PORT OF SPAIN – Not even a whirlwind knock by West Indies captain Darren Sammy could prevent a Windward Islands collapse as mystery off-spinner Sunil Narine bowled superbly to put Trinidad and Tobago on the brink of victory in their fourth round WICB regional four-day match yesterday.
Sammy smashed a scintillating 88 but the Windwards were reeling at the close of the third day on 232 for nine, ahead by just 71 runs going into the final day.
Narine destroyed the innings with a haul of five for 72, following up on his first innings heroics of five for 49 which sent the visitors tumbling to 203 all out after they resumed the day on 119 for two.
Trailing by 161 runs, the Windwards had the worse possible start to their second innings as they plunged to 15 for three in quick time.
Sammy arrived to liven up Queen’s Park Oval with a stroke-filled innings that kept the Windwards afloat.
He cracked seven fours and six sixes off just 109 balls in 137 minutes at the crease, dominating two partnerships and frustrating an eager Trinidad and Tobago.
He put on 80 for the fourth wicket with Keddy Lesporis who made 21 before adding another 38 with Liam Sebastien who scored 29.
Sammy motored to his half-century off just 54 balls with four fours and four sixes and seemed en route to his second first-class century when he was bowled by leg-spinner Imran Khan (3-48) at 133 for five.
His dismissal predictably sparked a decline as three wickets fell for 33 runs before Garey Mathurin (28 not out) and Shane Shillingford (22) defied T&T with a 39-run stand for the eighth wicket.
Earlier, the Windwards suffered yet another after resuming the day in a strong position, in pursuit of Trinidad and Tobago’s 364 for nine declared.
Smith added just nine to his overnight 25 before falling lbw to seamer Reyad Emrit at 131 for three, triggering a decline that saw the last seven wickets fall for 56 runs.
Lesporis, unbeaten on an aggressive 71 overnight, fell for a topscore of 84.
