Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Force last night defeated Guyana by 12 runs by virtue of a superior all-round performances at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence as they tuned up for the Champions League T20 next month.
The Red Force was led by solid contributions from in-form opener Lendl Simmons and the 17-year old Nicholas Pooran, who struck 34 and 33 respectively,
and a Man-of-the-match performance by Rayad Emrit who picked up 3 for 10.
Having won the toss, Trinidad elected to bat but was restricted to 134-7. Simmons struck five boundaries and a six in his top score while the left-handed Pooran smashed five aggressive boundaries.
Simmons and his opening partner, Evin Lewis started off proceedings. Lewis hit two fours and two sixes in his knock of 26 and was the first to be removed when he was trapped LBW by Paul Wintz.
Adrian Barath (15) played a solid number three role but was then caught by Steven Jacobs off the bowling of left-hand spinner, Veerasammy Permaul. Simmons was then dismissed caught and bowled by Permaul who picked up his second wicket.
Pooran came to the crease and looked dangerous as he carved the local bowlers to the various parts of the ground. Jason Mohamed (9) was removed by skipper Christopher Barnwell when he struck one straight down the throat of Robin Bacchus.
With the team’s hundred coming up in 16.2 overs, Red Force skipper Denesh Ramdin went cheaply after he was caught by wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble for 2 runs.
Pooran continued his merry way taking the score to 134 before he was trapped LBW by Krishmar Santokie. Yannick Ottley was bowled first ball by Santokie, who wrapped up the visitors’ innings.
Santokie ended with figures of four overs, 2 for 28. Permaul grabbed 2 for 20, while Wintz, Barnwell and Bishoo claimed a wicket each.
In their chase, Guyana were restricted to 123 for 7 but were given some hope earlier on by the left-handed Leon Johnson, who top scored with a classy 41. Openers Trevon Griffith (12) and Robin Bacchus (16), looked good as they struck four boundaries in their opening stand of 26.
Bacchus was the first to go when he was caught by Ganga off the bowling of leg-spinner Samuel Badree leaving the score at 26 for 1. Some 10 runs later, he then removed Griffith who skied a catch to Lewis.
With the score on 36 for 2, Johnson and the skipper Barnwell added a 37- run partnership. Barnwell struck the first maximum of the Guyana innings in the 9th over when he hammered Ottley down the ground.
The two brought up the team’s half-century in the 8th over. The partnership was then broken when the skipper was removed for 22 in the 12th over off the bowling of Simmons who had him caught by Ottley.
Rajiv Ivan (13) then came to the crease to partner the well-set Johnson, but was caught by Ganga after attempting a pull shot off Rayad Emrit.
The team’s hundred came up in the 17th over, as Johnson and Jacobs tried to take their team across the line. Jacobs (12) from nine balls with one four, was dismissed looking to go over the top off Emrit and was caught by Badree.
New man Bramble was bowled for 1 by Emrit and Guyana then needed 18 from the last six balls. Johnson struck Ottley’s first ball for a boundary reducing the target to 14 from 5, he missed the second ball and was then bowled for a well-played 41 off 42 with two fours and two maximums.
Requiring 12 from 2 balls, Permaul played two dot balls and was left not on 2.
The Red Force bowling was led by Emrit who grabbed 3, while leg-spinner Badree ended with 2 for 14 and Ottley and Simmons picked up one each.
The second match is on tonight at 20:00 hrs.
