National left-arm spin bowler Ricky Jaipaul, who took four wickets in the second innings to lead T&T to a 10-wicket win over the Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) on Monday in the regional four-day tournament, says patience was the key.Jaipaul, 22, making his debut for the Red Force, was economical in the first innings but did not get any wickets. The spin bowler then asked his teammates for advice. He said: "I spoke to the coach and the skipper and they both told me just relax and bowl and don't try to force anything." After finishing with 12 overs, three maidens, 27 runs and no wickets in the first innings, Jaipaul had impressive figures in the second innings, ending with 22 overs, four maidens, 56 runs and four wickets.
Jaipaul stated that getting the wicket of Shacaya Thomas, who top scored with 116 for CCC, was a great feeling. "It was exciting, breaking the shakkles you could say, I was feeling pressured by myself and after getting the first wicket everything fell into place." CCC was 242/3 in the second innings, but Thomas' dismissal began the slide, as the students fell for 330, giving T&T the easy task of scoring 24 for victory. After T&T scored a massive 451/8 declared in the first innings, CCC was dismissed for 144 in its first chance at the crease.Jaipaul spoke highly of teammate Jason Mohammed, who won the man-of-the-match award for his knock of 220. Jaipaul said: "That's something you really can't explain. He was consistent throughout the games before, and he did well for his team."If Jaipaul gets the opportunity to play against Jamaica in the next match, he would like to be more consistent. "It's just to bowl consistent, sometimes you try to get a wicket every ball which is impossible, so is just to take my time and be patient and it will happen."T&T's match against Jamaica will be a day match starting on Friday at the Queen's Park Oval.