According to most people, including West Indies selector Joey Carew, Trinidad and Tobago coach Tony Gray and Windward Islands coach Ian Allen, all former West Indies players, yesterday’s Red Stripe Bowl game at Kensington Park saw one of the most frightening and bizarre incidents on the field of play ever. As Trinidad were recovering from dire straits at 47 for 7 in the match which was later abandoned due to a water-logged outfield, a terrifying bolt of lightning hit West Indies fast bowler Merv Dillon, who was batting and Windwards fast bowler Fernix Thomas.

Dillon slumped to the ground and immediately complained of severe earache and headache and of being unable to hear from one ear. Thomas who was about to begin the 39th over was struck across his upper back and ran frantically towards the pavilion in obvious fear and clutching the back of his neck. He complained about a similarly terrible headache along with a burning sensation across the back of his neck.

Both players were taken to the University of the West Indies hospital where they were kept overnight for observation though they were reportedly recovering well.

When the lightning struck, accompanied by an explosive and equally horrifying burst of thunder, Dillon along with Shazam Babwah were literally rescuing the Trinidad innings at 111 for 7 after they were cut down to 47 for 7 by some accurate and unrelenting bowling from the Windwards.

Darren Sammy, the busy medium-pace, all-rounder captured four wickets for 44 runs from 10 overs to put the Trinidad innings squarely on the rocks. Sammy exploded into action in the 13th over when he snapped up the huge wicket of Brian Lara, caught at square leg for 13 flicking at Romel Currency .

The score was then 35 for 3 as opener Andy Jackson (03) and captain Daren Ganga (00) were already removed by Thomas and Cameron Cuffy respectively. Jackson attempted a loose hook shot and was caught by Currency, running around to backward square, while Ganga prodded forward tentatively and nicked to ‘keeper’ Junior Murray.

The disaster continued when at 44, Olanzo Jackson timed a perfect jump and stunningly caught Imran Jan as he tried to send Kenroy Peters over square leg.

Peters finished with only one wicket but sent down his ten overs for an incredible 12 runs as he held all the batsmen firmly at bay with accurate bowling.

Sammy then made the score 43 for 5 when he forced Dwayne Bravo (01) to edge to Rawl Lewis at slip and then it was quickly made 44 for 6 after he knocked out Aneil Kanhai’s (00) stumps. Dave Mohamed (00) also had his stumps rocked by Sammy to leave Trinidad tottering with seven wickets down for less than fifty runs.

Dillon and Babwah then did what seemed like a ‘mission impossible’ by putting on 64 runs and taking Trinidad from the 23rd over to the 39th over when the lightning struck and Dillon had to leave the field. By then he was on 16 and Babwah was on 51 after playing some handsome strokes all around the wicket.

Babwah, accompanied by Dinanath Ramnarine (25 not out) then went on the make the first hundred in Zone A, achieving 103 in the last over, bowled by Lewis in pouring rain. That was the last of any play during the day as the heavy shower continued along with persistent rain later.

Babwah, with confident and nimble footwork hit eleven of the fifteen boundaries struck by the Trinis as they climbed to 198 for seven with the 24-year-old, right-hander and Ramnarine putting on 87 for the eighth-wicket after Dillon had retired. Dillon and Babwah had earlier put on 64 in their version of the eighth-wicket partnership.

Babwah, stroked seven crisp fours, mostly over the top and four well-timed sixes during his 90-ball knock.

Up until the 25th over when only one boundary was hit - a Brian Lara six - the Trinidadians were struggling to pierce the field. In that over Babwah cut loose and hit Jackson for three fours and then five overs later straight drove Cuffy for a six, similar to what Lara had done in the ninth over.

Umpires Basil Morgan of Monserrat and Dalton Holder of Barbados brought a close to the game at 2:25 pm when they were sure that no more play was possible on the water logged field.

Earlier when the lightning struck and continued with smaller bursts, causing Ramnarine to delay taking the field, it was viewed by many on hand, as a reckless choice by the umpires to continue the game under the dangerous conditions.

However, the incident occurred without warning in bright sunshine and there is no rule, stipulation or regulation which explicitly permits the umpires to call a halt to play due to lightning.

Given that the safety of the players could not be guaranteed though, it would have been wise judgment to take them off and return when the situation cleared up which it never did.

By virtue of the rained-out game, Trinidad will advance into the semi-finals along with Jamaica.