PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Akeal Hosein’s maiden first class century, coupled with an incisive burst from seamers Shannon Gabriel and Rayad Emrit, helped Trinidad and Tobago batter Leeward Islands on the second day of their Regional Four-Day game here Saturday.
At the close of the third round, day/night contest at Queen’s Park Oval, the Leewards were facing a mammoth task to avoid defeat, finishing on 86 for nine. West Indies pacer Gabriel snatched three for 21 while Emrit claimed two for 27, as the Leewards lost five wickets for five runs at one stage to crash from 34 for one to 39 for six.
The Leewards trail by 372 runs.
Jahmar Hamilton was propping up the innings at the close with an unbeaten 34 off 61 balls in 77 minutes. He has hit five fours.
Earlier, Hosein finished on 102 not out, and shared a 197-run, seventh wicket stand with Steven Katwaroo who missed out on three figures when he fell for 91.
Left-hander Hosein, in only his fourth first class game, faced 185 balls in 229 minutes at the crease and struck nine fours and two sixes, while Katwaroo hit nine fours in an innings spanning 202 balls and 235 minutes.
Seamer Tonito Willett (2-73) and off-spinner Justin Athanaze (2-76) finished with two wickets apiece.
In reply, the Leewards reached 34 for one after losing Lyndel Richardson, bowled by Gabriel for five in the sixth over of the innings. However, once Test left-hander Kieran Powell was taken at point by Hosein off Emrit for 19, the floodgates opened.
