Furlonge: ‘Give [Bravo] a little time’; T&T bats struggle again against Leewards, Jamaica cruise, Guyana enforce follow-on

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will be in survival mode on Day Four of their 2022 West Indies Championship meeting with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, fainge a mammoth target of 316 runs with just four wickets in hand.

At the close of play at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex today, the Red Force were 143 for 6 in their second innings, with Yannic Cariah (36*) and lower-order batsman Bryan Charles (6*) still at the crease.

And the writing was on the wall.

“I think they batted us out of the game,” Red Force coach David Furlonge told Wired868. “We will try to bat as long as possible. We are still looking to at least draw the game—we will take the game as deep as possible.”

Furlonge had expressed the hope his charges would show up on Friday morning. Instead, the Hurricanes went up a gear, first innings century-maker Kieran Powell and, later, Devon Thomas getting stuck into the Trinidad and Tobago bowlers.

Only West Indies pacer Shannon Gabriel (7-0-17-0) was spared, Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip, both also West Indies pacers, going for over four runs per over. The spinners fared even worse, Charles’ 10 wicketless overs yielding 61 runs and Hosein’s 12 costing 64.

Powell, who smashed 139 off 211 balls in the first innings, managed only 83 off 96 balls today. Thomas went one run better, getting 84 off just 53 deliveries before the 29-year-old Cariah—whose four overs of leg-spin went for 33 runs—made the breakthrough, dismissing Thomas, Amir Jangoo and Colin Archibald in quick succession.

When, at 241 for 7,  the Hurricanes declared for the second time in the match, there was no question about which side was in complete control.

And on 4 for 2 after four overs in the first innings, by the fourth over today, Trinidad and Tobago were slightly better off at 10 for 2. Openers Jeremy Solozano (4 off 11) and Tion Webster (6 off 10) were both gone, snapped up in the slips off Sheeno Berridge and Jeremiah Louis respectively.

In at number three, the hugely experienced Darren Bravo took 23 balls to get off the mark. Facing 19 more balls, he added just one run before he departed, caught by Jangoo off Louis’ bowling.

Bravo’s contribution in both innings combined was nine runs off 77 balls. Furlonge suggested that the 33-year-old veteran needs some time to rediscover his form.

“Losing two early wickets puts pressure on the rest of the batsmen,” said Furlonge, “which forces them to be more defensive.[Bravo] was under pressure going in at number three. I think he was trying to rebuild the innings… Reviewing [his dismissal], I think he got out to the best ball of the game: pitched on leg-stump and caught behind.

“[…] He is feeling his way back into cricket. Give him a little time and I think he will be back to his best.”

Middle-order batsman Jason Mohammed had his moments—he struck four fours off one Archibald over—in his cameo of 36 off 53 balls while skipper Joshua Da Silva tried to steady the ship with a patient 27 off 48 balls before Rahkeem Cornwall trapped him plumb in front.

Today, like much of the match so far, belonged to the Hurricanes. Tomorrow, on the fourth and final day, Cariah and Charles will do their best to keep them at bay.

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, though, there was no stalling the Jamaica Scorpions. They wrapped up proceedings  well inside three days, triumphing by an innings and 14 runs over the Windward Island Volcanoes.

Asked to follow on, the Volcanoes began today on 101 for 3. But 29-year-old number three batsman Kavem Hodge just could not find a man to hold up the side with him as wickets fell with regularity at the far end.

Every wicket, without exception, was snared by either medium pacer Derval Green or off-spinner Jamie Merchant. And, in the final reckoning, the Jamaican duo, both wicket-less in the first innings, each claimed five scalps, the spinner conceding 72 runs and the medium-pacer 46!

The result leaves the Windward Islands rooted to the foot of the table with Jamaica just above them in fifth and hoping to build some momentum in the competition.

Meanwhile at the Queen’s Park Oval, the Guyana Harpy Eagles are attempting to bring leaders and defending champions Barbados Pride to heel.

Guyana, who posted 490 for 7, skittled Barbados for 266—despite a century by Shai Hope (119 off 200)—and then enforced the follow-on. At stumps, Barbados were 44 without loss in their second turn at the crease with openers Shayne Moseley on 25 (off 65) and captain Kraigg Brathwaite on 17 (off 50).

Guyana will want to see Brathwaite’s back early tomorrow if they are to earn an outright win over the Bajans and dent their pride.

In Diego Martin, the Hurricanes are well on their way to blowing away the host nation.

Day Three Match Summaries

(At Diego Martin Sports Complex)

Leeward Islands Hurricanes: 358 all out (95.5 overs) (Kieran Powell 139, Amir Jangoo 58, Jeremiah Louis 42; Jayden Seales 5/49) & 241 for 7 dec. (47.1 overs) (Devon Thomas 84, Kieran Powell 83, Montcin Hodge 39; Yannic Cariah 3/33, Akeal Hosein 2/64)

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force: 140 all out (58 overs) (Joshua Da Silva 65, Bryan Charles 25; Colin Archibald 4/27, Jeremiah Louis 4/32) & 143/6 (51.1 overs) (Yannic Cariah 36*, Jason Mohammed 36, Joshua Da Silva 27; Jeremiah Louis 3/26, Rahkeem Cornwall 2/13)

Leewards won the toss; T&T trail by 316 runs.

(At Queen’s Park Oval)

Guyana Harpy Eagles: 490 for 7 dec (157.4 overs) (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 140*, Gudakesh Motie 110, Tevin Imlach 53; Akeem Jordan 3/108, Raymon Reifer 2/37)

Barbados Pride: 266 all out (84.4 overs) (Shai Hope 119, Shane Dowrich 44; Veerasammy Permaul 4/81, Gudakesh Motie 2/37, Keemo Paul 2/43) & 44 without loss (Shayne Moseley 25*, Kraigg Brathwaite 17*)

Guyana won the toss; Barbados trail by 180 runs.

(At Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba)

Windward Island Volcanoes: 137 all out (51.1 overs) (Keron Cottoy 50, Kavem Hodge 23; Marquino Mindley 5/20, Nicholson Gordon 4/43) & 195 all out (74.2 overs) (Kavem Hodge 63, Devon Smith 34; Derval Green 5/46, Jamie Merchant 5/72)

Jamaica Scorpions: 346 all out (87 overs) (Brandon King 119*, Jamie Merchant 58, John Campbell 48; Preston McSween 4/96, Josh Thomas 3/56)

Jamaica won the toss and the match by an innings and 14 runs.

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