Simmons explodes in run fest
Published on Jan 11, 2017, 9:57 pm AST
BOUNDARY-FILLED KNOCK: Lendl Simmons. —Photo: WICB Media
West Indies opener Lendl Simmons marked his return from injury with a whirlwind hundred as Cane Farm United outscored Munroe Road in a run fest at the UWI UNICOM Twenty20 tournament in St Augustine late on Tuesday evening.
Simmons carved 115 off just 51 deliveries as the star-studded Cane Farm piled up 269 for six wickets, before national players Rayad Emrit, Imran Khan and Ravi Rampaul reined in Munroe Road’s bold response to win by 60 runs and advance to the semi-finals.
Out of action for several months, the 31-year-old Simmons shown no sign of rustiness, smashing 11 sixes and eight fours, to the delight of fans who stayed for the late game on the Sir Frank Worrell Ground. He was aided and abetted by out-of-favour West Indies teammates, Denesh Ramdin and Ravi Rampaul. Ramdin hit 30 off ten balls while the left-handed Rampaul cracked 42 off a mere 13.
All the bowlers suffered; Nashwan Latchman’s solitary over yielded two wickets, but at a cost of 14 runs, while Terry Edwards got two for 49 from his four overs.
Teshawn Castro then gave Munroe Road an excellent start as the Cunupia-based club made a courageous bid to run down the daunting 270-run target. Castro smashed 44 off 12 balls, striking six sixes and a four. Ravi Khan continued the chase with an unbeaten hand of 59 from 44 balls, but the required rate kept climbing as the Cane Farm bowlers took wickets at regular intervals and they were 209 for six when the overs ran out.
Emrit led the Cane Farm attack, claiming three for 30 from three overs while Rampaul and Khan returned identical figures of two for 32 from two.
Simmons was named Player-of-the-Match.
And yesterday afternoon, Merry Boys cruised into the final four with a comprehensive 97-run victory over Duncan-Buggy Haynes United. Facing a target of 179, DBH United were dismissed for 81 in 13.3 overs, as seamer Rishaard Harris ripped out the heart of the batting to finish with figures of six for 26 from 3.2 overs. Left-arm spinner Ricky Jaipaul picked up two for 16 from three. Jyd Goolie led the batting with 25 off 15 balls, striking four fours and a six, while Dwayne Cockburn got 18.
Earlier, former T&T batsman Lincoln Roberts and all-rounder Marlon Richards had scored quickly down the stretch to take Merry Boys up to 178 for seven, after being sent in.
Roberts struck three fours and three sixes in raising 42 off 28 deliveries while Richards hit 36 off 16 balls, a knock that included three sixes and a four. The other major contribution had come from Isaiah Rajah; batting at number three, he made 28 from 25.
Goolie led the DBH United bowling, taking two for 25 from his four overs while Bryan Charles was more expensive, finishing with two for 45 from his allotted four. At press time last evening, Demerara were playing Police for the final spot in the semi-finals.
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