Jangoo, Christmas extend T&T’s advantage over Barbados

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – An unbroken half-century stand between Amir Jangoo and Brian Christmas forged Trinidad & Tobago further ahead, after a career-best half-century from Matthew Jones failed to ignite Barbados’ batting in the Regional Under-19 Championship here yesterday.

Opener Jangoo was not out on 44 and wicketkeeper/batsman Christmas, unbeaten on 30, as T&T reached 77 for one in their second innings at the close on the second day of their second round match at the Guyana National Stadium for an overall lead of 91.

The two left-handers batted resolutely and have shared 77 so far for the second wicket, after their captain Jeremy Solozano, another southpaw and a West Indies Under-19 batsman, was lbw to Shamar Springer for a duck in the second over of the innings about 25 minutes before tea.

Jangoo has collected half-dozen fours from 106 balls in 155 minutes of batting and Christmas just one one boundary from 131 balls in close to 2-½ hours at the crease. Earlier, left-hander Jones, batting at eight, was unbeaten on the top score of 81, as the Barbadians were bowled out for 185 in their first innings about 40 minutes before tea, conceding a lead of 14.

Starting the day on 21 for four, Barbados slumped to 80 for seven within the first hour of play before Jones led a rearguard action to bring some respectability to his side’s feeble batting and anemic total.

Jones swung a delivery from Tevin Jadoo to wide long-on for four to reach his 50 from 66 balls and hit the ball crisply throughout his near 2-½-hour stay in the middle. He added a valuable 40 for the eighth wicket with vice captain Chad Williams and further frustrated T&T in a last-wicket stand of 48 with Neil Persaud.

Off-spinner Samuel Roopnarine was the most successful T&T bowler with four for 64 from 15.4 overs, Justin Joseph ended with two for 30 from 21 overs of left-arm spin and fast bowler Anderson Phillip grabbed two for 12 from seven overs.

The Barbadians suffered a setback in the second over of the day, when their captain Joshua Drakes was caught at slip off Akil Seetal for 13.

About 40 minutes later, Leniko Boucher, with whom Drakes added 42 for the fifth wicket, was caught behind for 28 driving loosely at Roopnarine before Springer was lbw to the same bowler for 23. Williams came to the crease and batted through all but the last four balls of the remainder of the morning period before he was caught behind down the leg-side from a top-edged sweep for 17.

Barbados were 120 for eight at lunch and lost Keon Harding soon after the resumption, when he was caught at deep mid-wicket off Roopnarine for five before Persaud joined Jones and made T&T work for the final wicket.

Roopnarine brought the fun to an end, when he had Persaud caught at mid-on from an ambitious drive for 10.