POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad (CMC):
Opening batsman Adrian Barath shone with an unbeaten half-century on debut as Trinidad & Tobago made the most of good weather which finally allowed play after lunch on the third day of the second round Carib Beer Series match against Guyana yesterday.
Sent in after Guyana won the toss, the hosts rattled up 170 without loss in the 56 overs available with Barath hammering 73 and captain Daren Ganga, 76, at the Guaracara Park venue.
The 16-year-old Barath was workmanlike in his innings, facing 186 deliveries in 218 minutes at the crease while hitting six glorious boundaries.
Ganga, who celebrated his 28th birthday, was not to be left out stroking seven fours in an innings that has so far spanned 218 minutes off 165 balls.
The pint-size Barath, a student of Presentation College, matched his skipper stroke for stroke much to the delight of the handful of spectators who braved the dour weather.
The pair broke a 28-year-old record when they bettered the previous best opening partnership of 150 against Barbados by Trinidad and Tobago, established in 1979 at Kensington Oval by West Indies batsman Richard Gabriel and Kenrick Bainey.
Ganga 36th first class half-century
Barath was first to reach his 50 when he collected three runs to third man off West Indies leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo while Ganga followed soon afterwards to reach his 36th first class half-century.
The match has been reduced to a contest for first innings points, after rain and soggy ground conditions prevented play on the first two days.
Earlier, both teams were left disappointed again as heavy overnight and morning showers battered the venue in South Trinidad.
Good work by groundsmen, however, ensured the possibility of play after the lunch interval.
T&T 1st Innings
D. Ganga not out 76
A. Barath not out 73
Extras (lb6, nb15) 21
TOTAL
(without loss, 56 overs) 170
Bowling: King 10-0-41-0 (nb10), E Crandon 10-4-20-0, Fudadin 3-0-10-0, Permaul 8-1-30-0 (nb2), Nagamootoo 15-2-44-0 (nb3), Deonarine 10-2-19-0.
