WICB Media Release
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (WICB) — Leeward Islands skipper Kieran Powell says his team’s poor first innings batting effort put them at a “massive disadvantage” and eventually led to their innings and 107-run defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in the Regional Four-Day Championships day/night match at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.
Powell noted that the Oval track was good for batting but his batsmen did not make good use of it in their first turn at the crease when they were dismissed for 113 in 34.1 overs.
That was after T&T batted first and posted 458 for seven declared after batting for five sessions.
“I think it was a really good batting pitch but obviously we did not bat well in the first innings and that put us at a massive disadvantage in the game, and I think the second innings we tried but obviously like I said we cannot afford to get bowled out in a session,” said Powell.
It was the second straight loss for the Leewards, and Powell is looking forward to their bye this weekend which he said will give them an opportunity to reflect on their three games so far.
The Leewards started the season with a win over the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC), and then had a thrilling three-wicket loss to Jamaica before losing to T&T in the first session on the final day when they were dismissed for 238 in 99.2 overs.
“We have a week’s break so it is just for the fellas to think about it now and see where we have been going wrong and where we need to improve,” said Powell.
“I think the week’s break has come at a perfect time for us, so we can just get away from cricket and really evaluate and see where we need to go for the next three matches. Hopefully we will have better performances in the next three games,” he added.
The Leewards are back in action next Friday when they face the Windward Islands. Leewards will then play Guyana from April 4-7, before closing off their campaign with a match against the defending champions Barbados from April 11-14.