T&T puts Leewards on ropes

The Leeward Islands were forced to follow on against T&T on day three of their second round Regional First Class clash at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain.



After a brilliant maiden century from Akeal Hosein and a fighting 91 from wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo had taken the locals to an impressive 458 for seven declared, the bowlers turned in great performance to hustle out the Islanders for just 113.



Facing a deficit of 345 runs, the Leewards were 60 for three an hour after the dinner break last night, still needing another 286 runs to make T&T bat again with seven wickets standing.



The man leading their fight was Keiran Powell with 28 not out. Pacer Shannon Gabriel who has looked impressive in this game after suffering a loss of form for the last few months, got the initial breakthrough, when he sent back Lendel Richardson for three. After this breakthrough, Marli Richards and Powell tried to stabilise the innings but leg-spinner Imran Khan snapped up two wickets just after the dinner break to leave them struggling again. On Saturday night, Hosein and Katwaroo combined for a record seventh wicket partnership of 197 runs to put T&T in a very strong position. They surpassed the previous best seventh wicket association of 143 between Keiron Pollard and Rayad Emrit against Barbados at North Stars in Crab Hill in 2005/2006.



The youthful duo batted the Leewards out the match with sensible cricket. Hosein brought up his century off 185 balls in 229 minutes with the help of nine fours and two sixes.



Katwaroo fell agonisingly close to his century, as he was leg before to Justin Athanaze for 91. His innings spanned 235 minutes in which he faced 202 balls, striking nine fours. Skipper Rayad Emrit declared the Red Force innings at 458 for seven and after running leather for a day and a three-quarters, the Leewards took to the crease.



Pacers Shannon Gabriel and Emrit unsettled the visitors at the start of their innings and they were never able to forge any meaningful partnerships. Bowling down the “corridor of uncertainty”, the duo caused major problems for the tentative Leewards batsmen and soon found themselves 39 for six. Jamar Hamilton using attack as a form of defence, then launched into the T&T bowling and at the end of Saturday night’s play they were 86 for nine.



Yesterday, Hamilton continued to attack and was the final man dismissed for 52 with the score at 113. His 52 came off 73 balls with eight fours and a six. Hamilton was able to interest last man Anthony Martin (nine not out) in a last wicket partnership of 27 that took the score beyond the 100- run mark.



Gabriel finished with 3/21, while Emrit took 2/35 and leg-spinner Imran Khan 2/12.