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If the Trinidad and Tobago weather co-operates, current West Indies Regional Four-day Championship champions Barbados Pride should have an easy task to seal their 2022 defence.
If, however, the weather does not co-operate, as was the case today, Kraigg Brathwaite’s Pride will walk away as 2022 champions without another ball being bowled.
At the end of the penultimate round of the Championship last weekend, the defending champions stood at the top of the table, their innings victory over the Red Force having put them on 67.5 pts. A win over table-proppers Windward Island Volcanoes (21 pts) would not by itself put them out of reach of second-placed Leewards Islands Hurricanes (65.4pts).
But in their final game against the Jamaica Scorpions at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba, they would need a win and bonus points. At the end of Day One, the Scorpions, in trouble at 10 for 3 at one stage, had recovered to post 302 all out, thanks to a fine unbeaten 144 by Paul Palmer.
The Guyana Harpy Eagles (51.2pts) need Barbados to lose to have even an outside chance of overhauling them.
And at the close on Day One at the Diego Martin Complex, Barbados, on 109 for 1 in pursuit of 204 to earn at least first innings points, looked well placed to romp to victory.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
At the Queen’s Park Oval, despite being 170 for 2 at one stage, the Red Force had reached only 203 with their last pair at the crease.
So tomorrow morning, neither the Scorpions, the Volcanoes nor the Red Force will be particularly interested in the weather forecast. However, one can expect an anxious Hurricanes watch while the Eagles, perhaps still dreaming pie-in-the-sky dreams, keep an uneasy eye on the clouds.
Not the Pride. They are already understandably confident that the trophy is on its way back to Bridgetown.
Rain or shine.
DAY TWO SUMMARISED SCORES
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force: 203 for 9 (90 overs) (Jeremy Solozano 72, Jason Mohammed 68, Isaiah Rajah 26; Keemo Paul 5/41, Gudakesh Motie 2/35)
Trinidad and Tobago won the toss.
Windward Islands Volcanoes: 203 all out (62 overs) (Teddy Bishop 44, Larry Edwards 37; Ramon Simmonds 3/25, Roston Chase 3/46)
Barbados Pride: 109 for 1 (24 overs) (Raymon Reifer 56*, Kraigg Brathwaite 39*; Ryan John 1/14)
Windward Islands won the toss. Barbados trail by 94 runs.
Jamaica Scorpions: 302 all out (80 overs) (Paul Palmer 144*, Jamie Merchant 55, Aldane Thomas 31; Sheeno Berridge 2/29, Colin Archibald 2/64, Rahkeem Cornwall 2/103)
Leewards Islands won the toss.
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