Battling Windwards competitive against T&T (TCL Group West Indies Under 19 Challenge)
CMC | 20/07/08
WATERFORD, Barbados – Resolute batting by the Windward Islands’ lower-order helped them stay alive against Trinidad and Tobago on the second day of their TCL Group West Indies Under-19 fourth-round match on Sunday at the Combermere School.
Following Trinidad and Tobago’s overnight declaration at 301 for eight, the Windwards were dismissed for 250 just after tea.
And batting a second time, T&T closed on 78 for one with Evin Lewis (34) and Akiel Cooper (6) at the crease.
T&T lost their skipper Adrian Barath, who cracked 35 off 50 balls with seven boundaries.
Chasing their competitive target for first innings points, the Windwards had staggered to 97 for seven just after the lunch interval.
But the talented Dalton Polius found a useful partner in Oscar George and the duo featured in a face-saving eighth-wicket partnership of 84 in 70 minutes that took the sting of the T&T’s bowling attack.
The partnership was broken at 181 when George was brilliantly caught at cover by Hakeem Mitchell off Yannick Cariah’s bowling for 36.
Polius was joined at the wicket by West Indies youth fast bowler Delorn Johnson and they pushed the score along to 208 before Polius was caught by Barath off Kjorn Ottley at first slip for 57.
Polius batted for 123 minutes and 89 balls and struck three fours.
Towards the end of the innings, Johnson and Audie Alexander added an important 42 for the last wicket.
Johnson struck a swashbuckling unbeaten 43 in 43 minutes off 39 balls with one four and four sixes, to prolong the agony of the T&T team.
The Windwards were finally dismissed for 250 when Alexander was run out for 10.
Cariah, T&T’s leg-spinning all-rounder bagged five for 95, while Kjorn Ottley had two for 47.
Going at the opposition’s total, the Windwards had made an unimpressive start.
They lost the wicket of opening batsman Wayne Harper (5) caught at first slip by Barath off Mitchell with the total on 11.
Dennis Louis (24) was joined by Kavem Hodge and carried the score to 50 before Louis was well caught at short-leg by Marc Panchu off Cariah’s bowling.
Junior Jervier (17) and the impressive Hodge pushed the score before Jervier was snapped up by close-in substitute fieldsman Ako George shortly before the lunch break.
At the interval, the Windwards were 91 for three, and on the resumption, they quickly slumped to 97 for seven, with Hodge (43), Marvin Small (run out 0), Dennis Smith (0) and skipper Kerron Cottoy (0) all failing to negotiate the probing spin of Cariah and Ottley.
The Windwards were then indebted to the courageous performances from Polius, Johnson and George for keeping them in touch in the enthralling contest.
SCORES:
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 301-8 declared (Kjorn Ottley 109, Marc Panchu 55, Yannick Cariah 46, Adrian Barath 42; Audley Alexander 3-92, Kerron Cottoy 2-100) and 78-1 (Adrian Barath 35, Evin Lewis 34 not out).
WINDWARD ISLANDS 250 (Dalton Polius 57, Kavem Hodge 43, Delorn Johnson 43 not out, Oscar George 36, Dennis Louis 24; Yannick Cariah 5-95, Kjorn Ottley 2-47).
