Second placed Queen's Park Cricket Club closed the gap on leaders Merry Boys yesterday, as national left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein ended with 11 wickets against Caldrac in round nine of the Shanghai Construction Group National League.
Queen's Park got 25 points after defeating Caldrac by 130 runs at Gilbert Park, California. QPCC now has 187 points, while Merry Boys lead the standings with 209 points, with two rounds to play. Merry Boys had to settle for first innings points yesterday against third placed Powergen at Syne Village, Penal. Before round nine Merry Boys led by 32 points.
At Gilbert Park, Caldrac was dismissed for 124 in the first innings resuming on its overnight 79/9. Royston Crandon was left unbeaten on 41, while Hosein grabbed 6/40 to give the Parkites a first innings lead of 90 runs. Queen's Park got to 151/9 declared in the second innings with Hosein top scoring with 28. Crandon (5/73) and Allen Laurent (4/27) were the chief destoyers for Caldrac. In chase of 242 for victory, Caldrac was bundled out for 111. Hosein again proved troublesome for Caldrac as the spinner took 5/38, while Khary Pierre took 3/18 to give Queen's Park the easy win.
Queen's Park will face Merry Boys in the penultimate round next weekend at the Queen's Park Oval.
At Tableland, the home team remarkably chased down 314 in the last session to defeat Bamboo by one wicket. William Perkins made an aggressive 146 for Tableland.
SCORES
At Gilbert Park: Queen's Park 214 (Darren Bravo 55, Jonathan Augustus 36, Khary Pierre 26, Jon-Russ Jagessar 6/31) and 151/9 (Akeal Hosein 28, Bravo 23, Royston Crandon 5/73, Allen Laurent 4/27) vs Caldrac 124 (Crandon 41 no, Hosein 6/40, Pierre 2/43) and 111 (Crandon 26, Hosein 5/38, Pierre 3/18, Shannon Gabriel 2/18) QPCC won by 130 runs
At Syne Village: Merry Boys 214 (Atiba Alert 61, Javon Searles 41, Vaaroon Samaroo 5/52, Kavesh Kantasingh 3/89) and 194 (Jeetendra Sookdeo 81, Aneil Kanhai 56, Kantasingh 6/51, Samaroo 3/57) vs Powergen 153 (Denesh Ramdin 58, Gregory Mahabir 17, Searles 4/51, Aneil Kanhai 2/6) and 152/4 (Sherwin Ganga 37 no, Ramdin 31, Nicholas Sookdeosingh 31, Ricky Jaipaul 2/32) Match Drawn
At Esmeralda: Munroe Road 334 (Derwin Christian 194, Christophe Andrews 74, Kerwin Sirju 5/111, Rishard Harris 2/14) vs Esmeralda 160 (Teshaun Castro 52, Eton Bhal 38 no, Mahendra Nagamootoo 5/71, Nishal Gayadeen 3/31) and 307/7 dec (Anthony D'Andrade 61, Harris 57, Bhal 42, Gayadeen 3/65) Match Drawn
At Tableland: Bamboo 254 (Nashwan Latchman 100, Ryan Baksh 43, Amir Khan 5/80, William Perkins 3/39) and 267 (Yannic Cariah 59, Krishna Arjune 56, Evin Lewis 5/50, Amir Khan 3/61) vs Tableland 208 (Steven Taylor 101, Al Small 32, Selvin Jacobs 4/48, Cariah 4/43) and 314/9 (Perkins 146, Lewis 71, Jacobs 3/48) Tableland won by one wicket
At Preysal: Preysal 337/8 (Narsingh Deonarine 208 no, Eugene La Fleur 50, Kamil Pooran 28) and 39/5 dec (Imran Khan 3/10) vs Comets 233 (Marlon Bharath 37, Richard Kelly 35, Uthman Mohammed 4/62, Deonarine 3/28) and 133/2 (Kelly 61 no, Khan 34) Match Drawn
At Wilson Road: Clarke Road 227 (Ranga Lachana 107 no, Derone Davis 44, Jahron Alfred 5/68, Nameer Seepaul 3/50) and 235/3 dec (Ryan Ramdass 111 no, Yannic Ottley 60) vs Moosai 196 (Wasim Haslim 50, Terrance Hinds 41, Mukesh Persad 6/58, Kissoondath Magram 2/29) and 217/9 (Haslim 50, Brian Christmas 37 no, Persad 4/89, Davis 2/36) Match Drawn