DESPITE blue skies and sweltering heat at the Meten-Meer-Zorg ground, seepage through the covers resulted in the entire first session being lost on the penultimate day of the final four-day trial match.

Being held in preparation for the 2024 Regional First-Class tournament, Kevlon Anderson’s X1 ended on 159-5, still 73 runs away from avoiding an innings defeat going into today’s final day.

After play finally commenced, Savory’s X1 took their overnight score of 311-9 to for 329 when fast bowler Nail Smith bowled Thaddeus Lovell for 11 leaving Anthony Adams unbeaten on seven.

Anderson XI had scored 97 all out in the first innings.

Smith finished with 2-59 while Veerasammy Permaul and Malcolm Hubbard had 3-81 and 2-15 respectively.

When Anderson’s began their second innings with a deficit of 232, Sachin Singh and Rampertab Rampersaud added 90 for the first wicket in an attractive partnership.

Rampersaud hit four fours in his 41 before Leon Swammy removed him and also dismissed Brandon Jaikarran (1) and skipper Anderson (6). The demise of Anderson meant that three wickets had fallen for 15 runs.

Akshaya Persaud, who will play with CCC in the Regional Tournament, joined fellow left-hander Singh who continued to play their shots on a good track and fast outfield.

But with the partnership on 51 and the score on 156, Singh was bowled by left-arm spinner Anthony Adams after reaching the ropes 10 times and clearing it once.

Three runs later, off-spinner Junior Sinclair disturbed the stumps of Hubbard to leave the score on 159-5 to end the day’s play with Persaud unbeaten on 24.

Swammy has so far taken 3-22.

Today’s final day is scheduled for a 09:30 start.