Red Force records big innings win against Barbados Pride

T&T Red Force made a powerful impact in round five of the West Indies Four-day Championship when they destroyed hosts Barbados Pride by an innings and 56 runs inside two days at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

T&T Red Force, with 77.8 points, and Barbados, with 73 points, came into the round in second and third position, respectively, but the Pride couldn’t respond to the opposing attack after being sent in to have a first strike.

After Barbados made just 86 in their first innings, Red Force put themselves into the lead, reaching 182 for four by the end of the day.

With a 96-run lead at the start of day two, Red Force added 81 more runs before being bowled out for 263, claiming a 177-run lead after the first innings.

Batsman Amir Jangoo, who resumed his innings on 37, made 56 before he was trapped lbw by Jason Holder (5 for 52), with support from Yannic Cariah with 30 and Khary Pierre with 22.

Having dismissed Kamil Pooran (60) and Jason Mohammed (four) on day one, Holder also grabbed the wickets of Pierre and Joshua James (ten) to claim a 5 for 52. Matthew Forde got 3 for 53, with Kemar Roach taking 2 for 54.

After their first-innings deficit, Barbados Pride was shaken in the third over of their second innings when Brathwaite was bowled by Jayden Seales (2 for 50). Zachary Me Caskie (8) was caught in the next over after edging a delivery from Anderson Phillip (2 for 38)  through to Bryan Charles at second slip.

With figures of three for eight in the first innings, James struck in his second over on day two when he rocked the off stump of Jonathan Drakes (ten).

Barbados were 34 for three at that stage and limped to the tea interval at 41 for three.

In the final session, Phillip took a running catch from mid-off, causing Kevin Wickham to fall for 12. It was the second of James’ three wickets.

Roston Chase (41) and Shai Hope (20) tried to take their team to recovery with a 59-run stand for the fifth wicket, but Chase was run out when he wandered out of his crease after hitting the ball to Mohammed.

In the very next over, Mohammed caught Hope brilliantly after driving a delivery from Seales. Barbados were in trouble on 100 for six, and the last four wickets fell for just 21 runs.

Pierre (two for 11) had Forde and Jomel Warrican trapped lbw, with Phillip getting his second scalp with Roach. Meanwhile, James finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 16 after dismissing Holder, whom Charles caught at first slip.

With this victory, T&T will likely move to the top at the end of the round.