Trinidad: Two to go in national cricket (2 May 1998)

Saturday, May 2, 1998

Two to go in national cricket

By GARTH WATTLEY

Sports Desk

WHEN round five is concluded this weekend, just two rounds of action will be left in the Carib National League Division one race. And to still be up with the leaders, to still be in stride, the title contenders will be aiming to keep up the pace over the next two days. Defending champions Sims Central Sports especially.

At Chaguanas: Central Sports will be hoping for good weather as they press for an outright win against shaky Defence Force.

Most of their rivals in the championship race have built up their points with outright victories over the struggling Army unit. Moosai Sports were the latest to do so, completing a 211-run win.

And this afternoon on day two, the central team will be out to build decisively on a good start. Their young national player Daren Ganga returns to the crease unbeaten on 101, and with the team total standing impressively on 159 for 2.

First innings points have already been decided, left-arm spinner Vickram Ramoutar's 5 for 33 having sent the Defence Force batsmen skidding to 97 all out in their first innings.

It was their third sub-100 total in as many trips to the crease. And the soldier boys will have to show a lot more fight if they are not to taste defeat again.

At Wilson Road, leaders Queen's Park (70 points), holding on to a tenuous two-point lead over Moosai Sports (68), need points, points and more bonus points when they resume the battle in Penal against fourth-placed Clarke Road.

The Parkites resume on 238 for 8, their immediate goal being to pick up batting bonus point number 3 by getting to 250. But the home side know that two very quick wickets and a solid batting display would cut into the QP lead.

At Honeymoon Park: second-placed Moosai's will welcome reasonable Clarke Road success, even as they try to take firm control of their match against Alescon Comet.

The home team are on 258 for 7, recovering from an unstable 102 for 4 and hoping to hit the 300 mark. That would be enough for first innings points and perhaps a bit more against an inconsistent Comet team that has already suffered outright defeat and, in the last round, a first innings loss when neither setback looked likely.

At Gilbert Park: Santa Cruz, in joint fourth, are in with a good chance of claiming first innings points from home team, third-placed Caroni Wanderers, on 183 for 8 overnight. And should they get the two remaining wickets cheaply, they will have the chance to complete an invaluable first innings win.

All matches begin at 1 pm.

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