FRIENDSHIP, Barbados,  (CMC) – A stunning century from Nicholas Pooran and contrasting half-centuries from Stephen Wharwood and Anthony Simmons enabled Trinidad and Tobago to open the one-day phase of their Regional Under-19 campaign with a comfortable 171-run victory over Leeward Islands here yesterday. The left-handed Pooran smashed a scintillating 102 while opener Wharwood stroked a measured 84 and Simmons a cameo unbeaten 58 as T&T piled out 332 for six off their 50 overs at the Yorkshire Sports Club.
In response, Leeward Islands slumped from 90 for two to 161 all out off 43.2 overs, losing their last eight wickets for 71 runs.
Simmons completed a superb all-round effort, claiming three for 15 with his off-breaks to help undermine the innings.
Sent in, T&T cruised to 96 for two but lost two quick wickets to stumble to 125 for four.
Prolific left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano departed cheaply, bowled by fast bowler Colin Archibald for five at 16 for one before Brian Christmas edged medium pacer Deno Baker behind for 13 with the score on 42.
Wharwood and captain Vikash Mohan (22) added 54 for the third wicket before Mohan was run out after failing to beat a throw from mid-off as he attempted a quick single.
When Ewart Nicholson tapped a return catch back to off-spinner Tristan Hanley, T&T were in need of impetus and got it from two partnerships inspired by Pooran.
He and Wharwood put on 48 for the fifth wicket before Wharwood finally departed after facing 109 balls and stroking five fours and three sixes, caught at cover by Duan Webbe off off-spinner and captain Akeem Saunders (2-91)
Pooran and Simmons then proceeded to decimate the Leewards attack in a brutal onslaught that raised 143 for the sixth wicket.
The left-handed wicketkeeper batsman belted the ball to all parts of the ground, storming to his fifty off 43 balls with three fours and four sixes.
He then required a mere 26 balls to reach three figures, counting eight fours and seven sixes overall.
Simmons, meanwhile, matched his partner for stroke-play as he faced just 31 balls and cracked three fours and six sixes.
Pooran eventually fell, caught by Colin Archibald at mid-off trying to clear the ground with Saunders in the 49th over.
Opener Darren Hobson (4) and number three Shawn Tuitt (14) then fell cheaply to leave the Leewards on 50 for two before Webbe and Saunders staged a defiant partnership for the third wicket worth 40.
Webbe, the other opener, scored 39 from 67 balls with a four and two sixes while Saunders chipped in with 27 off 41 balls with two fours and a six.
Once Webbe was lbw to Simmons, however, the Leewards challenge faded.