TRINIDAD and Tobago batsman Richard Smith celebrated Carnival early yesterday when he scored his first regional hundred in helping his side to earn a draw against Jamaica on the final day of their President's Cup match at Chedwin Park.
The middle-order batsman, whose previous highest score in 33 matches had been 99 made in the 1996 Red Stripe Cup Final, played mas with the Jamaican attack spearheaded by West Indian pacer Courtney Walsh, to finish unbeaten on 108 at the close as T&T reached 274-4 in their second innings before the match was called off.
Smith laced his innings with 10 fours in a knock that spanned 285 minutes and 201 balls. But Smith was not the only Trinidadian batsman who enjoyed the docile pitch conditions.
Opener Suruj Ragoonath mindful of the possible openings at the top of the West Indies order, gave the regional selectors another nudge with a well played 74 to go with his first innings half century. Ragoonath, who hit 61 in the first innings, had in fact set the foundation for a strong T&T batting effort in the second innings.
Needing to wipe off a first innings deficit of 167 after closing the previous day on 25 without loss, Ragoonath had been instrumental in pushing T&T to 231 for three at tea, an overall lead of 64, after continuing from lunch on 127 for two.
He and opening partner Anil Balliram had cruised along nicely during the morning period, both finding things much to their liking against Jamaican pacers Franklyn Rose and Courtney Walsh, who served them a meal of short-pitched deliveries.
Like the first innings, the pair posted a half-century stand, until Balliram, 19 overnight, pulled one of the many short balls from Rose into Brian Murphy's hands at square leg to depart for 35. Ragoonath would also lose Daren Ganga (12) soon afterwards with the score on 79 but was then joined by Smith and the pair proceeded to steer T&T to 127 for two - still 40 runs in arrears - at lunch with Ragoonath unbeaten 49.
Ragoonath would be the lone wicket to go in the post-lunch session when he sliced a ball from seamer Laurie Williams to Tony Powell at slip to leave T&T in what was already a comfortable position --184-3.
With skipper Brian Lara preferring to go at number six in the order, Simmons joined Smith at the crease. But when Simmons went, Williams stayed with Smith until the end.