Martin fireworks give Leewards fighting chance

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Leeward Islands leg-spinner, Anthony Martin, struck three lethal blows late in the day yesterday to leave Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) tottering and set up an enthralling finish on today's final day of their fifth-round West Indies Cricket Board Regional Four-day Tournament.

Set a paltry 183 to win, T&T slumped to 75 for five at the close at Queen's Park Oval, still 108 runs adrift of their target. And with Runako Morton taking no further part in the match, it means T&T are effectively six wickets down.

Sherwin Ganga was carrying the fight for T&T with an unbeaten 35 and will resume with partner Rayad Emrit (one not out), with the hopes of carrying the hosts to victory.

Openers Justin Guillen (1) and Lendl Simmons (16) fell cheaply to off-spinner Justin Athanaze before the Ganga brothers - Sherwin and Daren - forged a useful partnership of 32 for the third wicket, to push T&T to 65 for two.

Martin, who has claimed three for 19, then turned the game on its head. He had Daren Ganga caught at the wicket for 14 and two balls later, trapped Denesh Ramdin lbw without scoring to leave T&T on 64 for four.

With nine runs added, Martin struck again when he prised out Imran Khan via the lbw route as Leewards gave themselves more than a fighting chance of capturing their first win this season.