket victory at Georgetown Cricket Club ground here yesterday. Scores: JAMAICA 206 (46.2 overs).  TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 209 for eight wickets (49.1 overs). Ganga, the West Indies “B” team captain, won the toss and invited Jamaica to take first strike on a placid track at the country’s long standing Test venue which has short boundaries and very fast outfield.

But after a great start of an even-century partnership between Test stars Chris Gayle and support from West Indies youth opener Xavier Marshall, the Trinidadian spinners Sherwin Ganga, Imran Jan and Rodney Sooklal created problems for the Jamaicans who were also in total disarray in judging singles and were involved in three run-outs which contributed to their demise and eventually folded. Trinidad and Tobago were tottering at 84 for six wickets and it seemed a gigantic task to get the remaining runs. But sensible batting by Mahabir, West Indies youth captain Dinesh Ramdin (21), Kelly and Emrit saw the fortunes and pendulum gradually swing in favour of their team which now have two victories from three matches.

Victory was completed with a firm flick to the mid-wicket boundary by Kelly who together with Emrit were swarmed by team-mates, manager Omar Khan and coach David Williams. The Ganga brothers posted 52 for the second wicket after Imran Jan was out for only four with only 10 runs on the board. But Ganga (D), after racing to 25 off 27 balls, attempted to loft off spinner Marlon Samuels over the in-field and succeeded in offering Darren Powell an easy catch at wide mid-off. Sherwin left one run later with the score reading 63 for three and when Jamaican-born Ricardo Powell perished swiftly it was 64 for four. Jonathan Augustus was then bowled by Samuels for nought and Samuel Badree went caught by Evan McInniss for five, and Trinidad and Tobago were  in dire straits at 84 for six and staring defeat.

Then came the Mahabir-Ramdin 43-run partnership which turned the game around in their team’s favour under the watchful eyes of West Indies selectors Joey Carew (chairman) and Gordon Greenidge. Kelly who shared a significant 30-run eight wicket partnership with Mahabir tempered his bold attacking shots with deft placements rallied Trinidad Tobago to a great victoryachieved with five balls to spare. Kelly hit one six and three fours in his 50-ball knock which lasted 70 minutes. Emrit had two fours off  21 balls. Earlier Gayle (48) and Marshall (88) laid the foundation for a big total, but tight bowling and brilliant fielding were the undoinbg of the Jamaicans. There is greater optimism now for Trinidad and Tobago to clinch one of the semi-final berths.