SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
Despite a strong fightback led by South spinners Bryan Charles (6/54) and Imran Khan (4/53), North remain in control of the TT Cricket Board/Soca Kings North-South Classic at the close of play on day second at the National Cricket Center in Balmain, Couva.
When play resumed on Friday, North were bowled out for 207 – a lead of 65 runs – in reply to South’s 147 all out on the opening day.
With setbacks on day two, South closed on a shaky 53/4, trailing North’s opening score by 12 runs with two days of play remaining.
North returned to the field on Friday with 43 not out, with batsmen Keagan Simmons (26 not out) and Vikash Mohan (nine not out) in the middle. The pair took the score to 74 when Simmons, on 34, played Jason Mohammed off the bowling of Charles.
Twelve runs later, Charles struck again as he trapped leg-spinner Jeremy Solozano (one). North captain Darren Bravo was sent packing without scoring after just seven balls, caught by Justin Manick off Khan’s leg spin.
At 87/3, Yannic Cariah, who shone with the ball on day one, joined Mohan (45) at the crease and took the score to 113 before the latter was trapped by Khan.
Cariah (28) and Tion Webster (17) brought some stability to the innings but Khan struck again, this time trapping Webster in front of the stumps to send North to 145/5.
Seven balls later, and with no extras in the score, Charles escaped Cariah.
Isaiah Rajah and Amir Jangoo rescued North from danger with a much-needed 53-run partnership. But with the score at 198/6, Jangoo lost caught by substitute Rajeev Ramnath off Charles.
The remaining three wickets – Rajah (23), Terrance Hinds (six) and Uthman Muhammad (duck) – fell for just nine runs as Charles cleaned up the lower order.
After North’s first innings, South got off to another dubious start and lost top-order wickets in quick succession as the light faded at the Couva venue.
Despite hitting two fours in the opening over, Kjorn Ottley (12) was the first to go, bowled by Hinds on the last ball of the third over.
Khary Pierre’s spin stunned young batsman Navin Bidaisee (six) as he was brilliantly caught by Cariah at second slip, off Muhammad.
Three runs later, Kyle Kissondath (duck) returned to the stands after facing just two balls. He was struck by Pierre.
At 35/3, after 9.2 overs, opener Cephas Cooper continued to defend his wicket with future batsman Manick at the supporting end.
Fast bowlers Muhammad, however, had other plans and had Cooper (23) trapped leg-before to send South to 47/4.
After 18 overs in South’s second innings, the umpires called off the second day’s play. South closed at 53/4 with Manick and Mohammed in the middle, both at four runs not out.
The third day starts at 10:00.
Summary results:
SOUTH – 142 (60.3) – Jyd Goolie 53, Jason Mohammed 27; Yannic Cariah 4/28, Khary Pierre 3/42 & 53/4 (18) – Cephas Cooper 23 Justin Manick 4 not out, Jason Mohammed 4 not out; Khary Pierre 2/19 vs NORTH 207 (85.2) – Vikash Mohan 45, Keagan Simmons 34, Amir Jangoo 29, Yannic Cariah 28; Bryan Charles 6/54) and Imran Khan 4/53.
