TRINIDAD & Tobago are 54-2 chasing a victory target of 179 runs heading into today’s final day of the enthrallingly poised Regional Four-Day semi-final match against five-time reigning champions Jamaica at Sabina Park in Kingston.

Left-hander Yannic Cariah and Jason Mohammed are not out on six and seven, respectively.

During yesterday’s rain-truncated day three that saw a remarkable 16 wickets falling, the Jamaicans, propelled by left-arm spinner Nikita Miller’s sixth five-wicket haul of the season, convincingly took first innings points when they dismissed Trinidad & Tobago for 170.

However, a woeful second innings batting display, which saw the title-holders being bowled out for a miserable 102, allowed Trinidad & Tobago to force their way back into the encounter.

Scores: Jamaica 246 (80.5 overs) & 102 (43.5 overs); Trinidad & Tobago 170 (70.4 overs) & 54-2 (13 overs).

Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert said the game is “in the balance”, while lamenting that “the batting was a letdown”.

His counterpart Denesh Ramdin praised his bowlers for getting Trinidad “back into the game” and added that they should be able to score the remaining 125 runs for the win.

Earlier, Trinidad & Tobago resumed from their overnight 162-6, but lost their remaining four wickets for the addition of only eight runs.

Miller dismissed Akeal Hosein–without the left-hander adding to his overnight score of 24 — and Marlon Richards (0). Miller, 30, ended with 5-41 and took his season’s tally to an impressive 51 wickets.

The 23-year-old left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cotterell, who opened the day’s proceedings with Miller, dismissed the dangerous Rayad Emrit (3) and Imran Khan (9) to finish with 2-34.

Boasting a significant lead of 76 runs, Jamaica failed to put the game beyond reach as the Trinidad opening pace bowlers Richards and Shannon Gabriel soon had them pegged back at 16-4.

Richards, who took a maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings, produced his trademark away swinging deliveries, complemented by a handful of in-cutters, while dismissing Brenton Parchment (4), Nkrumah Bonner (0) and Danza Hyatt (9).

Gabriel, the West Indies fast bowling rookie, accounted for Andre McCarthy (1).

Lambert was run out soon after for five with the total at 26-5, but a 49-run stand for the sixth-wicket between David Bernard and first innings hero Carlton Baugh briefly slowed the T&T train.

Bernard, who batted resolutely to 23, was trapped leg before wicket by Khan at 75-6, while medium pacer Emrit dismissed Miller (5), Richardson (7) and Brown (2). Cotterell was run out for two as the Jamaica lower order folded.

The 30-year-old Baugh, who played an outstanding knock of 88 not out in the first innings, was again left unbeaten, this time with a controlled 38.

Richards and Emrit finished with 3-21 and 3-25, respectively.

In search of the 179 needed to book their spot in next week’s final against Barbados, Trinidad lost young debutant Jeremy Solozano (4) and the aggressive Lendl Simmons (31) in quick succession under the gloomy conditions that replaced the morning’s brilliant sunshine.

Solozano was first to go when he was tempted to drive at a wide, full-pitched delivery from seamer David Bernard, but could only manage to feather a catch to wicketkeeper Brenton Parchment, standing in for Baugh, who suffered a painful knock to his thigh while batting.

The prized wicket of Simmons was also down to Bernard’s craft as the bowler released a beautiful, yorker length in-swinging delivery that banged into the front foot of the batsman.

Simmons was given out lbw, but the agony of the blow left him on the turf and it took a few moments of medical attention before he was able to leave the field.

However, almost halfway into the final session, play was stopped for bad light, only moments before heavy showers ensured no further play was possible.