Skipper Ganga helps TT to 250/9

BRIDGETOWN: West Indies pacers Corey Collymore and Pedro Collins starred for Barbados yesterday, limiting Trinidad and Tobago to 250 for nine on the opening day of the Carib Beer International Challenge cricket semifinal.

Captain Daren Ganga topscored for the visitors with a composed 95 that included 13 fours and a six and spanned nearly six hours. But Collymore had the biggest impact, removing Ganga and classy left-hander Brian Lara for 37 on his way to four for 61 off 18 overs. Left-armer Collins made the early inroads and ended with three for 40 off 20 probing overs. Collins struck early after TT was sent in, Andy Jackson (0) punching a catch to mid-off in the third over. Ganga and Imran Jan consolidated in a stand of 47 for the second wicket before sharp work from Ryan Hinds removed Jan for 24. Hinds’ direct hit of the bowler’s end stumps from midwicket found the left-hander run out, well short of his ground.

Ganga fell five runs short of a well-deserved century when he snicked to provide Collymore with his second victim, a third catch to Browne behind the stumps. Collymore then quickly accounted for Mervyn Dillon (4), bowled, and Marlon Black (1), to Browne’s fourth catch. Left-hander Dave Mohammed smashed four boundaries in an enterprising, unbeaten 27 to boost the late order. Last man Rodney Sookal was four not out at close. The four-day match continues today.