- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Trinidad's Aneil Kanhai leaves the crease after being caught by Keith Hibbert during the third day of play in the Carib Beer Series clash between Trinidad and Tobago and hosts Jamaica at Alpart yesterday. Leaping for joy is Jamaica's 'keeper Carlton Baugh.
Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
THE CARIB Beer Series cricket match between hosts Jamaica and guests Trinidad and Tobago comes to an end at Alpart today and after three days during which the pendulum swung from side to side, the promise is for a close and exciting finish.
At the end of day one, Jamaica appeared in front after dismissing Trinidad and Tobago for 229. After day two, Trinidad were on top after removing Jamaica for 147 and cruising to 76 for one for a lead of 158; and at stumps yesterday it was interestingly balanced with Jamaica, chasing 265 for victory after dismissing Trinidad and Tobago for 182 in their second innings, on 97 for one with Maurice Kepple on 33 and Donovan Pagon on 38.
When play resumes today, Jamaica's target will be 168, and with a minimum of 90 overs to be bowled, with the pitch still playing well, with nine wickets in hand, with Kepple and Pagon batting well and Tamar Lambert, David Bernard Jnr., Carlton Baugh Jnr., and captain Gareth Breese to come, that should not be too difficult.
FAR FROM CONFIDENT
When the fans filed out of Alpart yesterday, however, they were far from confident - and it had nothing to do with the presence of fast bowlers Marlon Black and Theodore Modeste, fast-medium Rayad Emrit, medium-pacer Dwayne Bravo and offspinner Amrit Jaggernauth in the Trinidad and Tobago attack.
The lack of confidence was because of the memory of Jamaica's poor batting in the first innings when so many of their batsmen committed suicide with careless, reckless strokes.
"I just hope they settle down and bat properly tomorrow," said one fan who claimed that he has never missed a Jamaica match at Alpart and who said that he was never so embarrassed as he was on Friday. "They are doing well this time, they can do it," he went on to say, however, "and I am praying that they do".
If they do bat well or continue to bat well, win the match and improve their chances of finishing in the top four, Jamaica will have to thank fast bowler Andrew Richardson, four for 35 off 16 overs, and legspinner Odean Brown, four for 50 off 20.2, for handing them the opportunity.
At lunch, Trinidad and Tobago, on 133 for four and leading by 215 with captain Daren Ganga, solid as a rock, on 68, and the dangerous Shazam Babwah on one, were going well - very well, and appeared set to bat Jamaica out of any chance of winning the match.
SCOREBOARD
Trinidad and Tobago first innings 229
Jamaica first innings 147
Trinidad and Tobago second innings
D. Ganga c Parchment b Richardson 77
E. Ryan lbw Bernard 6
S. Ganga lbw Richardson 26
D. Bravo b Breese 14
A. Kanhai c (sub) b Brown 8
S. Babwah c Pagon b Brown 15
G. Mohammed b Brown 6
R. Emrit c Baugh b Richardson 0
M. Black c Parchment b Richardson 8
S. Jaggernauth b Brown 5
T. Modeste not out 0
Extras: 17
Total: (all out) 182
Fall: 1-28, 2-78, 3-107, 4-129, 5-158, 6-160, 7-164, 8-173, 9-178, 10-182.
Bowling: Richardson 16-5-35-4; Mais 10-5-16-0; Taylor 3-0-12-0; Bernard 13-5-25-1; Breese 21-6-32-1; Brown 20.24-50-4; Parchment 2-0-3-0.
Jamaica second innings
B. Parchment b Bravo 15
M. Kepple not out 33
D. Pagon not out 38
Extras: 11
Total: (for one wkt) 97
Fall: 1-37.
Bowling: Black 7-2-18-0; Emrit 8-3-24-0; Bravo 5-0-12-1; Jaggernauth 13-3-31-0; Modeste 6-3-6-0.
