Hosein spins T&T to crushing win

The Windward Islands were mesmerised by a cunning exhibition of spin yesterday as left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein finished with match figures of 11/67 to give Trinidad and Tobago an emphatic 186-run win in the four-day regional tournament at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Hosein, who took 6/33 in the first innings, continued his fantastic form with figures of 10-1-34-5 in the second innings to dismiss the visitors for 124 in chase of a massive 311 for victory.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel tested the top order of the Windwards with pace and bounce early in their second innings. After captain Rayad Emrit gave Gabriel the ball from the southern end of the ground, wickets began to tumble. Gabriel first disturbed the furniture of Tyrone Theophille for eight. Shortly after, Dalton Polius was back in the pavilion as he found the edge to give Yannic Cariah a simple catch in second slip. This left the Windwards on 47/2.

Opening batsman Devon Smith who batted throughout the first innings, again looked solid, taking the Windwards to 60/2 at the tea break with 34 to his name. Keddy Lesporis was with Smith on five. Gabriel’s impressive figures at the tea break read 8-4-19-2. 

Immediately after tea, Hosein, T&T’s hero in the first innings, removed Lesporis (nine) and Romel Currency (two) to reduce the Windwards to 68/4. Wickets continued to fall as Smith remained unfazed.

However, shortly after bringing up his half-century, Smith lost his wicket for a valiant 55, a knock that included nine fours. Leg spinner Imran Khan got the prized wicket of Smith as Adrian Barath took a smart catch at short leg. The score was 101/7 and T&T’s victory was in sight. 

Hosein and Khan finished off proceedings, grabbing the final three wickets together to end the match inside three days. Khan ended with 3/16.

Earlier, the lower order of the T&T batting added a valuable 83 runs to their overnight second innings score of 127/7 to destroy the Windwards chances of a comeback. Cariah led the T&T resistance, but was unfortunately dismissed right after lunch for a well played 49, a knock that included six fours. Marlon Richards struck 21. Darren Bravo was the home team’s top scorer, adding 12 to his overnight 57. Bravo’s watchful 69-run knock came off 188 balls and included 10 fours, ending his recent poor run of form. Kenroy Peters (3/37) and Nelon Pascal (3/40) both snatched three wickets for the Windwards.

SCOREBOARD

T&T vs WINDWARDS
T&T lst Inns – 222
Windwards lst Inns – 122
T&T 2nd Inns (o/n) 127/7  
A Barath c L James b N Pascal    6
E Lewis lbw b D Johnson    0
D Bravo c T Theophille b K Peters    69
J Mohammed lbw b D Johnson    6
S Katwaroo+  b L Sebastien    2
I khan lbw b K Peters    25
A Hosein lbw b K Peters    0
R Emrit lbw b N Pascal    18
Y Cariah c R Currency b A Bobb    49
M Richards c T Theophille b N Pascal    21
S Gabriel not out    0
Extras 4nb 1w 8lb 1b    14
Total (all out)    210
Fall of Wkts: 2, 8, 28, 32, 59, 59, 106, 167, 209, 210
Bowling: N Pascal 14-1-40-3, D Johnson 11-6-24-2, A Bobb 13-4-31-1, L Sebastien 21-7-54-1, K Peters 13-4-37-3, D Polius 7-2-15-0
Windwards 2nd Inns
D Smith c A Barath b I khan    55
T Theophille  b S Gabriel    8
D Polius c Y Cariah b S Gabriel    10
K Lesporis c D Bravo b A Hosein    9
R Currency lbw b A Hosein    2
L Sebastien b A Hosein    0
L James+ c J Mohammed b A Hosein    5
A Bobb c A Barath b I khan    14
K Peters not out    7
D Johnson c Y Cariah b A Hosein    0
N Pascal b I Khan    11
Extras 1w 2lb    3
Total (all out)    124
FOW: 22, 47, 64, 68, 70, 80, 101, 112, 113, 124
Bowling: S Gabriel 8-4-19-2, M Richards 3-0-13-0, R Emrit 5-1-14-0, A Hosein 10-1-34-5, J Mohammed 7-3-16-0, Y Cariah 4-0-10-0, I khan 5.1-2-16-3 Result: T&T won by 186 runs​