A brave fightback by the T&T Red Force on day two led by leg spinner Imran Khan gave the home team some optimism going into the third day's play today against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the last round of the Regional Four-Day tournament at the National Cricket Centre in Couva.
Yesterday, however, belonged to former West Indies opening batsman Devon Smith, who cracked another first class hundred.Smith scored 127 off 197 deliveries, slamming 21 fours in his 242-minute stay at the crease. He guided the Windward Islands from 33/0 overnight to 289 all out, a lead of 78 runs on first innings.
T&T closed day two on 33/1, still trailing the Volcanoes by 45 runs. Justin Guillen lost his wicket for 23 in the last over of the day, while Kyle Hope was unbeaten on ten. It was a dominant first session by the Windwards, progressing to 144/0 at lunch. None of the six bowlers used by T&T captain Yannick Ottley was able to stop the flow of runs before lunch.
Left handed Smith proceeded from his overnight 20 to 78 registering 12 fours, while right-handed Theophille was 66 not out at the break with ten fours after starting the day on 13. The break and the loss of Theophille for 75 with the score on 163, did not affect Smith as he quickly brought up his century in 160 balls with 17 fours.
Windwards moved along comfortably to 198/1 only trailing T&T by 13 runs with nine wickets still in hand. However, T&T responded with a barrage of wickets, grabbing five wickets for 41 runs to reduce the Windwards to 252/6 at tea. Jerlani Robinson was dismissed trying a cut shot but Guillen took a sharp catch fielding at gully to give Rayad Emrit the wicket. Smith, who was strong through the covers, took the visitors past 200 with another four through the off side.
After a watchful period by West Indies Under-19 batsman Gidron Pope, the Windwards were reduced to 229/3 when left handed Pope was caught at long on by Narsingh Deonarine for 12 to give Jon-Russ Jagessar the wicket. Pope was part of the West Indies U-19 team that won the U-19 World Cup in February.
Jagessar took another when wicketkeeper Sunil Ambris was well caught by Darren Bravo fielding at first slip for two. Smith's defiance at the crease came to an end when he was brilliantly caught by Ottley inches off the ground fielding at short extra cover off Emrit. As the mood among the T&T fielders improved Windwards captain Liam Sebastien lost his wicket when he was caught by wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo off Emrit for one as Windwards fell to 239/6.
At tea the Windwards had a lead of 41 runs with Kyle Mayers 11 and Kavem Hodge nine. After tea Khan snatched three of the remaining four wickets as the Windwards were dismissed for 289. Khan grabbed the wickets of Hodge, Larry Edwards and Mayers, while Jagessar took the wicket of Delorn Johnson. Khan finished with figures of 4/93 in 26 overs.
Scoreboard
T&T Red Force lst Innings 211
Windward Islands Volcanoes (1st Innings)
(overnight 33/0)
D Smith c Y Ottley b R Emrit 127
T Theophille c D Bravo b I Khan 75
J Robinson c J Guillen b R Emrit 16
G Pope c N Deonarine b J Jagessar 12
S Ambris c D Bravo b J Jagessar 1
K Hodge hit wicket b I Khan 14
L Sebastien c S Katwaroo b R Emrit 1
K Mayers c N Deonarine b I Khan 37
L Edwards c E Nicholson b I Khan 4
D Johnson c M Richards b J Jagessar 0
K Cottoy not out 2
Extras 0
Total 289 all out
Fall of Wkts: 163, 198, 229, 231, 233, 239, 265, 269, 270, 289
Bowling: J Jagessar 23-3-74-3, R Emrit 15-3-59-3, M Richards 6-0-26-0, I Khan 26-5-93-4, N Deonarine 13-5-21-0, Y Ottley 3-0-16-0,
T&T Red Force 2nd Innings
J Guillen c S Ambris b L Sebastien 23
K Hope not out 10
Extras 0
Total 33 for 1
Still to Bat: N Deonarine, R Emrit, J Jagessar, S Katwaroo+, I Khan, E Nicholson, Y Ottley , M Richards, D Bravo
Fall of Wkts: 33
Bowling: D Johnson 4-2-13-0, K Mayers 3-1-8-0, L Sebastien 3-2-4-1, L Edwards 2-0-8-0
