PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago gambled with a bold declaration but the move seemed to be back-firing as Windward Islands ended the rain-hit second day of their Headley/Weekes semi-final on top here yesterday.

Resuming the day on 36 for three in pursuit of the Windwards’ first innings of 248, T&T slumped to 140 for eight about 35 minutes after tea at Queen’s Park Oval, and opted to declare to deny the Windwards precious bowling points.
Under tournament rules, the side that either wins or accumulates the most points in the semi-final will qualify for the final.
Unfazed by the move, the Windwards responded well to reach 88 for two at the close, a lead of 196 runs heading into Monday’s penultimate day. Left-handed opener Devon Smith was unbeaten on 44 from 72 balls with six fours.
T&T, however, ended the day level on three points with the Windwards.
The visitors maintained their momentum from the following evening, with seamer Mervyn Mathew running through the middle and lower order to finish with four for 19.
Only Evin Lewis, who was unbeaten on 47 when the declaration came, offered any resistance in an innings lasting 203 minutes off 126 balls, with five fours and a six.
Left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson supported with two for 44.
Captain Denesh Ramdin hit 25 and Rayad Emrit, 21, but both were prised out by the incisive Matthew, in only his third game of the first class season.
T&T had reason to hope when Lewis and Jason Mohammed (19) put on 31 for the fourth wicket, in a first session where only 15 overs were possible because of rain.
Mohammed, who resumed on nought, had faced 31 balls and hit three fours when he was lbw to seamer Kenroy Peters, and Ramdin joined Lewis to carry T&T to lunch at 81 for four.
After the break, Ramdin and Lewis pushed their partnership to 37 before they were separated, when the skipper edged Mathew behind at 104 for five.
Off the very next delivery, Akeal Hosein was also caught at the wicket without scoring, as the Windwards pressed home their advantage.
Lewis and Emrit put on 34 for the seventh wicket, with Emrit striking some lusty blows with four boundaries in a breezy 20-ball innings. The pair were still together when rain forced an early tea at 125 for six, but Emrit eventually fell on resumption when he gave Charles his third of four catches in the innings off Mathew.
Imran Khan made just two before perishing to the combination of Charles and Mathew, triggering T&T’s dramatic declaration.
Smith and Tyrone Theophile (11) then made the hosts sweat in a 45-run opening stand before Theophile and Charles (11) both fell to concede some of the Windwards’ advantage.