KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Jason Mohammed stroked a solid half century to beef up Trinidad and Tobago’s batting against the Windward Islands on the opening day of their 11th round WICB Regional match yesterday.
The former West Indies Under-19 vice-captain scored 80 and was out off the last ball of the day as T&T closed on 238 for five after being sent to bat by the Windwards at the Arnos Vale Ground.
Mohammed, playing his first match of the current regional first-class season, shared in two half-century partnerships, including a 79-run fifth-wicket stand with Sherwin Ganga, who was unbeaten on 34 at the close of play.
T&T, who easily won their home game against the Windwards – by 166 runs — when the two teams met in late January, got a promising start from their openers Adrian Barath and Imran Khan.
The pair posted a 52-run opening stand but the Windwards rallied and struck three good blows before lunch.
Deighton Butler sent back Khan (18) and Barath (30) in quick succession to reduce T&T to 53 for two.
The left-arm pacer, who missed last weekend’s match against Combined Campuses & Colleges, had Khan caught driving – off the edge — at gully at 52 for one.
In his next over, Butler dislodged the 18-year-old Barath to a straightforward catch at cover.
The home side fortuitously celebrated the vital wicket of stylish left-hander Darren Bravo shortly before lunch, caught at slip off the Windwards’ leading wicket-taker Shane Shillingford for just 17.