T&T topple Jamaica - Defending champions suffer three-wicket defeat in semis

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's dreams of winning a sixth consecutive West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Four-day tournament title came to an end when they were beaten by three wickets by Trinidad & Tobago in semi-final action at Sabina Park yesterday.

Trinidad & Tobago, who after losing first innings were set a modest 179 for victory, resumed yesterday's final day on 54 for two and claimed victory at 179 for seven, mid-way through the post-lunch session.

Jamaica, who also lost their regional record of 15 consecutive wins, were suffering their first loss of the season.

"It's disappointing to lose this way after being unbeaten in the tournament," said Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert. "But congratulations to Trinidad. They worked very hard and in the end deserved to win."

ENTHRALLING AFFAIR

The contest, though low-scoring, was an enthralling affair which saw Trinidad & Tobago starting off badly.

They lost their first wicket off the first ball that was bowled when Yannick Cariah was caught by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr off the efficient David Bernard Jr for six and were tottering at 59 for five, which soon became 73 for six.

However, thanks to a defiant half-century from batting all-rounder Imran Khan, who ended unbeaten on 50, 32 from young and enterprising wicketkeeper batsman Stephen Katwaroo, and 25 not out from Rayad Emrit, the visitors were able to stage a fightback.

Khan put on 57 for the seventh wicket with Katwaroo and an unbroken 52 with Emrit, which took the fight out of Jamaica, which dropped catches with the score on 153 for seven and 160 for seven.

Bernard Jr, in one of his best bowling performances this season, claimed six for 39 to end as Jamaica's top bowler, with Nikita Miller, one for 31, being the other wicket-taker.

BROUGHT THEIR A-GAME

"Coming into the match, we knew to beat a champion team like Jamaica, we had to play some champion cricket. And that's we did," said Trinidad & Tobago captain, Denesh Ramdin.

"There were some nerves, especially when we lost wickets off the first ball of the two sessions. But we always knew that we had it in us to pull through."

Impressive young fast bowler, Marlon Richards, who bowled with good pace and swing throughout the clash to end with match figures of eight for 74, including his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings, was named Man of the Match.

Trinidad will play Barbados next weekend in the final at Kensington Oval.

SCOREBOARD

JAMAICA 1st Innings 246T&T 1st Innings 170JAMAICA 2nd Innings 102

T&T 2nd Innings (target: 179 runs)

(overnight 54 for two)

L Simmons lbw b Bernard 31J Solozano c wkp Parchment b Bernard 4Y Cariah c wkp Baugh b Bernard 6+S Katwaroo b Miller 32J Mohammed lbw b Bernard 7D Ramdin b Bernard 11A Hosein c wkp Baugh b Bernard 0I Khan not out 50R Emrit not out 25Extras (b8, lb5) 13TOTAL (7 wkts, 65.2 overs) 179

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-43, 3-54, 4-54, 5-59, 6-73, 7-130.

Bowling: Richardson 6-0-24-0, Cotterell 6-2-21-0, Bernard 17.2-1-39-6, Brown 13-4-40-0, Miller 18-4-31-1, Lambert 5-3-11-0.

Result: T&T won by three wickets.

Series: Qualifies for Regional Four-Day final.

Toss: Jamaica.

NB: Brenton Parchment substituted as wicketkeeper in the final session of the third day's play.

Umpires: G Brathwaite, N Duguid.