Simmons' hundred puts T&T in command

Trinidad and Tobago 420 (Simmons 126, Benn 4-136) and 31 for 0 lead Barbados 184 by 267 runs
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Lendl Simmons' third first-class hundred gave Trinidad and Tobago a significant advantage over Barbados on the second day of their final-round Carib Beer Series match at Guaracara Park. Backed by some top bowling and fielding T&T ended in a great position to defend their title against Carib Cup champions Jamaica; by stumps they had a 267-run lead over Barbados, who were bowled out for 184.

Simmons, 23, resumed on 63 and buckled down to score 126 from 279 balls, with nine fours and a six, out of T&T's 420. He shared in a ninth-wicket partnership of 98 in 91 minutes with Ravi Rampaul (38). Simmons, batting at No.4, was last man out to give left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn his fourth wicket.

T&T then secured a 236-run lead - and four first-innings points - by dismissing Barbados for 184. Richard Kelly set the ball in motion with the wicket of opener Jason Haynes for 8 and offspinner Amit Jaggernauth and Rayad Emrit each took three wickets. Dwayne Smith (39) got a start but fell just before tea, caught behind off Dave Mohammed.

Daren Ganga, T&T's captain, decided not to enforce the follow-on and his team finished on 31 for 0 going into the third day.

Leeward Islands 418 (Willet 67, Wallace 6-108) and 82 for 9 (Powell 52*) lead Combined Campuses and Colleges 248 (Jackson 75, Tonge 4-66) by 252 runs
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Pace bowler Gavin Tonge took four wickets to put Leeward Islands in control against Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) on the second day at Grove Park. CCC could only manage 248 in reply to Leewards' first-innings 418 and trailed by 252 at stumps as they reached 82 for 0.

Resuming on 402 for 8 Leewards were aided by Tonito Willett's 67 but could only add 16 as legspinner Gavin Wallace finished with 6 for 108 from 32.2 overs. Simon Jackson and Omar Philips, CCC's openers, then launched a stirring attack to get their side to lunch at 71 for 0. CCC's 50 came up in just 5.4 overs and Jackson had 55 to his name by the break as compared to Philips' 5. The duo added 122 before Jackson fell for a 49-ball 75; from there on wickets fell at regular intervals.

The veteran Floyd Reifer (26) and Chadwick Walton (32) restored the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 52 but CCC lost seven for 51 after they were separated. Tonge, a right-arm fast-medium bowler, claimed 4 for 66 from 11 overs, backed up by Brent Defreitas' 2 for 29.

With a 170-run lead garnered, Kieran Powell and Shane Jeffers proceeded to extend Leewards' position with an 82-run opening stand. Powell was unbeaten on 52 after top-scoring with 85 in the first innings.

Guyana 312 for 3 (Dowlin 121*, Chanderpaul 78*) v Windward Islands
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Travis Dowlin celebrated his appointment as Guyana captain by hitting an unbeaten 121 as the hosts dominated the Windward Islands on the opening day at the Providence Stadium. Guyana finished on 312 for 3 after opting to bat on a slow track and with Dowlin was Shivnarine Chanderpaul, just 22 runs away from a 44th first-class century.

Dowlin and Chanderpaul came together at 161 for 3 and put on 151. Dowlin hit 14 fours during his 208-ball effort and Chanderpaul had six fours and three sixes in his 72 from 116 balls.

Dowlin, 31, also put on 106 with former West Indies Under- 19 captain Leon Johnson (46) after Guyana played out a watchful first session. Krishna Arjune was the first to go, bowled by Mervin Matthew for 18 in the first hour and Sewnarine Chattergoon went for 27 from 72 balls shortly before lunch. From there on Dowlin took charge and along with Chanderpaul, totally dominated the last session.

The game was scheduled to start on Friday but due to the late arrival of the luggage of the Windward Islands team, the opening day had to be delayed by a day.