PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Seventeen wickets tumbled but Test batsman Darren Bravo stroked an unbeaten half-century to prop up Trinidad and Tobago and keep them in contention against Windward Islands in their Regional Four-Day contest here yesterday.
Playing on the second day of the second round game at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago finished the day on 127 for seven in their second innings – an overall lead of 227 runs.
Bravo, who lasted just nine balls for his one run in the first innings, stroked a defiant 57 to lead the revival after seamers Delorn Johnson (2-16), Kenroy Peters (2-23) and Nelon Pascal (2-26) picked up two wickets apiece to send the T&T innings into disarray.
The Windwards had earlier folded for a disappointing 122, after being undermined by left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein who grabbed six for 33. Off-spinner Jason Mohammed chipped in with two for 17.
Opener Devon Smith carried his bat for 48 not out as wickets tumbled around him spectacularly.
Resuming at 12 without loss, there was no sign of what would unfold when Smith and Tyrone Theophile stretched their opening stand to 38. Once Theophile drove seamer Rayad Emrit to Adrian Barath at cover to fall for 17, the floodgates opened. Smith resisted with Lindon James (22) in a 27-run stand that lifted the Windwards to 100 for five.
However, Hosein pulled James from his crease and had him smartly stumped in the post-lunch session, triggering another slide which saw the last five wickets fall for 22 runs.
Smith was left stranded after facing 114 balls in just under three hours at the crease, and stroking eight fours.
