On the second day of third round matches, the central team took first innings points off Santa Cruz Sports and were well-placed to force an outright victory next weekend.
And not for the first time, it was their ace spinner Rukhum Jaggernath who helped put them in charge. With the home team resuming on 57 for 6 chasing 160, Jaggernath completed a haul of 5/40. And with Vickram Ramoutar chipping in with 4/28, Santa Cruz succumbed for 126.
By the close, Central Sports, with a lead of 34, had increased their advantage to 224 after reaching 190 for 5. National player Daren Ganga (55) and Kris Ramdath (66) were responsible for the champs' strong position.
At Gilbert Park, Wanderers may not be able to force an outright win on the final day. But Deyal's 102 paced them to 257 for 8 declared, and 1st innings points against Defence Force.
95 behind, the soldiers closed the day on 51 for 1.
At the Queen's Park Oval, there was also a 1st innings win for former champions Moosai Sports. They closed the second day on 232 for 7, in reply to the Parkites' total of 202.
And the easterners have an old pro and a newboy to thank for their good position.
Middle-order batsman Keno Mason, playing his first innings for his new club, and Aneil Rajah came to Moosai's rescue with half-centuries after the visitors had lost four wickets for 82.
Growing in assurance throughout, Mason (57) put on 72 with Rajah (51) once Dodds, losing concentration, was caught behind, off pacer Ricardo Paty, one of five victims for national youth wicketkeeper Navin Chan.
Between them, Mason and Rajah struck 17 attractive boundaries, the former favouring the extra-cover drive and the latter producing a cheeky reverse-sweep for four off Rajindra Dhanraj to reach his fifty.
By that time, Mason had departed, lbw to Dhanraj. But young Allister Pierre helped put on 43 with Rajah before the veteran became Chan's second stumping victim and Dhanraj's third wicket.
At the end, Pierre was still there on 28.
At Pierre Road, national opener Anil Balliram followed up his first innings 129 with four wickets to help put Alescon Comet in charge against Clarke Road.
Resuming on 181 for 5, Comet made 215. And then, Balliram' and WI bowler Dinanath Ramnarine (3/24) left Clarke Road scrambling on 97 for 9. At that point, they chose to declare.
Today, final round group action takes place in the Carib Sunday League.
Summarised Scores
At QP Oval: Queen's Park 202 v Moosai Sports 232 for 7 (K.Mason 57, A.Rajah 51; R.Dhanraj 3/51).
At Brian Lara Recreation Ground: Santa Cruz 126 (K.Joseph 27; R.Jaggernath 5/40, V.Ramoutar 4/28) v Sims Central Sports 160 & 190 for 5 (D.Ganga 55 , K.Ramdath 66 , A.Dass 46 not out; K.Hazel 3/54).
At Pierre Rd: Alescon Comet 215 (A.Balliram 129) & 35 for 1 (A.Balliram 24 n.o.) (M.Persad 4/46, S.Mahabir 3/65, D.Sultan 3/74) v Clarke Rd. 97 for 9 dec. (P.Persad 39, G.Mahabir 20; D.Ramnarine 3/24, A.Balliram 4/34).
At Gilbert Park: Defence Force 162 & 51 for 1 v Caroni Wanderers 257 for 8 dec. (D.Deyal 102, R.Mangalie 60, N.Bideshi 40).