An unbroken 115-run second-wicket partnership between Shacaya Thomas and Kyle Corbin yesterday led an aggressive fight back by the Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) at the Queen's Park Oval in round five of the four-day regional tournament.
After falling for a paltry 144 in the first innings, a deficit of 307 runs (T&T 451/8 declared), Jamaican Thomas and Corbin of Barbados proved to be a handful for the T&T bowlers in the second innings. Up to press time, CCC was 176/1 with Thomas on 86 and Corbin on 64.
Earlier, Thomas and Anthony Alleyne started positively, getting to 55/0 after 11 overs. At this stage, the short, pudgy Thomas was 29 from 26 balls, hitting five fours.
Kieron Pollard's gentle medium pace grabbed the first wicket with the score on 61, when Alleyne was caught by Jason Mohammed for 24 at mid-off.
Right-handed Corbin came to the middle and began to take control immediately, hitting leg spinner Imran Khan for two sixes in one over. The first six was a straight drive and the other was powered over the mid-wicket fence.
The spin duo of Ricky Jaipaul and Amit Jaggernauth did not trouble the CCC pair before lunch, the students getting to 96/1 off 23 overs. Thomas was now on 43 (seven fours) and Corbin on 27 (two fours, two sixes).
Thomas brought up CCC's 100 and his 50 right after lunch as T&T looked for answers. Corbin then got to his half-century with a four through the covers off Shannon Gabriel.
On Saturday night, Jaipaul and Jaggernauth started the attack for the home team in the final session with CCC on 41/2 in the first innings, but it was excellent fielding that got the breakthrough.
Substitute Marlon Richards, running in from the boundary ran out Alleyne with a direct hit from more than 40 yards away.
Chadwick Walton then joined Raymon Reifer, and the former showed aggression right away. His aggression however led to his demise, as he was caught by Richards at long on off Jaggernauth's bowling for 12. The score was now 78/4.
As soon as CCC captain Steven Jacobs and Reifer started to build a solid partnership, Pollard got the wicket of Jacobs for 26, ending the 41-run stand. Leg spinner Imran Khan then took over, taking three quick wickets to leave CCC struggling at the close of day two on 142/8 in the first innings, still 309 runs behind T&T. Khan ended with figures of 10-2-24-3. Reifer was battling on an unbeaten 49, while Ryan Austin was five not out.
scoreboard
CCC 1st Innings
Overnight 142/8
S Thomas c S Katwaroo b S Gabriel 5
A Alleyne run out(sub) 16
K Corbin lbw b S Gabriel 14
R Reifer not out 51
C Walton+ c sub b A Jaggernauth 12
S Jacobs c S Katwaroo b K Pollard 26
K Hodge lbw b I khan 6
A Dewar c R Jaipaul b I khan 0
D Sealy lbw b I khan 0
R Austin c D Bravo b A Jaggernauth 5
J Levy lbw b I khan 0
Extras 1nb 2w 1lb 5b 9
Total 144
Bowling: S Gabriel 13-6-25-2, D Bravo 6-1-18-0, A Jaggernauth 13-2-30-2, R Jaipaul 12-3-27-0, I khan 10.5-2-25-4, K Pllard 3-1-13-1
FOW: 7, 29, 59, 78, 119, 130, 130, 130, 143, 144
CCC 2nd Innings
S Thomas not out 86
A Alleyne c J Mohammed b K Pollard 24
K Corbin not out 64
Still to bat: S Jacobs , R Austin, A Dewar, K Hodge, J Levy, R Reifer, C Walton+, D Sealy
Extras 2nb 2w 4
Total 176 for 1
Bowling: S Gabriel 10-2-46-0, D Bravo 2-0-18-0, I khan 15-2-42-0, K Pollard 3-0-7-1, A Jaggernauth 8-0-37-0, R Jaipaul 6-1-21-0, J Mohammed 4.4-0-10-0
FOW: 61