T&T crush Leewards to remain out front

KINGSTON, Jamaica,  CMC – Trinidad & Tobago remained on top the TCL Group West Indies Three-day Cup Under-19 tournament when they crushed Leeward Islands by an innings and six runs yesterday.

Resuming at their overnight position of 24 for one still requiring a further 125 runs to avoid an innings defeat, the Leewards batsmen had no answer to T&T’s potent spin attack and surrendered just before the tea interval for 143 at Chedwin Park.

Left-arm spinner Javid Boodram grabbed three for 17 to help undermine the Leewards while leg-spinner Kissoondath Magram bagged three for 56 to end with a match-haul eight for 99.

Captain Kejel Tyson hammered the top score of 43 while Kelbert Walters and Nelson Boland both struck 23, but could not keep the Leewards innings alive.

With wickets tumbling steadily, the Leewards plunged to 95 for eight before Walters and Boland help up T&T’s victory push with a stubborn ninth-wicket stand of 40.

Once they were parted, however, T&T quickly wrapped up the innings to remain out front in the tournament on 42 points, six ahead of Jamaica on 36 points.

Defending champions Barbados are on 31 points and need a win in the final series of matches starting Saturday, to keep alive their chances of retaining their trophy.