Red Force snatch stalemate on dull final day

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force escaped with a draw as little fireworks materialized on the final day of their second round game of the Regional First Class Championship against Barbados Pride here yesterday.

Opener Evin Lewis top-scored with a breezy 41.
Opener Evin Lewis top-scored with a breezy 41.

Set 298 for victory, the visitors finished on 182 for four at Kensington Oval, to walk away with six points from an encounter in which they always trailed and at no point ever threatened the hosts.

Left-handed opener Evin Lewis struck a top score of 41, Narsingh Deonarine got 38 while Yannic Cariah chipped in with 37 not out. The innings was never really in any danger after Lewis and Kjorn Ottley, who scored 24, put on 64 for the first wicket after taking Red Force to lunch on 32 without loss.

Lewis’s innings was typically breezy, containing five fours and a six off just 55 deliveries while Ottley hit three fours in a 64-ball knock. When Lewis and Kyle Hope, who made 19, fell in quick succession to leave Red Force on 95 for three, Pride perhaps entertained thoughts of a victory.

Lewis was caught at forward short-leg by Shai Hope off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican while Hope, a Barbadian, was bowled off-stump by seamer Kemar Roach for 19.

However, Deonarine and Cariah then came together in a 64-run, fourth wicket stand to make the match safe for Red Force, taking their side to tea at 116 for three.

The left-handed Deonarine faced 103 balls in 129 minutes and hit four fours while Cariah batted 114 deliveries in 2-1/4 hours and also struck four boundaries.

Earlier, Shane Dowrich stroked an unbeaten 40 as Pride, resuming on 171 for three, declared their second innings on 243 for five after an hour’s play.

The right-hander struck a four and two sixes in a busy 31-ball knock while Roston Chase got 23 from 37 balls.

Shamarh Brooks, unbeaten on 51 not out overnight, added just four runs before holing out to Deonarine at long-off off leg-spinner Imran Khan who finished with two for 90.