BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s spinners undermined Leeward Islands as the visitors took control of their third round match in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.
Replying to T&T’s 279 all out, the Leewards were dismissed for 194 on the second day at Warner Park, with veteran campaigner and captain Sylvester Joseph top scoring with 68.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan claimed four for 62 while fellow leg-spinner Yannick Cariah (3-35) and off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth (3-39) picked up three wickets apiece.
With a lead of 85 on first innings, T&T had stretched their advantage by the close, reaching 40 for one, an overall lead of 125 runs, heading into Friday’s penultimate day.
Opener Adrian Barath was unbeaten on 25 from 42 balls with five boundaries.
Starting the day on 254 for eight, T&T lost Stephen Katwaroo after he had added just one to his overnight 54, run out attempting a second run in the day’s second over.
He faced 120 balls in 182 minutes and struck eight fours.
Ravi Rampaul then stroked a cameo 27 from 17 balls with three fours to help T&T up to their eventual total, before becoming Gavin Tonge’s third victim of the innings.
Fellow pacer Quinton Boatswain finished with four for 82.
The Leewards started positively with Austin Richards Jr and Montcin Hodge adding 58 for the first wicket in good time. Richards struck 28 from 58 balls with two fours while Hodge weighed in with 24 off 70 balls with four boundaries.
Both were dismissed in successive overs with no runs, triggering a slide that saw five wickets fall for 37 runs, as Khan and Jaggernauth ripped through the top order.
With his side struggling at 95 for five, it was left to Joseph to repair the innings in a fighting knock that consumed 118 balls, 157 minutes and contained eight fours and a six.
