Hinds gets fifer but Barbados in control, Leewards douse Volcanoes and Tagenarine nears new ton

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force medium pacer Terrance Hinds produced career-best figures of 5/32 today as the host nation fought back against the Barbados Pride in West Indies Championship action at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

But at the close of play on Day Two of the penultimate fixture of the season, defending champions Barbados were still 110 runs ahead and firmly in the driver’s seat.

Red Force captain Imran Khan had expressed the hope that his team would dismiss Barbados today for ‘not much more than 200’. But, despite losing openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Shayne Moseley on Wednesday evening, in reply to the Red Force’s first innings total of 133 all out, the Pride managed 294, with Raymond Reifer contributing 79 (off 161 balls) and Justin Greaves (50 off 75) and Jonathan Carter (41 off 118) also making notable inputs.

The Red Force have not a single half-century opening partnership this season. And with the hosts needing upwards of 400 runs to have a chance of getting a result, today would have been an excellent time to click. But Jeremy Solozano (14 off 37)  and Keagan Simmons (26* off 62) survived only 12 overs before they were separated at 29 for 1.

And both Bryan Charles (0 off 13), promoted to number 3 as nightwatchman, and the vastly experienced regular number 3 Darren Bravo (4 off 9) made little impression. By the close, the hosts were already in a shaky situation at 51 for 3.

Replying to the Jamaica Scorpions’ first innings total of 393 at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Guyana Harpy Eagles got a 112-run opening partnership from Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Chandrapaul Hemraj.

Hemraj was eventually caught by wicketkeeper Aldane Thomas off Nicholson Gordon for 78 (off 87 balls). But the stodgy Chanderpaul is still there and inching towards his second century in as many matches with an unbeaten 96 off 228 balls.

Yesterday, Jamaica got two first innings centuries from Jermaine Blackwood (114 off 261) and Thomas (100 off 101 ), en route to posting 393. At this rate, it seems unlikely that either team can find the killer blow by Saturday.

Throw in tons by Leeward Islands Hurricanes opener Kieran Powell and Red Force middle-order batsman Yannic Cariah, and four different batsmen have already managed centuries at the Diego Martin venue in six days of cricket.

At the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, though, there is sure to be a result unless the weather intervenes. The Leeward Islands are already sniffing their third straight win, posting 333 all out and then blasting through the Windward Islands Volcanoes batsmen for 173.

For the Hurricanes, skipper Rahkeem Cornwall claimed 5/61 while pacer Jeremiah Louis took 3/26. For the Volcanoes, Keron Cottoy was left unbeaten on 73.

Like in their 187-run win over the Red Force last week, Leeward Islands did not enforce the follow-on and lost both openers cheaply in their second innings. At the close of play, they had reached 64 for 2, with Ross Powell (14*) and Devon Thomas ( 3*) still at the crease.

Pacers Preston McSween and Josh Thomas had both Kieran Powell (18 off 20) and Montcin Hodge (24 off 58) caught by Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge respectively..

In the first innings, McSween finished with a fifer. He might need to repeat the feat to give the Windward Islands a fighting chance.

Match Summaries

(At Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba)

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force: 133 all out (54.2 overs) (Imran Khan 29, Terrance Hinds 25; Jomel Warrican 3/21, Akeem Jordan 2/17, Ramon Simmonds 2/24, Justin Greaves 2/26) & 51 for 3 (21 overs) (Keagan Simmons 26*, Jeremy Solozano 14*)

Barbados Pride: 294 all out (91.3 overs) (Raymon Reifer 79, Justin Greaves 50, Jonathan Carter 41; Terrance Hinds 5/32, Imran Khan 2/60)

T&T Red Force won the toss and trail by 110 runs.

(At Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Diego Martin)

Jamaica Scorpions: 393 (109.3 overs) (Jermaine Blackwood 114, Aldane Thomas 100, Alwyn Williams 51; Veerasammy Permaul 3/96, Kevin Sinclair 2/74, Gudakesh Motie 2/39, Demetri Cameron 2/103)

Guyana Harpy Eagles: 213 for 1 (68 overs) (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 96*, Chandrapaul Hemraj 78, Tevin Imlach 38*; Nicholson Gordon 1/56)

Jamaica won the toss and lead by 180 runs.

(At Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain)

Leeward Islands Hurricanes: 333 all out (95.5 overs) (Colin Archibald 106*, Jahmar Hamilton 52, Daniel Doram 43; Preston McSween 5/92, Kenneth Dember 2/77) & 64/2 (20 overs) (Montcin Hodge 24, Kieran Powell 18; Preston McSween 1/7)

Windward Islands Volcanoes: 173 all out (55 overs) (Keron Cottoy 73*, Devon Smith 35; Rahkeem Cornwall 5/61, Jeremiah Louis 3/26)

Leewards Islands won the toss and lead by 224 runs.

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