Trinidad clubs: Champs in trouble (8 Mar 1998)

Saturday, March 7, 1998

Champs in trouble

By FORBES PERSAUD

CHAMPS Sims Central Sports have an uphill struggle on their hands as first round matches in the Carib National League competitions end today. Defence Force and Moosai Sports are also in unenviable positions going into today's final day.

At Gilbert Park, California Central Sports will resume their first innings on 149 for 8, still 147 runs behind Caroni Wanderers huge total of 296 runs. The champs were set back by fine swing bowling from former National Youth pacer Okeefe Lakhan who picked up five for 36 including the hattrick.

Wanderers were in early trouble at 22 for 3. But national middle-order batsman Dennis Rampersad (79) and skipper Narine Bideshi (78) featured in a fourth wicket partnership of 143 to see them to their healthy score.

At Brian Lara Park in Santa Cruz, newcomers Defence Force seem headed for outright defeat against Santa Cruz.

The visitors managed only 66 in their first innings in reply to the home team's 277, built on a superb 127 by Lincoln Roberts. And at stumps on the second day, they were struggling at 126 for 6, national leg-spinner Kenneth Hazel so far having match figures of eight for 60. Down South at Wilson Road, former champs Moosai are deep in trouble at 40 for three in their second innings after trailing Clarke Road on first innings by 95 runs. When play resumes today James Dodds (19 n.o.) and skipper Renwick Bishop (9 n.o.) will continue the battle for the easterners.

The other game at the Queen's Park Oval between Queen's Park Cricket Club and Alescon Comet seems headed for a draw. At the close of play last weekend, an unbroken fourth wicket partnership between Andre Lawrence (106) and Gregory Davis (69 n.o.) pushed the Parkites to 250 for 4 in reply to Comet's 212.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)