T&T hand Leeward innings defeat

Trinidad & Tobago thumped Leeward Islands by an innings and 107 runs for their second win in as many games of the Regional Four Day Competition.

Opting to bat first, T&T declared their innings at 458 for 7, driven by a maiden first-class ton from Akeal Hosein and fifties from Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Augustus and Stephen Katwaroo. The batsmen put together solid stands, ending with a 197-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Katwaroo and Hosein, who ended with an unbeaten 102 off 185 balls.

Leeward were blown away by T&T in their first innings, folding for 113 in a little more than 34 overs. Jahmar Hamilton's 52 was the sole substantial knock in an innings where only one other batsman scored in double figures.

Following on, with a deficit of 345, Leeward improved their batting performance in the second innings but, in spite of a fifty from Kieran Powell, scored only 238. A few Leeward batsmen got starts but Powell was the only one to reach fifty as the side floundered against legpsinner Imran Khan and pacer Shannon Gabriel. Khan finished with 5 for 53, his seventh five-for in first-class cricket, while Gabriel accounted for both openers in his 3 for 63.

T&T, however, suffered a blow as Hosein was taken off the field during the final session of the third day with a thigh strain. As a result, he will miss the team's next game against Barbados on Friday. Daron Cruickshank will come in for Hosein.

Kirk Edwards struck his eighth first-class hundred in Barbados' draw against Combined Campuses and Colleges, ensuring the defending champions took two extra points over their opponents at the end of the match.

Edwards struck 109 off 204 balls and was involved in a 180-run, second-wicket partnership with Barbados captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who scored 91. Barbados struggled after a middle-order slide but Shane Dowrich and Carlos Brathwaite corrected the course of the innings with a 63-run partnership for the sixth wicket that helped the side declare at 356 for 9, earning a lead of 87 over CC&C.

Earlier, CC&C managed only 269 in spite of fifties from three of their top four batsmen. Shacaya Thomas, Kyle Corbin and Chadwick Walton all hit half-centuries but CC&C lost wickets in clusters to squander their advantage. Kavem Hodge and Jomel Warrican boosted CC&C with a useful 56-run stand for the ninth wicket, before the side was dismissed for 269. Sulieman Benn was the most successful bowler for Barbados, dismissing two top-order batsmen before returning to wrap up the tail for figures of 4 for 66.

Corbin followed his fifty in the first innings with another unbeaten half-century in the second, after the side was jolted by quick wickets. CC&C eventually scored 101 for 5 with Ashley Nurse and Benn ending as the key strikers for Barbados once again.

Guyana and Windward Islands played out a thrilling draw at the Providence Stadium. Both the teams held the advantage at different points during the match, and in the end, Guyana's tail held on to force a stalemate. It was Windward Islands who wrested the momentum early on, as batting first, they made 307 on the back of a century from Sunil Ambris (114) and his 156-run association for the fifth wicket with the captain Liam Sebastien. Christopher Barnwell was the pick of Guyana's bowlers, and snared four scalps.

Kenroy Peters then enforced Windward Island's advantage by finishing with 4 for 42 to run through Guyana for 213, with Assad Fudadin's 82 the only score of note. The hosts, however, fought back strongly as Veerasammy Permaul took seven wickets to dismiss Windward Islands for 114, setting Guyana a seemingly easy target of 209.

At 117 for 3 and with more than 20 overs in the day still remaining, Guyana would've hoped to push on for victory, but three quick wickets from Kenroy Peters left the hosts soon precariously placed at 153 for 7. Anthony Bramble and Permaul then negotiated the final few overs safely as the contest ended in a draw.