ST. PHILIP, Barbados-THE Leeward Islands could be poised for a major upset of Trinidad & Tobago following an impressive third day in the fourth round of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional 4-Day Competition.
Though they trailed at the end of the first innings, T&T batted aggressively at the end of the match’s second day to have a solid opening of 94 for 3 yesterday (Jan. 31) at Foursquare Oval.
The opening partnership between Sherwin Ganga and Jason Mohammed held briefly for T&T, but it was not long before Leeward Islands bowlers Omari Banks and Wilden Cornwall found the same bowling success that they had in the first innings.
Cornwall struck first, dismissing Ganga for 32 and successfully breaking up the 68-run partnership before it could further complicate the Leeward Islands’ eventual chase.
Banks was not far behind as he picked up Jason Mohammed lbw and also led to the dismissal of wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed for 17.
Though Imran Khan, much like the first innings, proved to be a middle order juggernaut for T&T, Banks continued to whittle down the remaining batsmen. Khan went on to score a crucial 63 for T&T, but the lack of substantial support left the side at 226/all out from 92 overs and gave the Leeward Islands a very reachable total of 202.
Banks and Cornwall each picked up four wickets in the second innings, while Anthony Martin nabbed the remaining two.
Leeward Islands had some good early starts from the top of the batting order as both Montcin Hodge and Kieran Powell added 33, but those starts were cut short by offspinner Amit Jaggernauth and a run out, respectively.
Jaggernauth continued to pressure the Leeward Islands batsmen as they grew anxious in their chase and he would eventually go on to pick up three wickets by the close of play.
Not surprisingly, the day ended in the capable hands of Banks and Cornwall, who stood at 25 and 8 respectively at stumps. The Leeward Islands will begin the fourth and final day of play at 115 for 5.
Elsewhere in the competition, Ryan Austin’s career best 7 for 42 in the Combined Campuses & Colleges Squad’s second innings against Guyana put the young team in a position to win on the third day after giving up their lead in the first innings.
Barbados, meanwhile, stormed ahead of the Windward Islands thanks to Kirk Edwards skillfully batting his way to 90 in their second innings. The hosts will begin today’s final day of play at 250 for 4 at Kensington Oval.
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