Jamaica on Course for Remarkable Win

Jamaica were on course for a remarkable win over Trinidad and Tobago yesterday at the close of the third day of the Busta International Shield semifinal cricket match at Sabina Park.

Chasing 205 for victory, the defending champions are 103 runs for the loss of one wicket. They require another 102 runs for victory.

Leon Garrick is unbeaten on 45 and Wavell Hinds has nine.

The batsman out is Christopher Gayle who was caught by wicketkeeper Keno Mason off leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine for 36 when the score was 74.

Gayle and Garrick smashed the Trinidadian bowling to all parts of the ground, with the left-handed Gayle bludgeoning one six and four fours in his knock, which came off 50 deliveries.

After his dismissal, Garrick continued to score freely and has so far hit five fours.

Trinidad and Tobago resumed at 42 for one and were reasonably placed at 132 for three at lunch, despite losing the wickets of Dwayne Bravo and Imran Jan. Bravo was caught by Ricardo Powell off off-spinner Gareth Breese for 42 when the score reached 74.

Eleven runs later, Jan was also sent back by Breese, caught by Jamaica captain Robert Samuels for 26.

Jamaica continued to claw their way back into contention in the post-lunch session when Trinidad and Tobago's second innings folded in dramatic fashion.

A three-wicket burst from left-arm spinner Ryan Cunningham swung the match Jamaica's way after Trinidad and Tobago were coasting along at 168 for four. They lost five wickets for 45 runs and were eventually bowled out for 197 20 minutes after tea.

The visitors were going well at 132 for three when captain Richard Smith was caught by his opposite number Robert Samuels driving at fast bowler Jermaine Lawson.

With the addition of 36 runs, Lendl Simmons, who was dropped when he had scored nine and 33, was bowled by Cunningham for 39. Four runs later, Zahir Ali was dismissed in similar fashion for 20 by part-time fast bowler Wavell Hinds.

Cunningham continued the Trinidadian slide when he had Keno Mason trapped leg-before-wicket for four and in his next over, removed Mervin Dillon for nought, caught at the wicket by Leon Garrick.

Lawson wrapped up the innings shortly after tea, having Marlon Black leg-before-wicket for nought and Ramnarine for a gutsy 19. He finished with four wickets for 44 runs off 21.1 overs while Cunningham took three wickets for 11 runs from nine overs.

Jamaica, who are defending champions, need to win the match if they are to make the final. A draw would see Trinidad and Tobago through to the final.

SOURCE: Guyana Chronicle.