Trinidad and Tobago were in total command of their seventh round game against Guyana thanks to an unbeaten century from in-form opener Lendl Simmons at the end of the first day at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday.
When bad light stopped play with nine of the mandatory 90 overs still to be bowled in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) sponsored competition, T&T, who were asked to take first strike, were 279-3 with Simmons unbeaten on 148 (17×4; 2×6; 249 balls) and Kieron Pollard 33 (3×4; 1×6; 77 balls).
Devendra Bishoo (1-72) and Trevon Garraway 1-74 were the wicket-takers.
Guyana, who lost their first four matches, reaped early success when Garraway, one of two changes to the team which played against Jamaica, had Justin Guillen (04) caught by Assad Fudadin at third slip in the fourth over.
But after that, not even a 16-minute rain interruption could hold back Simmons and his captain Daren Ganga (50) as they added 54 runs for the second wicket.
Rain stopped play at 11:19 hrs at which point, T&T, who have so far scored one win and four draws and are in fourth position on 33 points, were 38-1 from 17.2 overs.
After the break which lasted for 16 minutes, Ganga pulled Barnwell who was guilty of bowling too short at times, through forward square leg for four and, at the luncheon break, T&T were 67-1, having raised their 50 from 19.4 overs, with Simmons on 41 (4×4) and Ganga 20 (3×4).
Simmons posted his 15th first class half century in the first over after lunch when he hit Steven Jacobs through mid on and extra cover for successive boundaries, followed by a single through extra cover.
The 100 was posted in the 31st over and took 132 minutes. Simmons was on 67 and Ganga 26.
The runs continued to flow especially from the blade of Simmons who recorded a double century against the visiting England team.
Simmons steered an Esaun Crandon half volley to third man for four to realize the 100 partnership which took 195 balls and 136 minutes.
When Simmons was on 91, Leon Johnson grassed an easy chance at gully point off Garraway while Ganga duly reached his 42nd first class half century when he pushed Garraway to wide mid off for a single.
He had faced 115 balls, hitting four fours and one six in 182 minutes.
He was run out by Royston Crandon two balls later but Simmons shook off the loss of his skipper which ended a 143-run second wicket partnership, to post his sixth first class century.
He reached that landmark from 153 balls, striking 13 fours and one six in front of a small crowd which included chairman of West Indies Cricket Board Clyde Butts.
At tea, T&T were 189-2, with Simmons on 116 (15×4; 1×6) and Imran Khan 18 (2×4) and, after tea, Guyana had the opportunity to send back the latter batsman, but Dowlin, who was stationed at first slip, grassed a regulation catch off Barnwell.
Khan rode his luck to hit Barnwell through the covers for four, before he was caught by Barnwell after attempting to sweep a delivery from Bishoo and was caught at leg gully for 33, ending a 63-runs third wicket partnership with Simmons, who was on 128.
Pollard joined Simmons and took over, hitting Bishoo for three fours and a six over long off.
Bad light eventually stopped play nine minutes past five with T&T 279-3.
Pollard and Simmons have so far added 60 runs for the fourth wicket.
Guyana made four changes to their side that drew with Jamaica last weekend, replacing Homchand Pooran, Shemroy Barrington, Brandon Bess and Zaheer Mohammed with former West Indies Under-19 players Assad Fudadin and Steven Jacobs, Garraway and Chris Barnwell, while Simmons and Samuel Badree replaced Adrian Barath and Sunil Naraine.
Play will resume at 09:30 hrs on the second day.
