National left-arm spin bowler Ricky Jaipaul led the fightback for Merry Boys yesterday in Diego Martin against Esmeralda in the Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) National League in round seven action, to give the leaders a slim lead on first innings.After being dismissed for a dismal 151 batting first, Jaipaul took 7/44 to bundle Esmeralda out for 149, handing Merry Boys a two-run lead on first innings. Atiba Alert grabbed 2/12 for the leaders, while Trevon Griffith and Dwight Joseph scored 49 and 24 respectively for Esmeralda. Merry Boys closed on one without loss in their second innings.
Earlier, Barbadian Javon Searles struck an unbeaten 57 for Merry Boys to get them to a respectable total. Kashtri Singh pitched in with 30, while Rishard Harris grabbed 5/25. Kerwin Sirju also helped himself to a hat-trick (3/32), taking the last three wickets for Esmeralda.At California, defending champions Powergen also fought back, as Vaaroon Samaroo grabbed five wickets. Powergen posted a modest 166, despite 56 each from brothers Silus and Akiel Cooper. Dane Teelucksingh was the chief destoyer for Caldrac, taking 5/38.Samaroo ended with 5/31 and Strassark Sankar picked up 3/10 to dismantle Caldrac for 104. Guyanese Royston Crandon was the best batsman for Caldrac, hitting 36. Powergen started their second innings postively, closing the day on 35/0.All matches resume today at 9.30 am.
Scores
At Queen's Park Oval: Queen's Park 228 (Darren Bravo 81, Tion Webster 51, Amir Khan 4/45, Daniel St Clair 2/35, Eliajah St Clair 2/16) vs Tableland 96 (Al Small 22, Akeal Hosein 3/15, Shannon Gabriel 2/19, Webster 2/21)
At Munroe Road: Munroe Road 173 (Derwin Christian 35, Mahendra Nagamootoo 32, Hanuman Moonsammy 30, Jahron Alfred 2/30, Nameer Seepaul 3/48) vs Moosai 142 (Vikash Mohan 52, Wasim Haslim 38, Nishal Gayadeen 6/48, Richard Rojas 2/17)
At California: Powergen 166 (Silus Cooper 56, Akiel Cooper 56, Dane Teelucksingh 5/38) and 35/0 vs Caldrac 104 (Royston Crandon 36, Neil Williams 21, Vaaroon Samaroo 5/31, Strassark Sankar 3/10, Ancil Bhagan 2/36)
At Diego Martin: Merry Boys 151 (Javon Searles 57 no, Kashtri Singh 30, Rishard Harris 5/25, Kerwin Sirju 3/32) and 1/0 vs Esmeralda 149 (Trevon Griffith 49, Dwight Joseph 24, Ricky Jaipaul 7/44, Atiba Alert 2/12)
At Bamboo: Preysal 207 (Narsingh Deonarine 70, Eugene La Fleur 38, Selvin Jacobs 7/59, Ryan Baksh 2/31) and 9/1 vs Bamboo 178 (Krishna Arjune 39, Roger Birbal 28, Bryan Charles 5/68, Deonarine 2/15)
At Pierre Road: Comets 257 (Vishal Singh 56, Varindra Maraj 37, Richard Kelly 36, Derone Davis 6/56) vs Clarke Road 76/3 (Sean Siloch 29, Adrian Ali 28)