Barbadian Primus hurts Pride with all-round burst

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC — Roshon Primus’s excellent all-round performance derailed Barbados Pride and put Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in a strong position on the opening day of the day/night ninth round Regional four-day contest here late Friday.

The 21-year-old Barbadian struck an entertaining top score of 60 as bottom placed Red Force, opting to bat first at Kensington Oval, rattled up 196 all out in their first innings.

In reply, Pride were tottering on 27 for five at the close after their innings was ruined by Primus who snatched three wickets for three runs with his right-arm pace.

Left-handed opener Anthony Alleyne fell cheaply for four in the third over to leave Pride on nine for one, but the hosts appeared to be making their way safely to the close when they reached 21 without further loss.

However, Primus intervened, removing Kyle Corbin (5) and Test batsman Roston Chase (0) in successive deliveries — both caught at short mid-wicket by Isaiah Rajah — to find himself on a hat-trick at one stage.

And when debutant seamer Tion Webster claimed Test star Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for 14, Pride were in further strife.

Earlier, Primus had rallied the Red Force innings after it collapsed to 122 for five, just before the tea interval.

The right-hander, in his first first-class game since last December, struck eight fours and two sixes in an 80-ball knock before he was last out, bowled by seamer Justin Greaves an hour before tea.

Isaiah Rajah chipped in with 38 and opener Amir Jangoo, 32, the two left-handers posting 53 for the second wicket.

Medium pacer Kevin Stoute was Pride’s best bowler with four for 51 while Greaves finished with three for 29.