PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago predictably trounced the Leeward Islands, easily pulling off an innings and 107-run victory in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.
Starting the final day of the third round contest needing just three wickets for victory, T&T wasted little time in wrapping up the game, to come away with 18 points.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan took three of the last four wickets to fall to finish with five for 53 while fast bowler Shannon Gabriel picked up three for 63.
Resuming the day/night affair at Queen’s Park Oval on 159 for six, the Leewards quickly lost overnight batsmen Hayden Walsh Jr (0) and Tonito Willett (10), to slump to 177 for eight.
However, Justin Athanaze and Gavin Tonge resisted stoutly in an entertaining stand, adding 54 for the ninth wicket and holding up T&T’s victory bid.
Athanaze belted 38 from 41 balls with two fours and four sixes while Tonge was not to be left out, hammering four fours in 28 from 34 deliveries.
The entertainment ended once Athanaze missed a straight one from Khan and was lbw and the final rites came when Tonge holed out to long off off Khan in the bowler’s next over.
Leeward Islands had been forced to follow on in the game after they responded to T&T’s first innings of 458 for seven declared, with a paltry 113.
