What Jason Mohammed did for T&T on Friday, Steve Liburd did for Leeward Islands yesterday, as the right-hander struck 93 to lead a fightback from the visitors on day two of the West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.
On Friday, Mohammed came to the crease with T&T in trouble on 60/3. Right-handed Mohammed then struck an unbeaten 143 to guide the home team to a solid 291 in the first innings. Yesterday, it was the turn of Leeward Islands middle order batsman Liburd. Liburd came to the crease with the Leewards stumbling on 59/4, but battled hard to guide his team to 245/9 at stumps, trailing T&T by 46 runs on first innings.
As Liburd approached his century, Mohammed got the prized wicket of Liburd immediately after being introduced into the attack. It was the last action of the day as a persistent drizzle finally forced the umpires to call on the covers at 4.15 pm to give T&T the slight advantage at the end of day two.
Resuming on 12/0 yesterday Leeward Islands had no answers to the T&T pace attack in the morning session. Marlon Richards took three wickets, while West Indian bowler Gabriel grabbed one to leave T&T on 59/4.
Liburd found an able partner in Montcin Hodge and the pair began batted until lunch as the Leewards got to 108/4 with Liburd on 29 and Hodge on 16. The pair was progressing nicely, but just before the drinks break after lunch leg spinner Imran Khan, who has been T&T's most consistent bowler this season struck. First, he got the wicket of Hodge for 38 caught by first slip to end a brilliant 85-run partnership. It was then two in two for Khan as Rahkeem Cornwall was given out leg before as the Leewards was restricted to 144/6.
At this stage the Leewardss were hoping that the nearby clouds would bring some relief. The rain stayed way for while, giving Liburd time to bring up his half century. Liburd was not interested in taking singles as the right-hander had already hit ten fours and one six in his unbeaten 53.
After Jeremiah Louis' short visit at the crease, an entertaining Gavin Tonge came to the middle. When Gabriel was reintroduced from the southern end, an exciting battle between the fast bowlers began. A bouncer from Gabriel seemed to ignite Tonge, as the latter started to belt Gabriel to all parts of the ground. Tonge quickly moved to 23 at tea, with Liburd a bystander on 61.
Tonge's cameo came to an end shortly after the resumption thanks to some excellent fielding from Yannick Ottley. Going for a quick single, a direct hit from Ottley fielding at mid on sent Tonge back to the pavilion. Despite wickets falling around him Liburd never got overly aggressive as he eyed his hundred. Mohammed, T&T's hero on day one, then bowled Liburd to leave the home team satisfied at the close. Richards and Khan were T&T's top bowlers taking 3/34 and 3/67 respectively.
Today's play will start at 9.30 am because of the rain interruption yesterday.
Scoreboard
T&T vs Leewards
T&T 1st Innings 291
LEEWARDS 1st Innings (overnight 12 without loss)
L Richardson c wkp Katwaroo b Gabriel 6
S Peters c wkp Katwaroo b Richards 13
M Hodge c Hosein b Imran Khan 3
*D Thomas c Imran Khan b Richards 29
+J Hamilton c wkp Katwaroo b Richards 0
S Liburd b Mohammed 93
R Cornwall lbw b Imran Khan 0
J Louis c Deyal b Imran Khan 9
G Tonge run out 24
Q Boatswain not out 16
A Martin not out 0
Extras (b14, nb3) 17
TOTAL (9 wkts, 78 overs) 245
Bowling: Gabriel 14-2-66-1, Hosein 12-4-21-0, Richards 11-3-34-3, Emrit 11-3-42-0, Imran Khan 27-5-67-3, Deyal 1-0-1-0, Mohammed 2-0-2-0.
Position: Leewards trail by 46 runs with one wicket remaining.
OTHER SCORES
Barbados vs Jamaica
BARBADOS 310 (Shamarh Brooks 100, Shai Hope 59; Dawes 4/57,) vs JAMAICA 222/9 (Jon-Ross Campbell 36; John Campbell 35, Jomel Warrican)
Windwards vs Guyana
WINDWARDS 283 (Devon Smith 93, Tyrone Theophile 58; Devendra Bishoo 6-74) vs GUYANA 289 for five (Chris Barnwell 104 not out, Shiv Chanderpaul 83 not out; Delorn Johnson 2-62)