Simmons' ton powers T&T

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):Opener Lendl Simmons stroked his ninth first-class century as Trinidad and Tobago took command of their final round match in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day Tournament against Guyana yesterday.

The 26-year-old right-hander hit a fluent 134 as he propelled the visitors to 291 for four at the close of the opening day at the National Stadium at Providence. He struck 10 fours and a six, facing 250 balls in an innings that lasted 362 minutes. It was his second successive century against Guyana, following his triple-figure effort in Antigua last year.

Simmons got great support from Jason Mohammed who struck 67, as the two shared a stand of 112 for the third wicket. Mohammed faced 116 balls in 133 minutes at the crease and counted six fours and a six.

Following Maraj's dismissal, Simmons added a vital 72 for the second wicket with captain Daren Ganga whose 24 took him past the 500-run mark for the season to 515. Denesh Ramdin is unbeaten on 32. Brandon Bess took 1-14.

Dramatic opening day

CCC ahead at the 3Ws Oval: Twenty-two wickets tumbled as fortunes lurched this way and that on a dramatic opening day of the final round match between Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) and Barbados.

Winning the toss and batting first on a strip which favoured spin, Barbados were bundled out for a paltry 90 with left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh grabbing a career-best seven for 22.

In reply, the CCC were only marginally better as they were sent packing for 113, with left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds claiming four for 20 and pacer Jason Holder collecting three for 10.

With a slim lead of 23, CCC wasted no time in making inroads into the Barbados second innings, picking up two quick wickets to leave their rivals tottering on 17 for two.

Barbados, needing to beat CCC for a place in the semi-finals, never got going and only Jason Haynes with 49 showed any resistance. The left-handed opener struck five fours in an innings lasting 108 minutes and 79 balls.

All-rounder Brathwaite then hit a valuable top score of 27 and Nkrumah Bonner stroked 25, to lift CCC from 52 six and give them precious first innings points.