Simmons’ 2nd consecutive ton against Guyana put T&T in control

Mar 26, 2011 Sports

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T&T's Lendl Simmons punches debutant teenage leg-spinner Amir Khan for a single during his unbeaten ton.

By Sean Devers
Twenty-six-year-old Test batsman Lindl Simmons hit his second consecutive First Class century against Guyana as Trinidad and Tobago controlled the opening day of their final round regional four-day cricket match at the Providence Stadium yesterday.
Simmons’ unbeaten 134, his ninth First-Class ton and third against Guyana has so far lasted 250 balls, 362 minutes with 10 fours and a six and along with a robust 67 from Jason Mohamed and an unbeaten 32 from Denish Ramdin helped T&T to 291-4 by the close.
Simmons and Mohamed added 112 for the third wicket after Skipper Daren Ganga, who took his runs tally to 515 joining Marlon Samuels and Kyle Corbin with over 500 runs this season, was removed for 24 at 79-2.
Ramdin and Simmons, who both scored centuries in the first ever Regional Day/Night ‘Pink ball’ First-Class match in Antigua last year when these teams last clashed at this level, have so far put together 67 in an unfinished fifth wicket stand.
Ramdin has batted 71 balls, 92 minutes and struck three fours.
In the middle of the unseasonal rainy weather in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago won the toss and elected to bat in glorious sunshine on a low and slow track and lush green outfield.
Simmons, who played the last of his three Tests against England two years ago, was joined by Ganga to provide their team, already in the semi-final regardless of the outcome of this match, a solid foundation after the loss of Tishan Maraj (4), caught behind off Test player Brendon Bess at 7-1, Ganga, T&T’s leading scorer this season played the supporting role to Simmons as they steadied the ship.
Simmons disdainfully cut left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul to the point boundary to post the T&T 50, forty minutes before lunch after they had seen off the new ball pair of Brendon Bess and West Indies under-19 selectee Ronsford Beaton.
With Davendra Bishoo missing due to his World Cup duties and West Indies Under-19 selectee Amir Khan given a last-minute debut – Zaheer Mohamed pulling out with a hamstring injury yesterday morning – Guyana’s bowling (their strength this season) was steady but lacked penetration.
The 32-year-old Ganga, with three tons from 48 Tests and 22 hundreds in 170 First-Class matches, smashed Fudadin off the back foot for four before he was taken at point off Permaul 20 minutes before Lunch to leave the score on 79-1.
By lunch Simmons was unbeaten on 45 and Mohamed on 13 with T&T, who won the last of their five titles at this level in 2006, on 96-2.
After Lunch Simmons reached his half-century from 80 balls, 136 minutes and included five fours while Mohamed got his fourth fifty at this level from 79 balls, 136 minutes with four fours and a six.
The pair carried the visitors to 191 before substitute Shemroy Barrington held a sharp, low catch at point as Beaton removed Mohamed ten minutes before Tea. His 67 lasted 116 balls, 133 minutes and was decorated with six fours and a six.
At Tea, Simmons was unbeaten on 90 and Sherwin Ganga on three with T&T 198-3. Simmons reached his hundred just after the break from 179 balls, 265 minutes with 10 fours.
Simmons, whose highest score this season was 94, was lucky to reach his century since Leon Johnson at slip failed to hold a very difficult chance, low to his left off Permaul with the batsman on 97.
Sherwin Ganga (18) was soon leg before to off-spinner Steven Jacobs, in his first match of the season, to leave T&T on 224-4 but Simmons and Ramdin joined forces on a track already showing signs of keeping low to ensure their team took the first day honors.
Simmons with two First-Class double centuries to his name lofted Jacobs over long-on for six while Ramdin clipped Permaul over mid-wicket for four as Guyana used eight bowlers.
Guyana surprisingly left out former West Indies Under-19 player Richard Ramdeen after the opener had only played his debut game in Barbados and will have to use a middle order batter to open in this game.
Keon Joseph was also not in the starting eleven. Play is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs today and admission is $500.

Scoreboard
T Maraj c Wkp Christian b Bess 4
L Simmons not out                                           134
D Ganga c Chandrika b Permaul                     24
J Mohamed c (sub) Barrington b Beaton         67
S Ganga lbw b Jacobs                                      18
D Ramdin not out                                           32
Extras (w-2, nb-3, lb-2, b-5) 12
Total (for4 wickets off 91 overs) 291
Fow: 7, 79, 191, 224,
Bowling: Bess 6-1-14-1, Beaton 16-2-44-1, Fudadin 6-0-27-0, Permaul 24-3-72-1, Khan
15-0-49-0, Deonarine 4-0-16-0, Jacobs 18-4-58-1, Johnson 2-0-4-0
Toss: T&T
Umpires: Clancy Mack & Clyde Duncan
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In other Regional scores

Jamaica vs England
Jamaica 259-4 at stumps on day two. W. Hinds 2 *, B. Nash 55*. D. Hyatt 59, S. Jackson 60, M. Samuels 58. Wickets: D. Briggs 2-77. England 358 Woakes104 *, Stokes 63, Taylor 41 , Hildreth 40.
Windwards vs Leewards
Leewards 60-5 at stumps on day 1. Taylor 3* Jason Peters 5*. S. Peters 15, Le Blanc 12. Windwards won the toss and invited Leewards to bat.
Combined Campuses vs Barbados
Barbados 17-2 at stumps on day 1 in their 2nd innings, Hinds 11*, Brathwaite 4*. Barbados 90 (1st innings), J. Haynes 49, S. Dowrich 20. K. Kantasingh 14 – 7- 22 – 7. Combined Campuses 113. C. Braithwaite 27, N. Bonner 25, F. Reifer. R. Hinds 4-20, J. Holder 3-10, F. Edwards 2-32.

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