Red Force poised for easy win over Scorpions

PORT-OF-SPAIN, (CMC):

Hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force were within sight of an easy win over the Jamaica Scorpions at the end of the third day of their first-round West Indies Championship clash at the Brian Lara Stadium yesterday. The Red Force, after being set a paltry 81 for victory by Jamaica Scorpions, were 22 without loss, requiring only 59 more runs to overhaul their target.

Resuming yesterday on 234 for six, Red Force were dismissed for 273 to secure a first innings lead of 132, with Isaiah Rajah pushing his overnight 58 to 65 before being eighth out.

Fast bowler Marquino Mindley snatched five for 70 while new-ball partner Nicholson Gordon captured four for 65.

In their second turn at the crease, Scorpions collapsed to 212 all out with only Test opener John Campbell (45), number seven Derval Green (41 not out) and number eight Jamie Merchant (30) showing any enterprise.

Left-hander Campbell lashed five fours and two sixes in a breezy 66-ball knock, putting on 41 for the second wicket with Jermaine Blackwood (16), before both fell in a slide where five wickets tumbled for 66 runs, as fast bowler Anderson Phillip (5-82) tore through the middle order.

EFFORT PROVED IN VAIN

Tottering on 123 for six, Green and Merchant stitched up the innings in a 54-run, seventh-wicket stand but the effort proved in vain as leg-spinner Imran Khan (3-46) triggered another slide towards the end. AT KENSINGTON OVAL: Devon Thomas stroked the first hundred of the new first-class season to lead a stirring Leeward Islands Hurricanes fightback against hosts Barbados Pride on the penultimate day of their contest.

The right-hander finished with 112 – his seventh first-class hundred – as Hurricanes closed on 294 for seven and a lead of 142 runs.

Keacy Carty, the former West Indies Under-19 batting star, struck 55, and captain Jahmar Hamilton, an unbeaten 40, efforts which combined to get the visitors out of trouble at 55 for two.

Starting their second innings yesterday after Pride had been dismissed at the close of Thursday’s day two for 324 and a first innings lead of 152 runs, Hurricanes lost Montcin Hodge for five and Kieran Powell for 27, after the left-hander had added 34 for the second wicket with Carty.

However, Carty and Thomas then combined in a wonderful 128-run, third-wicket stand which thwarted Pride’s hopes of running through the innings.

Thomas, who top-scored in the first innings with 58, punched 17 fours in a knock spanning 140 balls, while Carty faced 134 balls and counted four fours.

When Carty perished, Thomas added a further 40 for the fifth wicket with Hamilton, who also put on 34 for the seventh wicket with Terrance Warde (12) to sustain momentum for Hurricanes.

AT QUEEN’S PARK OVAL: Windward Islands Volcanoes 339 (Preston McSween 86, Alick Athanaze 68, Devon Smith 52; Gudakesh Motie 4-62) and 157 for seven (Alick Athanaze 58, Larry Edward 29 not out; Clinton Pestano 2-25, Keemo Paul 2-30).

Guyana Harpy Eagles 327 (Vishaul Singh 93, Keemo Paul 73; Kenneth Dember 4-36, Sherman Lewis 4-59).