T&T opener Lendl Simmons continued his good form ahead of the regional T20 cricket series, with a hard hit 82 as the national team began a series of warm-up matches at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Balmain, Couva, yesterday. Playing for the T&T Senior team, Simmons cracked 82 off 46 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. His effort enabled his team to secure a 33-run victory over the T&T B team. Simmons and West Indies opener Adrian Barath posted an opening association off 98 runs, which piloted their team to 183 for six off their allotted 20 overs.
Barath scored 21 off 34 balls. Kevon Cooper who came in late in the innings flourished and scored 31 off 15 balls with three fours and two sixes. When the T&T B team took to the crease, Runako Morton who has been selected on the first team, scored 45 off 48 balls with three fours and a six. He and Tishan Maraj (25 off 20 balls) had their team off to a flyer.
Also among the runs was Justin Guillen who counted 45 off 36 balls with five fours and a six. The best of the bowlers for national senior team was off-spinner Sherwin Ganga with two for 28. Copper enjoyed a good game and conceded 24 runs from his four overs and took a wicket. Scores: T&T Senior team 183/6 (30)(Lendl Simmons 82, Kevon Cooper 31, Adrian Barath 21) vs T&T B team 150/5 (30)(Runako Morton 45, Justin Guillen 45, Tishan Maraj 25, Sherwin Ganga 2/28) - T&T Senior team won by 33 runs.