PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Kjorn Ottley and Kyle Hope carved out classy, unbeaten half-centuries as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force capitalised on a feeble batting effort from Barbados Pride, to cruise to a nine-wicket victory in their second game of the Regional Super50 here yesterday.
Opting to bat first at Queen’s Park Oval, Pride produced an ordinary display to collapse to 161 all out with three balls left in the innings.
In-form Roston Chase top-scored with 50 while Justin Greaves, batting at number eight, chipped in with a valuable 31 and Shamarh Brooks, 25.
Off-spinner Jon Ross Jagessar, in only his second game at the regional level, hurt the innings with three for 24 while left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley (2-31) and seamer Rayad Emrit (2-45) supported with two wickets apiece.
In defence of a paltry total, Pride started brightly when they prised out the dangerous Evin Lewis cheaply off the second ball of the innings but Ottley stroked 80 not out and Hope, an unbeaten 70, to see guide Red Force to victory in the 36th over.
The left-handed Ottley, brought in after missing Thursday’s opening game against Jamaica Scorpions, faced 113 deliveries and counted 11 fours while Hope, a Barbadian drafted by Red Force this season, hammered six fours and a six off 100 balls.
With Red Force having just a single run on the board when Lewis was bowled by pacer Greaves without scoring attempting a forcing shot off the back foot, the pair added a superb 162 for the second wicket to erase any hopes Pride had of springing an upset. Ottley was strong through the off-side, driving and cutting with authority, and raised his maiden half-century at this level off 76 balls with seven fours.
The 27-year-old Hope, an elegant right-hander, also notched his first half-century at this level off 70 balls with five fours and a six.
He brought up victory for Red Force with a streaky boundary to third man off speedster Tino Best. Earlier, Pride stumbled to 66 for six in the 26th over and never really recovered despite the right-handed Chase’s enterprise.
Dwayne Smith played on to Emrit for four in the fifth over with the score on ten attempting to pull and opening partner and captain Kevin Stoute followed in the next over also for four, nicking seamer Marlon Richards behind at 14 for two.
Left-handed Jonathan Carter spent 38 balls over a single run before Jagessar ended his misery with a catch at the wicket and Brooks stroked three handsome fours in his 46-ball stay, before edging a drive at left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein to slip.
Kenroy Williams (0) and wicketkeeper Mario Rampersaud (12) perished in quick succession to leave Pride in dire straits before Chase buckled down in a 60-run, seventh wicket stand with Greaves to rescue the innings.
Chase faced 85 deliveries and struck three fours but met his demise in the 44th over when he was well caught by Jason Mohammed at cover off Yannick Ottley.
Once he fell, the innings tailed away as Pride lost their last four wickets for 35 runs, despite Ashley Nurse’s resistance with a breezy 19-ball 21.
