FORTSQUARE, Barbados (CMC) – Veteran medium pacer Wilden Cornwall took a superb five-wicket haul as he led the Leeward Islands to a commanding position at the end of day one in their WICB regional first class, fourth round clash against Trinidad and Tobago at the Foursquare Oval yesterday.

Cornwall troubled the Trinidadian batsmen with a clever combination of subtle and prodigious movement off the seam as he finished with five for 27 from 18 overs of deceptive medium pace.

They were eventually bowled out for 176 in their first innings after being asked to take first strike by Leewards captain Steve Liburd. Elsroy Powell supported with three for 44 while off-spinner Omari Banks chipped in with two for 46.

At the close of play, Leewards were 30 for the loss of Mali Richards (2), 146 runs away from securing first innings points and with nine wickets in hand. Kieran Powell (11) and Montcin Hodge (10) were at the crease.

The 36-year-old Cornwall, playing in his first game of the season, opened the bowling in tandem with Lionel Baker and made immediate inroads when he bowled recalled opener William Perkins for a duck.

Shortly afterwards, he dislodged the other opener – Justin Guillen for seven – via lbw to leave the Trinidadians on 17 for two and they had sunk further to 63 for five by lunch.

Imran Khan, the leg-spinning all-rounder who proved his batting pedigree, top scored with 53 while captain Daren Ganga made 51.

The pair moved the score from the lunch-time position to 124, before Cornwall returned to bowl Ganga as he shouldered arms to a delivery which nipped back sharply from outside off stump.

Ganga faced 155 deliveries, six of which he hit for boundaries but Khan was more aggressive during his first half-century of the season which required 113 balls and included five fours and a six.

The pair resurrected the Trinidadian innings in the post-lunch session during which just one wicket fell but after the tea interval the innings was brought to a hasty conclusion with Cornwall formalising his five-wicket haul when he had Richard Kelly (19) caught at the wicket by stand-in wicketkeeper Liburd.

The captain was forced to don the gloves after first-choice keeper Devon Thomas injured his leg left during fielding drills shortly before the toss.

With 13 tricky overs to negotiate before the close, the Leewards lost the son of Sir Viv Richards for two when Mali drove loosely at a delivery from debutant fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and was impressively caught low down at second slip by Jason Mohammed.

There were no further alarms as Hodge and Powell – who both made double ducks in their previous game against Jamaica – saw the Leewards to safety.

Both teams made a slew of changes, mainly owing to the departure of the West Indies players. Leeward Islands lost leading batsman Runako Morton and fast bowler Gavin Tonge and they dropped out-of form all-rounder Tonito Willett.

The duo were replaced by Codville Rodgers and Elsroy Powell while Richards was brought in at the top of the order for Kieran Powell. Powell though retained his place after Thomas sustained the debilitating leg injury.

Trinidad and Tobago entered the game missing the tournament’s highest run-scorer in wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, opener Lendl Simmons and pacer Ravi Rampaul.

They dropped Rayad Emrit from the squad while left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed lost his place in the playing XI. Perkins, wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed, all-rounder Richard Kelly, spinner Sunil Narine and Gabriel were included.