ST. PHILIP, Barbados-THE Leeward Islands managed to maintain their momentum from the first day of their encounter against Trinidad & Tobago (T&T), as they utilized late order partnerships yesterday (Jan. 30) to build a 25-run first innings lead.
The round four encounter of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional 4-Day Competition saw the Leeward Islands tenaciously pursue an early dominance, led by Antiguan fast bowler Wilden Cornwall.
Cornwall picked up five wickets on the first day at the Foursquare Oval, and left many of T&T’s top batsmen struggling to add much needed runs throughout the day.
Team Captain Daren Ganga did manage to just surpass the half-century mark (51) before he was bowled by Cornwall, but support from the lower order was mostly lacking.
Imran Khan proved the other major sticking point for the Leeward Islands, adding 53 before being dismissed by Cornwall. Meanwhile, Omari Banks and Anthony Martin filled the gaps that Cornwall could not, picking up two and three wickets, respectively, to leave T&T with a total of 176/all out at the end of their first innings.
Leeward Islands began yesterday’s play at 30/1 with Montcin Hodge and Kieran Powell returning to the crease in the morning. While T&T utilized a very controlled bowling attack to limit the number of runs they gave up, Hodge and Powell displayed masterful patience in their second wicket partnership.
The duo would eventually add 56 before Powell edged a delivery from Amit Jaggernauth and was caught out by T&T’s wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed for 38.
A particularly brutal spell of spin then ensued from Jaggernaugth and Sherwin Ganga and left the Leeward Islands teetering at 72/5.
Cornwall once again stepped up, however, and was able to combine with Hodge for a 40-run partnership that stemmed the flow of wickets and inspired a late order rally that would eventually see the Leewards finish with a first innings total of 201/all out from 77.5 overs.
Hodge remained unbeaten for the day and ended with a very hard earned 54.
T&T had enough time left yesterday to begin their second innings and the squad seemed eager to prove that their first time in the crease had been a fluke.
Though Cornwall once again gave a formidable performance, dismissing the opening pair of Justin Guillen and William Perkins for 30 combined runs, Sherwin Ganga and Jason Mohammed remained unbeaten at the close of play and returned the lead in T&T’s favour, reaching 94/3 from 33 overs.
Play will resume today (Jan. 31) at the Foursquare Oval in St. Philip.
