KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Denesh Ramdin struck an unbeaten century but Trinidad and Tobago were forced to abort a brave run chase and settle for a draw against Jamaica in their sixth round match of the Regional First Class Championship yesterday.
The right-handed Ramdin finished on 103 as T&T, set 304 to win, reached 248 for five at the close on the final day of the contest at Sabina Park.
Jason Mohammed chipped in with more than run-a-ball 56 in an 84-run fourth wicket stand with Ramdin, that put the Trinidadians within sight of victory.
The wickets of Mohammed and Emrit (4), however, slowed T&T’s momentum and with over 10 runs an over required from the final five overs, both captains agreed to abandon the game as a draw.
Jamaica claimed six points for their efforts while T&T took three.
Earlier, Jamaica declared their second innings at 226 for five after resuming the day 116 for three.
Captain Tamar Lambert stroked an unbeaten 61 off 95 balls with six fours and two sixes, while off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth claimed two for 54.
When the surprise declaration came at tea, T&T prospered with fast bowlers Jerome Taylor, Andrew Richardson and Dave Bernard Jr off the field with injuries.
Lendl Simmons, who hit 38 off 70 balls with five fours, took a couple of early boundaries but lost his partner Tishan Miraj (4) who edged left-arm medium pacer Brendan Nash to Danza Hyatt at first slip at 21 for one.
Simmons and Ramdin, promoted to number three in the order, added 47 for the second wicket before the right-handed Simmons played across one from Lambert (2-79) and was trapped lbw.
Two successive partnerships then kept the match interesting. Ramdin, who struck seven fours and two sixes off 140 balls, dominated a 57-run stand for the third wicket with Sherwin Ganga (15) and then combined with Mohammed in another attractive partnership.
Mohammed hit seven fours and faced 55 balls before he was well taken at extra cover by Marlon Samuels off leg-spinner Odean Brown and when Emrit held out in the deep to Samuels off Lambert, T&T abandoned the chase.
SCOREBOARD
JAMAICA 1st Innings 356
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 1st Innings 279
JAMAICA 2nd Innings
(overnight 116 for three)
S. Jackson c wkpr Ramdin b
S. Ganga 26
D. Hyatt c wkpr Ramdin b Gabriel 3
M. Samuels c Khan b Jaggernauth 39
B. Nash c Mohammed b Jaggernauth 37
*T. Lambert not out 61
W. Hinds c wkpr Ramdin b Emrit 26
C. Walton not out 19
Extras (b5, lb1, w2, nb7) 15
TOTAL (5 wkts decl’d, 65 overs) 226
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-51, 3-111, 4-124, 5-175
Bowling: Gabriel 7-1-27-1, Emrit 25-5-69-1, S. Ganga 4-1-21-1, Simmons 6-0-22-0, Cariah 3-0-24-0, Jaggernauth 19-1-54-2, Khan 1-0-3-0
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 2nd Innings (target: 304)
T. Maraj c Hyatt b Nash 4
L. Simmons lbw b *Lambert 38
+D. Ramdin not out 104
S. Ganga lbw b Hinds 15
J. Mohamm,ed c Samuels b Brown 56
R. Emrit c Samuels b *Lambert 4
*D. Ganga not out 11
Extras (b14, w2) 16
TOTAL (5 wkts, 58 overs) 248
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-68, 3-125, 4-209, 5-223
Bowling: Nash 10-1-43-1, Hinds 12-3-45-1, Brown 14-0-67-1, *Lambert 22-2-79-2
Result: Match drawn
Points: Jamaica 6, T&T 3
Man-of-the-Match: W. Hinds (Jamaica)
Umpires: V. Bullen, V. Johnson
Matchreferee: M. Hylton
Reserve umpire: P. Gustard
