A brilliant knock of 220 by right-handed Jason Mohammed put the national team in a commanding position halfway through the second day's play yesterday at the Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, against the Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC).Mohammed was the last T&T batsmen dismissed, taking the home team to a massive 451/8 declared. The man from Powergen spent more than seven hours at the crease (460 minutes), hitting 24 fours and five sixes in a 344-ball innings.Resuming on 328/4 yesterday, Mohammed lost his partner Steven Katwaroo early for ten. Evin Lewis, who was forced to retire on Friday due to a leg injury, then joined Mohammed. The CCC continued its indisciplined bowling. When fast bowler Dwayne Sealy bowled his 21st no ball, it brought up the 50th extra for T&T.
Sealy then turned from villain to hero, getting the wicket of Lewis for 26, his first scalp of the match. In an attempt to pull a delivery from outside the off stump over mid-on, Shacaya Thomas took a brilliant diving catch running back to the boundary.The players had to scamper off for the second time in as many days during the first session because of rain, with Mohammed on 185 and Imran Khan not yet off the mark. After an early lunch, play resumed with T&T on 398/6.Mohammed, who was strong through the point and backward point region, got to 194 with a six over extra over of spin bowler Ryan Austin. The magical moment came with a leg side, which was appreciated by the small crowd. Mohammed then got some quick runs before being the last man out, when the declaration came. At the tea break, CCC was 41/2.
On Friday night, a solid 227-run partnership between Mohammed and Emrit put T&T in a comfortable position.At the tea break, T&T was on 181/3 with Mohammed on 75 and Emrit on 45.
In the first over after tea, Emrit survived a confident lbw appeal from Raymon Reifer. Mohammed remained unfazed, hitting a six over the mid-wicket region off medium pacer Thomas in the next over. Mohammed was now in the 80s and eyeing his 100.Emrit then brought up a deserved 50 off 83 balls. Mohammed got a chance on 84, as wicket-keeper Chadwick Walton failed to hang on to a difficult chance down the leg side of Thomas' bowling.
Mohammed brought up his 100 with an exquisite off drive. His century came off 151 balls, which included 13 fours and two sixes.The pair continued to dominate the CCC bowlers, as Emrit got closer to his century. Emrit, who has shown some form with the bat this season, brought up his hundred. Emrit was dismissed soon after for 100 by CCC captain Steven Jacobs. Emrit's knock came off 170 balls, including eight fours and four sixes. T&T closed day one on 328/4 with Mohammed on 149 and Katwaroo on five.
Other scores
Barbados vs Jamaica
BARBADOS 423 (Kirk Edwards 105, Shane Dowrich 102, Jason Holder 46, Ashley Nurse 40, Carlos Brathwaite 34, Kraigg Brathwaite 29; Nikita Miller 4-95) vs JAMAICA 150 for four (Jermaine Blackwood 64, Nkrumah Bonner 31 not out, Jon-Ross Campbell 31; Jonathan Carter 2-4).
Windwards vs Leewards
WINDWARDS 292 (Romel Currency 76, Devon Smith 47, Sunil Ambris 53, Keddy Lesporis 30, Mervin Matthew 30, Tyrone Theophile 27; Kieran Powell 3-38, Gavin Tonge 2-46, Anthony Martin 2-62, Yannick Leonard 2-74) and 135 for three (Devon Smith 76 not out, Tyrone Theophile 27) vs LEEWARDS 171 for nine decl (Devon Thomas 44, Orlando Peters 41, Tonito Willett 27, Kieran Powell 26; Shane Shillingford 5-60, Orlando Peters 2-19, Nelon Pascal 2-36).
Scoreboard
T&T Red Force 1st Inns
328/4 overnight
A Barath
c C Walton b R Reifer 12
E Lewis
c S Thomas b D Sealy 26
D Bravo b R Reifer 10
J Mohammed
c A Alleyne b S Jacobs 220
K Pollard
c C Walton b A Dewar 4
R Emrit
c K Corbin b S Jacobs 100
S Katwaroo+
c A Alleyne b R Reifer 10
I khan lbw b K Hodge 4
A Jaggernauth not out 1
Did not bat: S Gabriel, R Jaipaul
Extras 29nb 6w 10lb 19b 64
Total 451/8 dec
Bowling: D Sealy 18-0-91-1, J Levy 11-1-42-0, R Austin 27-5-64-0, R Reifer 20-4-65-3, A Dewar 15-1-73-1, S Jacobs 11.5-2-52-2, S Thomas 5-2-11-0, K Hodge 9-2-24-1
Fall of Wkts: 43, 56, 80, 307, 343, 397, 447, 451
CCC 1st Inns
S Thomas
c S Katwaroo b S Gabriel 5
A Alleyne not out 8
K Corbin lbw b S Gabriel 14
R Reifer not out 10
Still to bat: S Jacobs, R Austin, A Dewar, K Hodge, J Levy, C Walton+, D Sealy
Extras 2w 1lb 1b 4
Total 41/2
Bowling: S Gabriel 7-2-19-2, D Bravo 6-1-18-0, A Jaggernauth 1-1-0-0, R Jaipaul 1-0-2-0
Fall of Wkts: 7, 29