The T&T Red Force bowlers will have to be at their best to avoid defeat today, after Windward Islands spin bowler Liam Sebastien ran through the T&T second innings in the last round of the Regional Four-Day tournament at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, yesterday.
Resuming on 33/1 yesterday in the second innings still trailing the Windward Islands Volcanoes by 45 runs, Sebastien snatched 5/63 in 34.1 overs as T&T was dismissed for 243.
Chasing 166 for victory, the Windwards closed day three on 8/0 with Devon Smith and Tyrone Theophille both unbeaten on four. The Volcanoes may be confident of chasing down the target after Smith and Theophille put on 163 for the first wicket in the first innings before being dismissed for 289.
The T&T top order failed again to show any resilience as they were reduced to 54/4 in the first session. Debutant Ewart Nicholson was gone for two to give captain Sebastien his first scalp of the day, before West Indies batsman Darren Bravo was caught by wicketkeeper Sunil Ambris off Kyle Mayers to reduce T&T to 42/3. Narsingh Deonarine, who scored an unbeaten 91 in the first innings, was trapped leg before for seven to give Sebastien another wicket. In the first innings T&T was reduced to 46/4 before some lower order resistance helped T&T to a respectable 211 all out.
Barbadian Kyle Hope, who scored back-to-back half centuries in the previous match, shared in a 69-run fifth wicket partnership with Red Force captain Yannick Ottley. The pair took the score to 123 before Hope became Sebastien’s next victim for 57. Hope slammed seven fours and one six in his 143-ball knock. When wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo fell for three and Ottley lost his wicket for 55 T&T was reduced to 164/7. Ottley’s innings lasted 147 balls and included seven fours.
Imran Khan and Rayad Emrit then battled hard to take T&T past 200 with an eighth wicket partnership of 53 dominated by Khan. Khan became Sebastien’s fifth wicket with the score on 217. More lower order fight took T&T to 243 all out, but the home team’s lead was only 165 runs. Theophille was also among the wickets taking 2/26.