Set 107 runs for victory and clouds hovering around Couva, the T&T Red Force openers blasted their team to a nine-wicket victory off just12.3 overs, against the Leewards Hurricanes at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Balmain, Couva yesterday. The Leewards on the back of 65 from Rakheem Cornwall fought back well to score 287 in their second innings to post a victory target of 107 runs.
Evin Lewis was in prime touch and cracked 56 of 41 balls with nine fours and a six and Kyle Hope made 34 not out of 36 balls with a four and a six, to ensure their second successive PCL victory, after their win over Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park. Leewards resumed on the overnight position of 147/5 and a lot depended on the big man Rahkeem Cornwall. He did not disappoint and was able to keep T&T in the field for a long period.
The locals would have been hoping to wrap up the last five Leewards wickets quickly but was met with broad bats from Cornwall and Orlando Peters. The duo played positive cricket and stayed together for an hour and 15 minutes into the final day before leg-spinner Imran Khan got the breakthrough. He had Peters bowled for 39 in 121 minutes of 119 balls with four fours. Wicketkeeper Jahmah Hamilton joined ‘Jimboy’ Cornwall and but did not read from the same script and left via a leg before decision to Narsingh Deonarine.
Cornwall brought up his half century soon after as the Leewards continued to fight. Jeremiah Louis put a price to his wicket and when the lunch van pulled up he still had bat in hand and the score read 265/7. One run after the lunch break Cornwall made the long trek back to the pavilion and that was the end of the Leewards fight.
The burly right hander who has taken a liking to this ground by carving a century against T&T last year a century in the Nagico in 2015 against Jamaica at this same ground, would have been disappointed to get out to man of the match Imran Khan after looking well set to record a ton. He batted for 129 minutes, faced 97 balls and struck seven fours and two sixes. Towards the end Jeremiah Louis added a valuable 32 not out but it was never enough. Leg spinner Khan was the pick of the bowlers with 4/80.