Pooran leads Red Steel to victory over Red Force in CPL warm-up

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Nicholas Pooran slammed an unbeaten 49 off just 23 balls to lead the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, to a seven-wicket win over the T&T Red Force in their final warm-up match ahead of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which starts tomorrow.

Pooran, the youngest player in the inaugural CPL T20, struck five sixes and one four to boost his reputation as a clinical finisher and seal the win for his franchise.

His innings lifted Red Steel to 155 for three off the final ball of their innings as they replied to the Red Force’s 151 for six.

The wicketkeeper/batsman shared an unbroken 73-run stand for the fourth wicket with Kevon Cooper who supported with 20 off 23 balls.

Earlier, Red Steel suffered a slump when Adrian Barath was out for a five-ball duck but rebounded through another 73-run stand, for the second wicket, between South African Davy Jacobs and T&T’s Justin Guillen.

Jacobs hit 29 off 41 balls without a boundary, while Guillen struck three sixes and a four in a 30-ball 44, before he was caught off the bowling of Imran Khan with the score on 73.

Pooran and Cooper ensured Red Steel came out on top in their final warm-up match ahead of their CPL opener against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, at Providence Stadium, Guyana, tomorrow night.