T&T take control with 237-run lead

Trinidad & Tobago 259 and 145 for 1 (Simmons 73*, Bravo 50) lead Barbados 167 by 237 runs
Scorecard

Trinidad and Tobago, set up by their bowlers and fortified by their top-order batsmen, were in a strong position in their Carib Beer Series match against Barbados. T&T were 145 for 1 in their second innings at stumps on the second day at the Carlton Sports Club, after dismissing Barbados for 167 to gain a first-innings lead of 92.

Lendl Simmons was unbeaten on 73 and Dwayne Bravo, surprisingly opening the batting, scored a rapid 50 to give T&T an opening stand of 93 that helped establish their position. Both batsmen executed strokes on either side of the wicket, with Bravo reaching his half-century before being caught behind offering a bat-pad catch playing forward to Ryan Austin, after striking eight fours off 44 balls. Simmons batted for close to two hours for his highest score of the season, hitting seven fours from 98 balls. He will be eyeing a hundred, and more importantly a significant T&T lead.

Earlier, Barbados were fortunate to reach 83 for 4 at lunch, after they continued from their overnight score of 14 for 4. Ryan Austin survived a couple of chances in the morning period. When he was on four, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin dropped him down the leg side off Dillon, and on 22, Amit Jaggernauth dropped him at third slip off Reyad Emrit.

All of the hard work of Austin and Reifer became unravelled in an inspired spell from Bravo. About ten minutes after lunch, Bravo made the breakthrough when he had Reifer caught behind driving loosely at a wide ball. The left-hander struck six boundaries off 119 balls. In his next over, Bravo snared another scalp, when Alcindo Holder was caught behind down the leg side for four to leave the hosts on 103 for 6.

Almost 45 minutes later, left-arm chinaman bowler Dave Mohammed removed the obdurate Austin for 46. Austin batted for close to three-and-a-half hours, faced 167 balls, and struck three fours, before he was adjudged lbw playing back to a well-pitched delivery.

Dillon added to the Barbadian agony, when Ian Bradshaw was caught at cover for 1 driving a straightforward catch to the fielder. Ryan Nurse joined Patrick Browne at the wicket and they had a bit of flourish. Bravo dropped Browne, on 28, at second slip off Dillon, but Jaggernauth made the breakthrough when Nurse was caught at backward point for 21 slicing a drive.