PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Rain prevented Trinidad & Tobago from making progress against England Lions in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.
Trinidad & Tobago, replying to England Lions’ first innings total of 325, reached 173 for two when rain about half-hour after tea prompted an early close on the second day of their third round match at Queen’s Park Oval. The match was well-placed to reach a crescendo, with Runako Morton well-entrenched on 46 not out, and T&T captain Daren Ganga not out on 34.
The pair have added 49 – unbroken – for the third wicket to consolidate T&T’s position, as their top-order batted steadily throughout the day.
After they took less than half-hour to knock over the Lions’ tail-enders, T&T started brightly, with openers Justin Guillen and Lendl Simmons posting 58 for the first wicket.
Left-hander Guillen was brutal, and scored a rapid 39 off just 52 balls with five fours before leg-spinner Adil Rashid had him caught at mid-off, as T&T reached 59 for one at lunch.
After the interval, both Simmons and Morton blossomed with a number of attractive strokes, and continued to build upon the foundation.
Just when Simmons was getting into the thick of things, left-arm spinner Danny Briggs trapped him lbw struck on the back leg sweeping for 37, as T&T reached 148 for two at tea.
After the break, T&T were looking to put a dent in the deficit, but the weather moved over the famous ground, and sent the players scampering for cover.
Both sides enter the contest with 18 points, but the Lions are the actual tournament leaders by virtue of the tie-breaker rules for the competition.

ENGLAND LIONS 1st innings (o/n 311 for nine)
J. Adams c wkp. Ramdin b Emrit    14
A. Lyth c wkp. Ramdin b S. Ganga    34
A. Gale lbw b Emrit    110
J. Hildreth b Jaggernauth    40
J. Taylor lbw b Gabriel    66
C. Kieswetter c Jaggernauth b Emrit    5
A. Rashid c Guillen b Gabriel    7
L. Plunkett c & b Khan    17
D. Briggs lbw b Gabriel    4
N. Buck not out    11
J. Dernbach c Guillen b Emrit    9
Extras: (b-1, lb-5, w-1, nb-1)    8
Total: (all out, 97.4 overs)    325
Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-66, 3-160, 4-244, 5-268, 6-272, 7-281, 8-285, 9-311.      
Bowling: Gabriel 17-1-79-3 (nb-1), Emrit 18.4-5-48-4, Jaggernauth 25-8-54-1, S Ganga 12-1-41-1, D. Mohammed 8-0-34-0, Khan 13-4-43-1, Simmons 4-0-20-0 (w-1).
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 1st innings
L. Simmons lbw b Briggs    37
J. Guillen c Plunkett b Rashid    39
R. Morton not out    46
D. Ganga not out    34
Extras: (b-4, lb-7, w-1, nb-5)    17
Total: (2 wkts, 61 overs)    173
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-124.
Bowling: Dernbach 10-3-14-0 (nb-1, w-1), Plunkett 12-4-34-0 (nb-1), Buck 9-1-26-0 (nb-1), Rashid 18-4-58-1 (nb-2), Briggs 12-4-30-1
Position: T&T trail by 152 runs with eight first innings wickets standing.