Ganga hits big, unbeaten hundred

SALEM: Daren Ganga hit his second straight hundred yesterday to take Trinidad and Tobago to within six runs of gaining first innings points over the Leeward Islands in their ninth round match of the Carib Beer Series regional tournament. Ganga has struck 22 fours and two sixes in an undefeated 169 to lead TT to 367 for four, in reply to the Leewards’ first innings total 372, when stumps were drawn on the second day at Salem Park. Ganga, who faced 242 balls in five and a half hours, featured in three important partnerships, as the TT batsmen put the Leewards bowling to the sword.

He has so far put on 115 for the fifth wicket with left-hander Gregory Mahabir, who is not out on 27, after they came together at 252 for two. Before this partnership, Ricardo Powell hit a typically belligerent 63 as he dominated a stand of 93 for the third wicket with Ganga, who batted with patience and skill on a docile pitch. Powell slammed four sixes and seven fours in his 50-ball knock and when he departed at 143 for three, Ganga took over. He and wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin, who scored 48, added 109 for the fourth wicket. Ganga, who gully fielder Omari Banks dropped off Adam Sanford, never looked in trouble as he dispatched the bad deliveries with great efficiency.

TT were off to a rocky start when Lendl Simmons, a double century-maker in the previous match, edged a low catch to second slip off Simon, who was by the far the best Leewards bowler, and took two wickets for 60 runs from 20 overs. Imran Khan, who laboured over 15, added 47 for the second wicket with Ganga before being needlessly run out attempting a quick single, but failing to beat Sylvester Joseph’s throw from short mid-off to the bowler. But from there it all went downhill for the Leewards, as Ganga, Powell and Ramdin punished some loose bowling.

Ramdin, who looked set for a big score, after partnering his skipper to his second century of the season, carelessly drove Banks to wide extra cover, where he was caught. His knock contained eight fours. Mahabir, who hooked and on-drove Wilden Cornwall for successive fours, has been giving Ganga admirabe support. Earlier, Ridley Jacobs, who was unbeaten on 36, and Sanford, who hit 37 before he was last out, extended their 10th wicket stand to 61 as they added a further 36 runs to the Leewards bedtime total.