CLARKE Road United and Alescon Comets secured outright victories on the third and final day of the National Premier Division One opening round yesterday, joining Merry Boys in the early lead for the national cricket championship. Merry Boys had completed victory over PowerGen Penal Sports with a day to spare on Saturday. But while the three clubs celebrated early success, defending champions Queens Park Cricket Club had to settle for first-innings points in their drawn encounter with Jailal Enterprises Victoria Sports. Playing on their home turf at Wilson Road in Penal, Clarke Road were able to turn around their match against Central Sports, going on to win by 26 runs after having conceded a first-innings deficit of 32. Chasing 184 for victory, Central started the day well-placed on 41 for one but struggled against Clarke Roads spin attack, crashing to 157 all out. Kirwyn Sirju led the hosts, the leg-spinner claiming four wickets for 29 runs; he was ably supported by Yannick Ottley (2-19) and Akhile Mollon (2-41). Shazan Babwah played a solid hand of 69 for the visitors, but apart from Kamil Poorans 32, there was little else. At Pierre Road in Charlieville, the host Comets excelled with bat and ball to defeat Tableland by 139 runs. Resuming their second innings on 110 for four, they batted on before declaring on 225 for nine. Off-spinning all-rounder Bryan Charles led the way with 66 while there were good contributions from Kenroy Williams (39), Kirk Edwards (36) and Idrees Mohammed (35). Brian Pegues (4-44) was the best of the Tableland bowlers. The daunting victory target of 284 proved well beyond Tableland and despite Al Smalls courageous knock of 83, they were routed for 144. Leg-spinner Emile Rajah claimed outrageous figures of five for 12 from 5.3 overs while Kashtri Singh grabbed four for 15 from eight. Meanwhile, at Barrackpore West Secondary, Queens Parks bowlers met staunch resistance from the Victoria batsmen, led by former national player Sherwin Ganga, who scored 72. Resuming on 189 for four, the hosts battled their way to 312, 38 short of the Parkites first innings of 350 for eight declared. For QPCC, the wickets were evenly shared among Marlon Barclay (3-36), Kion Webster (3-71) and Yannic Cariah (3-74). With no chance of forcing an outright win, QPCC were 35 for one in their second innings when play was called. Premier Division 3-Day League scores:

At Wilson Road: Clarke Road Utd 127 and 215 VS Central Sports 159 and 157 (S. Babwah 69, K. Pooran 32; K. Sirju 4-29, Y. Ottley 2-19, A. Mollon 2-41). Clarke Road Utd won by 26 runs.

At Pierre Road: Alescon Comets 284 and 225/9 decl. (B. Charles 66, K. Williams 39, K. Edwards 36, I Mohammed 35; B. Pegues 4/44) VS Jenexcon Tableland 226 and 144 (Al Small 83; E. Rajah 5-12, K. Singh 4-15). Alescon Comets won by 139 runs.

At Barrackpore West: QPCC 350/8 decl. and 35/1 VS Jailal Enterprises Victoria Sports 312 (S. Ganga 72; M. Barclay 3-36, K. Webster 3-71, Y. Cariah 3-74). Match drawn.

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Wins for Clarke Road, Alescon Comets - Trinidad & Tobago Express