Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 21, 2009 Sports
By Sean Devers
Lendl Simmons continued his prolific form this season with a magnificent unbeaten 148 at the Guyana National Stadium to see Trinidad and Tobago to 279-3 on a truncated opening day of their seventh round WICB regional four-day cricket fixture against Guyana yesterday.
Simmons reached the boundary 17 times and cleared it twice in his commanding innings which lasted 249 balls and 336 minutes and shared in a century partnership with his Skipper Daren Ganga who was run out for 50 from 115 balls, 183 minutes with four fours and a six as the inexperienced Guyana bowling attack toiled all day in mostly murky conditions after their Skipper Travis Dowlin had won the toss.
The 24-year-old right-hander who made his first-class debut six week past his 17th birthday, took full advantage of a chance on 92 off pacer Trevon Garraway when West Indies player Leon Johnson floored a ‘sitter’ at backward point.
With the dangerous Simmons 52 away from his third first-class double century and second at regional level, Guyana, with just seven points from five games, will hope that Johnson’s casualness to the catch does not prove too costly today.
In the absence of the in-form Adrian Barath due to a hamstring injury, Justin Gullien (4) opened the batting with Simmons and soon edged Garraway to Assad Fudadin at third slip to leave the visitors on 13-1.
The solid 30-year-old Ganga and Simmons, who scored a career best 282 against England for the West Indies ‘A’ in St Kitts last month, took their team to 38 before rain halted proceedings at 11:19hrs.
After a delay of 16 minutes, a small crowd, comprising mostly school children, saw T&T reach 67-1 by lunch with Simmons on 41 and Ganga on 20.
Another shower during the interval delayed the resumption after lunch by 18 minutes and Simmons soon reached his fifty from 90 balls, 110 minutes with six fours.
The dashing Simmons, who also bowls medium pace and wicket keep, celebrated by dumping off-spinner Steven Jacobs for a six over long-on and a four off consecutive balls as the bowlers again looked innocuous on a placid track and fast outfield.
Ganga, lofted off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine for a massive six and reached his 42nd fifty at this level from 115 balls, 182 minutes with four fours and a six before he was run a minute later as Guyana finally broke the 144-run second wicket partnership.
Imran Khan joined the well entrenched Simmons at 219-3 and together they saw their side to 189-3 by tea with Simmons on 116 and Khan on 16.
The stylish Simmons, nephew of former Test player Phil Simmons, played an array of scintillating shots to reach his sixth hundred at this level from 152 balls, 204 minutes with 13 fours and a six while Khan played the supporting role.
After the break, Simmons, who averages 18.00 from 8 ODIs, strengthened his chances of making his Test debut in the next Test against England by entertaining the crowd, which included Chairman of the West Indies selectors Clyde Butts, with elegant stroke-play to take his first-class runs tally this season past 700.
Dowlin then dropped an easy catch at slip off medium pacer Chris Barnwell with Khan on 25 and T&T on 201-2 but this blemish did not prove to be costly as Khan was soon removed by Leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo for 33.
Khan, who added 63 with Simmons for the third wicket, hit five boundaries in his 46-ball innings and his demise left the team from Carnival County on 219-3.
Simmons, who passed 3,000 runs yesterday in his 54th first-class game, has so far added 58 with the powerful Kieron Pollard in an unfinished fourth wicket stand before bad light stopped play at 17:09hrs with nine overs left to be bowled in the day.
Pollard has so far struck three fours and a six from 77 balls and 33 minutes in his unbeaten 33 as T&T enjoyed the first day honours.
Guyana left out Gajanand Singh and Brandon Bess from their starting eleven and play is scheduled to commence at 09:90hrs today.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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