PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Richard Kelly and Lendl Simmons hit contrasting half-centuries as Trinidad & Tobago kept Barbados in the field for the entire opening day of their final round Carib Beer Series match at Guaracara Park yesterday.

Kelly hammered an entertaining 68 and Simmons a painstaking unbeaten 63 as T&T, winning the toss and batting first, finished the day at 301 for seven.

A late burst wickets in the final three overs by medium pacer Dwayne Smith helped Barbados to stay alive in the intriguing battle, as he claimed Kelly and then Reyad Emrit for one.

Simmons and Kelly revived T&T with a disciplined sixth wicket partnership of 114 in 125 minutes, after they were precariously placed on 182 for five.

Simmons' painstaking innings has so far spanned 276 minutes and 174 balls and included four fours, while the left-handed Kelly occupied the crease for 125 minutes, faced 81 balls and struck five fours and three sixes.

Kelly perished three overs before the close, caught at extra-cover by Kevin Stoute off Dwayne Smith's bowling. Emrit went shortly afterward, caught at slip by Benn off Smith. Smith has so far claimed two for 49 with his medium pace, while Benn has taken two for 86 with his left-arm spin.

With Jamaica already crowned league champions, the teams are aiming for a place in the Carib Challenge final. T&T are on 43 points, one point more than Barbados with 42.

Openers William Perkins (41) and Adrian Barath (39) laid the foundation for T&T's competitive total with a first wicket partnership of 88 in 102 minutes, before they were separated in the third over after lunch.

AT CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Leeward Islands, winning the toss and choosing to bat, reached 402 for eight at the close on the first day of their final round Carib Beer Series match against Combined Campuses and Colleges at Grove Park yesterday.

Scores: LEEWARDS 402-8 (Kieran Powell 85, Devon Thomas 66, Runako Morton 59, Tonito Willett 52 not out, Shane Jeffers 45, Steve Liburd 41; Gavin Wallace 4-101) v CCC.