The in-form Lendl Simmons considerably boosted his Test claims yesterday when he stroked his sixth first-class hundred and propelled a sturdy Trinidad and Tobago batting effort against struggling Guyana, on the opening day of their seventh-round West Indies Cricket Board Regional Four-day match.

Sent to bat at the National Stadium, T&T closed the day at 279 for three.

Simmons, who celebrated his 24th birthday last month by smashing a massive career-best 282 for West Indies A against touring England in St Kitts, was undefeated on 148 at stumps in an unbroken stand with Keiron Pollard (33).

Dropped players

Simmons, a nephew of former Test cricketer Phil Simmons, was dropped on 92 by Leon Johnson at point off Garraway, before reaching the important triple-figure mark, his first in the regional competition this season.

His hundred came up with a single to cover off Garraway in 204 minutes off 152 balls, laced with 13 fours and a straight six off Narsingh Deonarine.

Simmons has so far faced 240 balls, cracking 17 fours and one six, while Pollard has smashed three fours and one six.

SCOREBOARD

T&T 1st Innings

L Simmons not out148 J Guillen c Fudadin b Garraway4 *D Ganga run out (R Crandon)50 I Khan c Barnwell b Bishoo33 K Pollard not out33 Extras (w1, nb5, b4, lb1)11 TOTAL (for 3 wickets - 81 overs)279

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-156, 3-219

To Bat: S Ganga, +G Mohammed, A Alert, R Rampaul, S Badree, A Jaggernauth.

Bowling: E Crandon 12-5-22-0; Garraway 15-2-73-1 (1w); Jacobs 13-2-44-0 (1nb); Bishoo 24-7-72-1 (4nb); Barnwell 11-1-43-0; Deonarine 5-0-19-0; R Crandon 1-0-1-0.

UMPIRES: Davteerth Ananjit, Vincent Bullen.

Toss: Guyana

GUYANA: *T Dowlin, C Barnwell, R Crandon, A Fudadin, S Jacobs, N Deonarine, L Johnson, +D Christian, E Crandon, D Bishoo, T Garraway.