ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Jan 12, CMC – Kavem Hodge struck a career-best hundred but left-arm quick Daniel St Clair answered with a personal best of his own, yet Trinidad and Tobago Red Force found themselves against the ropes in their ninth round Regional Four-Day match here Friday.
The right-handed Hodge converted his overnight 87 into a splendid 128 as Windward Islands Volcanoes rallied to 366 all out on the second day of the contest at the National Stadium here.
Not to be left out, St Clair snatched six for 62 – his maiden five-wicket haul in first class cricket.
Red Force were then floored by a two-wicket burst from left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson (2-16) as they staggered to the close on 51 for four.
Left-handed Amir Jangoo stroked 24 but was one of two wickets to fall in the space of 17 balls towards the end of play.
Earlier, Volcanoes resumed on 270 for four but suffered an early blow when they lost left-hander Kyle Mayers after he added just one to his overnight 73, with two added to the overall total.
His demise ended a promising 117-run fifth wicket stand with Hodge, and when wicketkeeper Dennis Smith fell to the very next delivery to leave St Clair on a hat-trick, Volcanoes were in danger of a quick decline.
Hodge, however, found an ally in former Test spinner Shane Shillingford, and they put on 53 for the seventh wicket to stabilise the innings.
The 24-year-old Hodge, who has been in good touch this season, grabbed the chance to raise his second first class hundred. All told, he faced 348 deliveries and struck 11 boundaries.
Shillingford, meanwhile, got 24 from 53 balls counting three fours and a six.
The partnership ended when left-arm spinner Khary Pierre (2-44) prised out Shillingford, leading to the last four wickets tumbling for 41 runs.
There was no joy for Red Force in reply as Johnson claimed Jeremy Solozano to the sixth ball of the innings before he had scored, with just three runs on the board.
Pacer Sherman Lewis then trapped Ewart Nicholson lbw for two with the score on 13 in the fourth over to leave the visitors in further strife before Jangoo and Yannic Cariah (7) offered a temporary reprieve in a 26-run, third wicket partnership.
The innings appeared to be settling down when Jangoo perished at the hands of Johnson and Cariah followed him soon afterwards.
Red Force trail by 315 runs heading into day three on Saturday.
