da 888： For 4-1/2 hours yesterday, Daren Ganga unleashed thetype of strokes Caribbean spectators have rarely seen from him
Haydn Gill17-Feb-2001For 4-1/2 hours yesterday, Daren Ganga unleashed thetype of strokes Caribbean spectators have rarely seen from him.But, one of his few mistakes, just before 4 p.m., led to a rapidtransformation in the proceedings on the opening day of the finalround Busta Cup match between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.With impeccable touch, Ganga, just back from Australia where he wasvirtually a strokeless wonder, fashioned his second regional firstclass century against Barbados that gave Trinidad and Tobago thehealthy platform of 181 for two.By the close, Barbados, guaranteed their 17th regional title once theywin here, staged a sterling fightback that bore similarities to theone they achieved exactly a week earlier against the Leeward Islandsin Nevis.In the space of an hour-and-a-half, six wickets fell for 50 runs andthe final score of 241 for eight was one Barbados would have beensatisfied with in light of the impact Ganga created.The 22-year-old opening batsman was typically solid in defence, butwas it a joy to see another side of him, courtesy of some top-classdriving through the off-side.His 105 off 186 balls included 16 sweetly struck boundaries, but itwas ended in disappointing fashion and triggered the Trinidad andTobago collapse in which fast bowler Corey Collymore and left-armspinner Ryan Hinds were the main wreckers.Hinds, still basking in the glory of his memorable 15-wicket matchhaul against the Leewards, removed Ganga with a juggled return catchfrom a shot that suggested the batsman was satisfied that a hundredwas enough.This is a Trinidad and Tobago batting side that revolves mainly aroundGanga, Lincoln Roberts and captain Richard Smith, and although theother two made useful contributions, Barbados ran through the middleand lower order with ease.Collymore ended the day with four victims – two of them having theirstumps knocked out – and also claimed the important scalp of Robertsfor 45 at an important stage when Smith was also in.The start of play was delayed by half-hour because of rain just before10 a.m. and there was appreciable moisture in the surface afterSherwin Campbell won the toss.Barbados’ bowlers, however, were unable to make inroads because theirline was not perfect.The only scalp during the pre-lunch session was the potentiallydashing opener Andy Jackson, his intended cut off Ian Bradshaw neatlyaccepted by Campbell at second slip.By lunch, taken at 57 for one, Ganga had already advertised hisimpressive strokeplay with spanking cover-drives and pulls offCollymore and Ian Bradshaw.He went to the break on 38 but on resumption he was troubled in anover from Hendy Bryan in which there was the possibility of a fendedcatch to a vacant gully. During that testing period, he also offered adifficult diving chance to Hinds at point.He soon reached his half-century but lost his second-wicket partnerImran Jan, who spent almost two hours in a stand of 71 that wasthoroughly dominated by Ganga.The left-handed Jan was solid only and never showed any signs ofaggression in his innings of 14 which was ended in spectacular fashionby a yorker from Collymore that sent the middle stump out of theground.Roberts came out with a positive approach and immediately offered asharp chance to Roland Holder at short-leg. It made no difference tohim and he proceeded to play with bold aggression in a somewhat chancyknock of 45.When he was on 14, Hinds dropped a return chance, but the ball wasstruck with such ferocity that the bowler was lucky that he was notdecapitated. Ganga and Roberts took Trinidad and Tobago to tea on 153for two with Ganga ten short of his third first-class century. It wasreached with an all-run four to extra-cover and was celebrated with ahard cut off Bryan’s next ball.Barbados got him in the following over and when Collymore came backfor a final spell, he immediately despatched Roberts, lbw, as he wasvery late in trying to push forward.At that stage it was 202 for four and Barbados still had plenty ofwork to do. But the pressure was eased by two double-strikes withdifferent balls.The old ball accounted for Keno Mason, bowled leg-stump with a sharpturner from Hinds, and Darryl Brown, a victim of a cross-batted shotagainst Collymore.The new ball was taken as soon as it was available and it gainedBarbados immediate success.Bradshaw induced the busy Dave Mohammed into a miscued pull andskipper Smith fell to a loose stroke that resulted in an edged catchto the keeper.