Against all odds a depleted T&T Red Force team registered an emphatic 84-run victory over Jamaica Scorpions in their first game of the Nagico Super50 series on Thursday night, and today they will aim to repeat that winning performance when they come up against the Barbados Pride at the Queen’s Park Oval from 9 am.
Thursday night, Marlon Richards, Evin Lewis and Rayad Emrit combined to give the home fans something to cheer about, as they destroyed the Scorpions.
Showing that their recent stint in Bangladesh was worthwhile, Lewis and Rayad Emrit batted very well to give T&T Red Force a fighting score of 221 all out off 47.2 overs. Richards also contributed with the willow in getting 31.
The Guyana-born pacer would then grab his first five-wicket haul to see the Jamaicans fold for 137. The player who was born in Linden, but came to T&T as a young boy, bowled his heart out on the night and using his skiddy action he was able to make inroads into the Jamaican line-up. In the end he would look up at the scoreboard to see 5/36 against his name and copped the man of the match award.
Red Force made a good start with Lewis and Kyle Hope killing off the new ball threat. Lewis was in brilliant form and delighted the handful of fans at the Oval with exquisite strokeplay. What was even more pleasing from the left hander was the fact that he mixed aggression with watchful defence in order to build the T&T innings.
He lost Hope for 16 but continued the take the attack to the visitors and reached his half century off 43 balls. He lost import Narsingh Deonarine (6) and skipper Jason Mohammed (4) in quick succession as the Jamaican spinners came into their own.
Nikita Miller and Damian Jacobs reduced T&T to 119 for six, including the wicket of Lewis. A number of soft dismissals were the order of the afternoon for Red Force and even Lewis, after playing a flawless knock, gave his wicket away. He played leg-spinner Jacobs to point to end his contribution of 74 off 74 balls. He slammed three fours and three sixes and whilst he was there Jamaica was uneasy. After he left Emrit and Akeal Hosein took over and added 59 for the seventh wicket. Just as the Red Force was taking control again, Hosein played an atrocious shot to leave the arena for 23.
Emrit continued to play sensible cricket and found an able ally in Marlon Richards to take Red Force past the 200-run mark. Emrit was finally dismissed for 43 of 51 balls with three fours and a six, while Richards made 31 off 42 balls with one four and a six.
Today the home team should face a stiffer challenge from the Barbadians, as their spinners Sulieman Benn and Ashley Nurse were among the wickets in their opening win over the ICC Americas. The Barbadians looked good in parts during the game and would have to lift their level to continue their winning ways.
The pitch at the Oval allowed for generous turn in the opening encounter and more of the same is expected this morning.
Red Force vs Scorpions
Red Force
K Hope c McCarthy b Cottrell 16
E Lewis N Deonarine c Miller b Mindley 6
J Mohammed lbw Jacobs 4
K Ottley b Miller 5
A Hosein st Thomas b Jacobs 23
S Katwaroo b Miller 0
R Emrit c Cottrell b Campbell 43
M Richards c Thomas b Lambert 31
J Jaggessar lbw Lambert 2
P Williams not out 0
Extras lb5, w10 15
Total all out (47.2ovs) 221
Fall of wkts: 38, 80, 114, 118, 119, 178, 203, 209, 221.
Bowling: S Cottrell 5-0-21-1, M Mindley 7-0-40-1, N Miller 10-1-27-2, J Campbell 6-0-37-1, D Jacobs 10-1-40-3, D Thomas 2-0-17-0, J Campbell 7.2-0-34-2.
Jamaica Scorpions
J Campbell lbw Jaggessar 17
T Griffith run out 20
D Thomas b Richards 7
A McCarthy b Richards 21
T Lambert c Katwaroo b Richards 1
B King c Hope b Hosein 26
A Thomas st Katwaroo b Richards 9
N Miller lbw Richards 0
D Jacobs not out 6
S Cottrell st Katwaroo b Ottley 1
M Mindley c Hosein b Ottley 17
Extras 9w, 1b, 1lb 11
Total all out 137
Fall of wkts: 33, 45, 51, 54, 93, 108, 108, 122, 113, 137.
Bowling: R Emrit 6-1-15-0, J Jaggessar 6-2-19-1, P Williams 6-0-20-0, M Richards 10-0-36-5, A Hosein 10-0-29-1, K Ottley 4.4-1-16-1.
Result: Red Force won by 84 runs.
Man-of-match: Marlon Richards