Captain Lendl Simmons and middle-order batsman Jesse Bootan have put Central Sports back on course to secure first innings points and the T&T Cricket Board Premier Division One title against Powergen.
At Syne Village, Penal on Saturday, the duo came together at the wicket with the score of 127 for 5, still 208 runs behind the home team’s total of 335.
Powergen resumed their first innings on 239 for five with Navin Bidassie on 84. Bidassie went on to score his hundred and got to 130, as Powergen posted 335 in 109.5 overs. He hit eight fours and three sixes in his 320-ball knock.
When Central Sports began their reply, they got a good opening stand from Keagan Simmons and Shayne Mosely, who scored 32 and 54 respectively, in an opening stand worth 89. But in the blink of an eye, they were 95 for three when both openers and Marlon Richards (5) were all dismissed.
Things did not get better when Mikkel Govia (6) was dismissed at 105 and 22 runs later, Jabari Mills was caught out for seven.
Central Sports at that point were in danger of missing out on first innings points that would be crucial in securing the Premier Division One title.
But Simmons, the former West Indies white-ball opener, played his hand in a slow innings by his standards as he knew he needed to play a responsible innings. His unbeaten 54 came from 94 balls with only four fours. Bootan was a bit more aggressive with a 76-ball 73 that included seven fours and two sixes.
Central Sports closed on 240 for five and 95 runs away from being crowned champions.
Having already secured three bowling points and two batting points, the Felicity team can still be crowned champions if Bess Motors Marchin Patriots do not get full points against Victoria. However, that match seems in the balance as they currently hold a 90-run lead with eight second-inning wickets in hand with the final day today.
Play resumes at 10 am Sunday.
SCORES:
Powergen 335 (109.5 overs) (Navin Bidassie 130, Samuel Roopnarine 77, Mbeki Joseph 42; Mikkel Govia 4-57: Marlon Richards 2-28) vsCentral Sports 240/5 (53 overs) (Jesse Bootan 73 not out, Lendl Simmons 54 not out, Shayne Mosely 54; Kavesh Kantasingh 4-51)
Marchin Patriots 218 (58.3 overs) (Crystian Thurton 69; Adrian Ali 48; Jovan Ali 5-56) and 78/2 (19 overs) (Teshawn Castro 43) vs Victoria 206 (63.4 overs) (Kyle Roopchand 54; Eton Bhal 44 not oout; Richie Looknauth 5-44; Kashtri Singh 4-41)
Merryboys 335 (66.4 overs) (Daron Cruickshank 145; Akil Greenidge 65; Leonardo Julien 49; Nathaniel Mc David 5-98) and 50/4 (17 overs) (Mario Belcon 22; Nathaniel mc David 1-0) vs Preysal 180 (41.1 overs) (Antonio Gomez 57: Darren Deonarine 7-57).
Clarke Road 444 (85.6 overs) (Kyle Hope 117; Mark Deyal 82; R Kahdoo 3-53; Jason Batson 3 -115) vs Queen’s Park 173/2 (32 overs) (Jordan Warner 104; Kerwyn Sirju 2-33).