T&T stunned by Bishoo again but hit back late

GEORGETOWN, Guyana,  CMC – Devendra Bishoo’s brilliance once again proved to be Trinidad and Tobago’s undoing, as he once again undermined the visitors and left Guyana with a chance of winning their Regional Four-Day match here Sunday.

The out-of-favour West Indies leg-spinner snared six for 71 as Trinidad and Tobago, with a slim first innings lead of just 12 runs, folded for 212 in their second innings, setting the Guyanese 225 for victory.

They closed the third day on 17 for one, losing Trevon Griffith lbw to off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth, as they sought the safety of the close at the Guyana National Stadium.

Bishoo finished with match figures of 15 for 149, following on from his first innings haul of nine for 78.

Earlier, Guyana were dismissed in their first innings for 282, after resuming the day on 247 for seven. Mohammed Shadir, unbeaten on 39 overnight, gathered his fourth first class half-century with 58 while Bishoo converted his 18 not out into 27.

The pair stretched their eighth wicket partnership to 62, with Shadir playing positively in a knock that contained eight fours and a six, and required just 88 deliveries.

T&T, looking to build a substantial lead at which to bowl at on Monday’s final day, were then let down by their batsmen in their second innings.

Jason Mohammed top scored with 33, Steven Katwaroo got 32 opening the batting, while Imran Khan chipped in with 29 and Lendl Simmons and Marlon Richards, 25 each.

Bishoo was the chief destroyer but found great support from 22-year-old fast bowler Keon Joseph who picked up four for 55.

Simmons played freely, counting three boundaries off 30 balls in posting 37 for the first wicket with Katwaroo, before he was bowled leg stump by Joseph about ten minutes before the lunch break.

Darren Bravo (8) and Katwaroo carried T&T to the interval at 49 for one and moved their partnership to 34, before Bravo mis-read a googly to provide Bishoo with his first wicket.

Two overs later, Katwaroo followed lbw to Joseph at 77 for three and T&T were tottering at 99 for four when Evin Lewis swung Bishoo to Vishal Singh at mid-wicket.

Bishoo continued to slice through the T&T middle order and it took an eighth-wicket rearguard stand of 37 between Richards and Khan, to push T&T up to the 200-run mark.