FOURSQUARE, Barbados, CMC – The experienced Wilden Cornwall and Omari Banks linked up for eight wickets yesterday and placed the Leeward Islands in position for a victory against Trinidad and Tobago in a fourth-round WICB Regional first-class match that is poised for a tight finish today.
After three days play in the low scoring encounter at Foursquare Oval, the match is delicately balanced and the Leewards — chasing 202 for an outright win — were 115 for five at stumps yesterday, 87 runs adrift of victory with half their batting intact.
Trinidad and Tobago are in with a chance, needing five mostly lower order wickets to complete a come-from-behind win. At the crease are all-rounders Banks (25) and Cornwall (8).
With just the bowlers to follow, the pair will need to put on a defiant partnership in the first session of Monday’s final day to inch their team close toward the victory target. Trinidad and Tobago started yesterday’s third day on 94 for three and through the admirable and intelligent approach of Imran Khan, they made it to 226 all out.
Khan, who came to the crease at No.7, was the last man to be dismissed for 63 from 100 balls and he hit three fours and two thunderous sixes over extra cover off Banks. He received support from Jason Mohammed (44) and Sherwin Ganga (32) as Trinidad and Tobago improved upon their 176 in the first innings to which Leewards had responded with 201. Medium pacer Cornwall, who took a five wicket haul in the first innings, was again among the wickets, taking four for 56 to finish with a match haul of nine for 83.
Banks also bagged four wickets for 53 runs from 23 overs with his off-spin while Cornwall delivered 29 overs in the second innings.
Batting a second time, the Leewards batsmen approached the run chase in fourth gear as they came out in an aggressive frame of mind for the 31 overs which remained in the day.
While runs were scored at a frenetic pace in intervals, wickets were on offer for T&T and they accepted with glee. Montcin Hodge and Kieran Powell put on 65 runs for the second wicket after Mali Richards was dismissed for six by the pacy rookie right arm opening bowler Shannon Gabriel.
Hodge and Powell each made 33 from 60 and 51 balls respectively.
Hodge, the Anguillian, was out in tame fashion as he drove loosely to wide mid off where Sunil Narine did not have to exert too much energy in taking a simple catch.
Powell departed when he played defensively, ventured out of his crease and was run out by William Perkins fielding at forward short leg.
Between them they struck six fours — Hodge four and Powell two — and Powell hit one six.
Following Hodge’s departure at 73 for two, three other wickets perished to leave the score on 98 for five.
Banks and Cornwall then played with a mixture of aggression and defence to take get closer to the target without any further hitches.
Amit Jaggernauth, the off spinner who appeared in one Test for the West Indies, took three for 40 to tally seven wickets for 119 in the match.
Both teams are in the bottom half of the points table and are anxious for points to move up. If Leewards win they will move to 18 points while T&T will reach to 21 if they manage to secure the full 12 points from an outright win.
