PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Leeward Islands bowlers hit back late in the day to restrict Trinidad and Tobago after a late innings rally saved them from a complete batting collapse on the opening day of their fifth round, Regional First Class Championship clash here yesterday.
Opting to bat first at Queen’s Park Oval, the Leewards were bundled out for a modest 211 but at the close, T&T had been reduced to 47 for three, still 164 runs behind in their quest for first innings lead.
The story could have been different when the Leewards tumbled to 131 for eight, after leg-spinner Imran Khan (3-27) and off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth (2-48) tore through the top and middle order.
However, a rollicking ninth-wicket partnership of 62 between Gavin Tonge (44) and Justin Athanaze (27) bolstered the innings and put Leewards past the respectable 200-run mark.
Tonge cracked six fours from 56 balls while Athanaze was equally entertaining in his 34-ball knock, counting two fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Jahmar Hamilton (30) and Tonito Willett (25) got starts but failed to carry on as T&T pressed home their advantage.
Willett then proved the hero with the ball as he claimed the prized wickets of opener Lendl Simmons (4) and in-form captain Daren Ganga (1) to finish with two for 23, and leave T&T in a spot of bother.
Opener Justin Guillen was unbeaten on 25 from 52 balls with three boundaries.
