Trinidad and Tobago captain Daren Ganga lashed a double century before the Leewards Islands compiled 64 for one in their second innings yesterday, third day of their ninth-round Carib Beer Series clash in Montserrat.
Ganga hit 265, the second highest individual score in regional cricket, including 36 fours and two sixes from 375 balls. He added 307 for the fifth wicket with left-handed middle order batsman Gregory Mahabir, who struck 112 off 225 balls with 11 boundaries.The visitors finished their first innings on 579, leaving the Leewards trailing by 143 runs at the close of play going into the final day today. The Leewards had a first innings total of 372. The not out batsmen were Shane Jeffers (27) and Runako Morton (16).
T&T snapped up the wicket of Leewards opener Junie Mitchum for 13 toward the end of the day's play when he gave a simple catch to Dave Mohammed at short midwicket.
Morton quickly slammed offspinner Amit Jaggernauth over long on for six to follow up on his 106 in the Leewards first innings. Morton ended the day with another big six off Jaggernauth over long off to complement his knock of 16.
Ganga's 265 eclipsed the 263 not out made by Guyana's Clayton Lambert against the Windward Islands at Berbice in 1993. Guyanese Test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul holds the regional individual first class batting record of 303 made against Jamaica at Sabina Park in 1996.
Trinidad and Tobago's 579 was their highest team total in regional first-class cricket, beating the 541 made against Barbados at Kensington Oval in 1979.
The departure of both Ganga and Mahabir in fairly quick succession was followed by a late order collapse with the Trinidadians losing their last five wickets for a mere 20 runs.
T&T and the Leewards are battling to secure the No. 2 spot in the championship and a place in the final against tournament leaders Jamaica.
The hosts came into the match on 52 points, while T&T have 48.
SCORES:
LEEWARD ISLANDS 372 (Runako Morton 106, Wilden Cornwall 60, Sylvester Joseph 41, Adam Sanford 37, Ridley Jacobs 36 not out, Junie Mitchum 34; Amit Jaggernauth 4-81, Richard Kelly 2-65, Dave Mohammed 2-97) and 64 for one.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 579 all out (Daren Ganga 265, Gregory Mahabir 112, Ricardo Powell 63, Dinesh Ramdin 48; Omari Banks 6-153, Carl Simon 2-96).
