Bravo, Lewis defy Bishoo career-best haul

GEORGETOWN—Test batsman Darren Bravo and rookie opener Evin Lewis struck attacking half-centuries to defy leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo’s career-best seven-wicket haul, and give T&T the impetus, on the opening day of their final round Regional Four-Day match against host Guyana yesterday. Bravo scored 61, while Lewis got 64, two innings that allowed T&T to bat out the entire day and post 274 for eight at the Guyana National Stadium, after they chose to bat first. The left-handed pair put on 93 for the second wicket, lifting T&T from 35 for one when West Indies limited overs right-hander Lendl Simmons loosely drove fast bowler Keon Joseph to Vishal Singh at cover to fall for 12.

Bravo, whose form has been inconsistent, hit nine fours and a six off 112 balls in a knock that spanned two hours and 21 minutes. Not to be outdone, the free-scoring Lewis counted eight fours and two sixes off just 88 balls in 144 minutes at the crease. Bishoo, however, led the Guyana fightback with seven for 67, removing both Bravo and Lewis before running through the middle order. Lewis looked in great touch from early, pulling seamer Chris Barnwell for his first six and punching Joseph through cover sweetly, as T&T marched to 44 for one in the first hour. After the break, Lewis again punished Barnwell for being too short, pulling him for yet another six to raise T&T’s 50 in the 15th over of the innings. With both batsmen entrenched, T&T strolled to 116 for one at lunch but lost Lewis afterward when he was trapped on the crease by Bishoo.

Bravo followed with the score on 147 when he missed a straight one from Bishoo and was adjudged lbw. Imran Khan then extended his good form with an unbeaten 37 while captain Rayad Emrit got 26, to keep the innings alive. In St John’s, Antigua, Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and fellow opener Omar Phillips stroked half-centuries as Barbados forced Leeward Islands against the ropes. At the close at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Barbados were 167 for one in reply to Leewards’ paltry first innings score of 94, with Brathwaite unbeaten on 73. He posted 146 for the first wicket with left-hander Omar Phillips who stroked an attractive 79, before perishing late in the final session. In Cave Hill, Barbados, an unbroken, half-century opening stand between Shacaya Thomas and Kyle Corbin reinforced Combined Campuses & Colleges’ (CCC) early advantage in their battle with Jamaica for the last semi-final slot. Thomas was not out on 33 and Corbin was not out on 21, as CCC reached 59 without loss, replying to the Jamaicans’ first innings total of 182, at the close on the opening day of the seventh round match.

Scores:
Jamaica vs CCC
At 3Ws Oval: CCC trail by 123 runs with all ten first innings wickets intact.
JAMAICA 182 (Carlton Baugh 57, Jerome Taylor 39; Raymon Reifer 3-24, Akeem Dewar 2-24, Jomel Warrican 2-42, Ryan Austin 2-70) vs CCC 59 without loss (Shacaya Thomas 33 not out, Kyle Corbin 21 not out).
 
Leewards vs Barbados
At Vivian Richards Cricket Ground: Barbados lead Leewards by 73 runs with nine wickets intact.
LEEWARD ISLANDS 94 (Devon Thomas 30; Ashley Nurse 4-24) vs BARBADOS 167 for one (Omar Phillips 79, Kraigg Brathwaite 73 not out)