Keagan Simmons propped up T&T Team B with a half-century (68) on the first day of the Red Force's Four-Day trial match at Gilbert Park, California, on Wednesday to finish on 223 for five. Team A won the toss and opted field first.
While Simmons lost his opening partner Leonardo Julien nine balls into the innings, he would see a top order collapse early on. Julien went for zero and was quickly followed back to the pavilion by Isaiah Rajah for six and Kirstan Kallicharan for 15.
Team B was in trouble at 43 for three when Simmons and Joshua Da Silva met at the crease. Both men put on 71 runs together to get the innings back on track. The West Indies wicket-keeper stroked 26 runs from 61 balls hitting four fours while at the crease. At the other end, Simmons was anchored to the crease building a much-needed partnership for his side.
When Da Silva was trapped LBW by Jason Mohammed, Chrystian Thurton joined Simmons. Both men put on 35 runs before Simmons himself was removed by Mohammed. He scored 68 runs from 177 balls hitting seven fours during his time batting.
Chrystian Thurton would greet Imran Khan at the wicket and both men would steady the ship putting on an unbroken stand of 74 runs by the time rain stopped play in the final hour of the day. Khan is not out on 44 runs having hit five fours while Thurton is with him on 39 runs having struck four fours.
Mohammed has so far taken two for 27 while Uthman Muhammad has taken two for 17. Play will start at 9:30am today to make up for lost time.
Brief Scores
T&T Team A: 223/5 (75 ov). K Simmons 68, I Khan 44 not out, C. Thurton 39 not out; J Mohammed 2-27, U Muhammad 2-17.
