KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) ? The Leeward Islands face a stiff task of avoiding defeat at the hands of Trinidad and Tobago after two days of their fourth-round TCL Group West Indies Three-day Cup Under-19 match at Chedwin Park on Wednesday.

In arrears by 149 runs on first innings, the Leewards ended on 24 for one, still needing a further 125 runs to avoid an innings defeat with nine wickets remaining.

The batsman dismissed was Tashmail Mills, who was trapped leg before wicket by Teshawn Castro for 10.
Trinidad and Tobago, the only undefeated team in the current season, owe their sturdy position to vital half-centuries from the in-form Yannic Cariah, opening batsman Nicholas Alexis and skipper Yannick Ottley.

Cariah struck an exciting 84, Alexis a patient 67, and Ottley, a captain?s unbeaten knock of 83 as T&T — chasing the Leewards? modest first innings total of 174 — declared at 323 for eight to establish an important lead of 149 runs.
Hayden Walsh Jr was the leading bowler for the Leewards with four for 71, while pacer Nelson Bolan bagged three for 51.
Cariah smashed eight fours and a six in 162 minutes from 117 balls which laid the foundation for his team?s effort in pursuit of first innings lead.

He shared in a vital third-wicket partnership of 146 in 162 minutes with Alexis, whose innings was built around eight fours in 214 minutes off 139 balls.

Ottley played responsibly for his 83, which came in 181 minutes off 156 balls and included 12 fours.

Earlier, T&T had resumed from their overnight position of 54 for two, with Alexis on 20 and Cariah 17.

The duo punished the unpenetrative bowling attack with responsible batting.

Cariah was more aggressive and just when he seemed to be on his way to his second century of the tournament, he played lazily at off-spinner Tevin Osbourne and was caught by Mills at short mid-wicket just before lunch.

T&T went to the break on the verge of first innings points, at 173 for three.

On the resumption, T&T suffered a mini-collapse losing two wickets for nine runs, all to the leg-spinner Walsh, who accounted for Alexis and Akiel Cooper (4).

Wicketkeeper Aaron Alfred (20) and Ottley repaired the damage with an enterprising sixth wicket stand of 43 before Walsh broke the partnership when he captured the wicket of Alfred to leave T&T at 225 for six.

Ottley found a useful partner in Sachin Boodram and went to the tea break on 258 for six, with Ottley on 52 and Boodram unbeaten on seven.

After the interval, the T&T tail wagged together with Ottley, before the declaration came.