Jamaica holds edge despite blistering century from Pollard

National batsman Kieron Pollard struck his fourth first class hundred yesterday on the opening day of T&T’s match against Jamaica at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair, in the four-day regional tournament but Nikita Miller’s four wickets gave the visitors the edge. Miller was Jamaica’s top bowler, grabbing 4/78 with his off spin to dismiss T&T for 244 in the first innings. Right-handed Pollard seems to be back to full fitness, as he rallied T&T with a knock of 111 (169 balls). The West Indies allrounder, who recently returned to action after suffering a knee injury, spent almost four hours at the crease, hitting eight fours and six sixes.

T&T was in need of a partnership when Pollard joined opening batsman Evin Lewis with the score on 58/3. The pair survived the remainder of the morning session, going for lunch on 73/3 with left-handed Lewis on 29 and Pollard on eight. After lunch, the pair progressed to 129/3 at the drinks break with Lewis on 51 and Pollard on 41. In the second over after the drinks break, Lewis was put down at gully off Jerome Taylor’s bowling. Lewis’ luck ran out shortly after, as he was caught at first slip for 63 to give Miller his first scalp, ending the 84-run partnership. Lewis hit nine fours in his 163-ball innings. Captain Rayad Emrit, who made an even 100 in the last round against the Combined Colleges and Campuses, joined Pollard. Emrit also rode his luck, dropped at mid-on on three. Right after, Pollard got to his 50 with a shot through mid-on. Pollard and Emrit took T&T to 176/4 at tea, ending a great session for the home team. In the second session, T&T added 103 runs with the loss of one wicket.

Pollard switched to T20 mode after tea, hitting Miller for three straight sixes, the third one getting T&T to 205/4. Pollard had now raced to 85. Unfortunately for the home team, the score quickly became 206/7 as Emrit (18), Stephen Katwaroo (1) and Imran Khan (0) all followed each other back to the pavilion. Miller led the Jamaican fight, dimissing Katwaroo and Khan in consecutive deliveries. Pollard remained unfazed, getting into the 90s with another six off Miller, his sixth of the innings. Pollard got to his century (101) with a loose four through the point region. Pollard found an able partner in Marlon Richards as the pair led a minor recovery. But as soon as the partnership began to look solid, Richards was run out by a direct hit from Jon Ross Campbell for eight. Pollard was eventually the second to last man dismissed with the score on 240. Jamaica faced seven overs before the close, closing on 24/0.

SCOREBOARD

T&T 1st Inns
A Barath lbw b D Jacobs    26
E Lewis c Campbell b N Miller    63
D Bravo c Campbell b B Buchanan    10
J Mohammed lbw b B Buchanan    0
K Pollard c T Lambert b D Jacobs    111
R Emrit c C Baugh Jr b J Blackwood    18
S Katwaroo+ lbw b N Miller    1
I khan lbw b N Miller    0
M Richards run out (JR Campbell)    8
S Gabriel lbw b N Miller    2
R Jaipaul not out    2 
Extras 3lb    3
Total all out    244
Bowling: J Taylor 17-4-46-0, B Buchanan 14.2-4-43-2, D Jacobs 20-4-61-2, N Miller 21.1-5-78-4, J Blackwood 7.4-2-13-1
Fall of Wkts: 37, 58, 58, 142, 205, 206, 206, 240, 240, 244

Jamaica 1st inns
Jon Ross Campbell not out    12
John Campbell not out    10
Extras 2nb    2
Total for 0 wkts    24
Still to bat: N Bonner, J Blackwood, T Lambert, A McCarthy, C Baugh Jr+, D Jacobs, N Miller, J Taylor, B Buchanan
Bowling: S Gabriel 4-0-19-0, M Richards 2-0-4-0, R Jaipaul 1-0-1-0

Other Scores:
Guyana vs Leeward Islands
At Vivian Richards Cricket Ground: Guyana batted all day.
GUYANA 238 for nine (Leon Johnson 110, Anthony Bramble 28; Anthony Martin 4-48, Gavin Tonge 2-43, Yannick Leonard 2-51) vs LEEWARD ISLANDS.
 

CCC vs Windward Islands
At Arnos Vale: Windwards trail by 208 runs
COMBINED CAMPUSES & COLLEGES 225 (Kyle Corbin 71, Chadwick Walton 58) vs WINDWARD ISLANDS 17 without loss.