Bravo, Ganga sparkas T&T nip Barbados

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo's brilliant six-wicket haul and captain Daren Ganga's resolute, unbeaten half-century, combined to undermine Barbados by two wickets and thrust Trinidad and Tobago into the final of the WICB President's Cup, on Monday.

The effervescent Bravo snatched six for 46 as Barbados, winning the toss and batting, fell for 229 in 49.5 overs in the first day/night semi-final at the National Stadium, at Providence.

When T&T's batting wobbled in their run chase, Ganga hoisted the innings on his back and carried it with a responsible 79, which saw the defending champions home with four balls to spare.

He struck just three fours and faced 105 balls, but his temperament was valuable when T&T were left requiring a nervous 28 from 36 balls with just two wickets standing.

T&T await the winner of yesterday's second semi-final - which ended at night - between Guyana and Combined Campuses and Colleges, for tomorrow's final.

Solid start for t&t

Chasing a modest total after Barbados' batsmen failed to capitalise in the middle overs, T&T were given a solid start by Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons who posted 42 from 53 balls.

Simmons, overlooked for the West Indies tour of Australia later this month, stroked an attractive 44 from 47 balls with eight punishing fours and dominated the partnership as Barath gathered only 11.

The game remained open with nine required from the last 12 balls, but Dave Mohammed (18, not out) eased the tension when he clobbered Benn over long on for six off the final ball of the penultimate over.

Earlier, Dwayne Bravo's spell triggered a middle and lower order collapse and sent Barbados crashing from 184 for three in the 43rd over, losing their last seven wickets for 45 runs.

Big-hitting opener Martin Nurse top scored with 46 and captain Ryan Hinds got 44, but Bravo accounted for both, as Barbados lost their way in an attempt to post a challenging score.

Bravo was aided by fast bowler, Ravi Rampaul, who snatched wickets at critical junctures, to ensure T&T remained on top.