COUVA, Trinidad, CMC:

Trinidad & Tobago's teenaged batting sensation, Kieron Pollard continued his rich vein of form yesterday when he reeled off another majestic century against the Leeward Islands at the National Cricket Centre.

The 19-year-old right-hander cracked a stroke-filled 117 which propelled the hosts to a competitive 313 on the opening day of the third round of Carib Beer Series matches.

At the close, the Leewards had safely navigated their way to 12 without loss.

It was Pollard's second century in three first class matches following his 126 on debut away to Barbados in the opening round of the series two weeks ago.

The powerful right-handed batsman thrilled spectators with immaculate stroke-play and precision timing, hitting 11 fours and six sixes in 153 minutes off just 87 balls.

Although local authorities would have been pleased with Pollard's innings, they incurred some additional expenditure as the elegant batsman dumped three balls into the Ato Boldon Stadium, which the cadre of ball boys failed to recover.

Pollard, eyeing a call up to the West Indies World Cup squad, now has 321 runs from four innings at an average of 80.25.

He brought up his fifty in grand style with a six and a four off consecutive balls from medium-pacer Kerry Jeremy, requiring a mere 40 balls for the landmark, while stroking seven fours and two sixes.

Pollard displayed a steady head as wickets fell around him and eventually brought his hundred with two consecutive sixes from the bowling of off-spinner Chaka Hodge.

prompt celebration

His milestone came in 126 minutes off 71 balls and was fashioned with eight fours and six sixes. He promptly celebrated with a four from Hodge's next delivery.

T&T 1st Innings

*D. Ganga lbw Sanford 0 A. Barath c Jeffers b Sanford 42

J. Mohammed c wk Williams

b Cornwall 43 Darren Bravo b Hodge 8 K. Pollard c Jeremy b Willett 117 S. Ganga c wk Williams b Atthanaze 14 +G. Mohammed lbw b Hodge 28 R. Kelly b Hodge 33 D. Mohammed lbw b Hodge 0 M. Dillon b Hodge 11 A. Jaggernauth not out 0 Extras (lb8, w1, nb8) 17

TOTAL (all out, 80.5 overs) 313

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-73, 3-90, 4-118, 5-183, 6-250, 7-289, 8-289, 9-312, 10-313.

Bowling: Sanford 15-1-75-2 (w1), Jeremy 7-0-35-0 (nb4), Cornwall 10-2-33-1 (nb1), Hodge 28.5-7-103-5, Athanaze 12-4-32-1, Willett 8-1-27-1 (nb3).

Leeward Islands 1st Innings

S. Jeffers not out 5 J. Liburd not out 6 Extras (lb1) 1

TOTAL (without loss, 7 overs) 12

To bat: *Sylvester Joseph (captain), Tonito Willett, +Jason Williams, Omari Banks, Justin Athanaze, Adam Sanford, Kerry Jeremy, Wilden Cornwall, Chaka Hodge.

Bowling: Dillon 2-1-4-0, Kelly 3-1-6-0, Jaggernauth 2-1-1-0.

Umpires: Khemraj Barrasingha, Edward Nicholls; Stand-by: Goderick Alfred.