Simmons 39 n.o. in rain affected trial

WEST INDIES youth batsman Lendl Simmons remained unbeaten on 39 when a heavy downpour left the outfield soggy and forced the Trinidad and Tobago cricketers to abandon play after 28 overs on the opening day of the First Trial match at Gilbert Park, Brechin Castle, yesterday. Simmons and his WI youth teammate Tishan Maraj opened the batting for the Rodney Sooklal-led Team A and posted a 52-run  opening partnership before leg spinner Sanjeev Gooljar sent back Maraj.

Both Maraj and Simmons faced the new ball attack shared by Theodore Modeste and Richard Kelly and despite the unpredictable bounce, they  survived the early fireworks. But Maraj, who played the sheet-anchor role got a delivery from Gooljar which kept low and was out for 12. Samuel Felix joined Simmons and they were together at lunch when the downpour forced coach David Williams to call off the give action. Despite the very heavy and soggy outfield,  Simmons lashed one six and three fours in his knock so far. Shazam Babwah is leading Team B. Play is scheduled to resume at 10 am today and will continue tomorrow and Sunday.