Corbin half-century leads CCC fightback

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Captain Kyle Corbin stroked an attractive half-century to lead a positive Combined Campuses and Colleges response, but fell late in the day to shift the momentum back in Trinidad and Tobago’s favour here yesterday.

Playing on the second day of the fifth round encounter in the Regional Four-Day Championship, CCC finished the day on 174 for four, with Corbin hitting 62 and Raymon Reifer unbeaten on 45. Opener Shacaya Thomas struck 29 while his partner Anthony Alleyne chipped in with 21.

West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul has taken two for 49.

Earlier, T&T declared their first innings at 409 for nine after resuming on 285 for five at Queen’s Park Oval.

Jason Mohammed, starting the day on 119, carried on for 138 while wicketkeeper Stephen Katwaroo hit his second consecutive half-century with an even fifty, after carrying on from his overnight 28 not out. Yannic Cariah stroked an unbeaten 43.

Off-spinner Ryan Austin finished with three for 47 while seamers Raymon Reifer (2-56), Kevin McClean (2-81) and Keswick Williams (2-89) all picked up two wickets apiece.

All told, Mohammed faced 243 balls in just under seven hours at the crease, striking 20 fours and two sixes. Katwaroo, meanwhile, stroked seven boundaries in an innings lasting 133 minutes and 110 balls.
The pair extended their sixth wicket stand to 104 before they were separated by McClean who trapped Katwaroo lbw.

Thomas and Alleyne then gave CCC a solid start by adding 43 for the first wicket before Rampaul removed both to leave the score on 61 for three.

However, Corbin and Raymon Reifer put on 107 for the fourth wicket to steady the innings and deny T&T any major success in the evening session.

Corbin was classy, carving out nine fours and a six in 136 minutes and 111 balls at the crease while Reifer lasted 107 balls and 157 minutes in an innings that included four fours.
They seemed set to take CCC safely to the close when part-time seamer Lendl Simmons got Corbin to edge to captain Dwayne Bravo at slip.