PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Justin Greaves struck his second half-century of the Regional Super50 Cup as West Indies Emerging Players stunned previously unbeaten hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by 10 runs here late Wednesday, to storm to the top of Group B.
In an exciting day/night contest at Queen’s Park Oval, Emerging Players racked up 243 all out off their 50 overs with Greaves striking 80 off 88 deliveries, and opener Kimani Melius (39), captain Yannic Cariah (34) and wicketkeeper Joshua DaSilva (34) all playing supporting roles.
The development team then held their nerve to defy half-centuries from Yannick Ottley who scored 71 and West Indies left-hander Darren Bravo who made exactly 50, to notch their third win in four matches and move to 12 points.
Rookie fast bowler Keon Harding extended his excellent form, snatching four for 59 to move his tally for the tournament to 14 wickets.
Hunting their third straight win, Red Force started well when they opted to bowl first and then got the wicket of Gidron Pope for a first-ball ‘duck’, with four runs on the board in the second over.
However, several key partnerships allowed Emerging Players to quickly regain their balance. Melius and DaSilva started the revival by adding 67 for the second wicket and when they perished in the space of 13 balls with just 11 runs added, Greaves and Cariah arrived to dominate.
Greaves, already with a half-century against Guyana Jaguars, counted seven fours and one six while Cariah struck a six off 52 balls, in a crucial 93-run, fourth wicket stand.
Cariah’s departure at the start of the 31st over paved the way for Roland Cato to blast two sixes in 18, in a 44-run fifth wicket partnership off 35 balls with Greaves, and keep the tempo of the innings going.
Off-spinner Jon-Russ Jaggesar claimed three for 39 while fast bowlers Anderson Phillip (2-39) and Odean Smith (2-40), along with leg-spinning skipper Imran Khan (2-40), all supported with two wickets each.
Red Force then found themselves tottering early in their run chase, losing both openers cheaply to be 24 for two in the ninth over.
Bravo, who faced 73 deliveries and struck five fours, anchored two critical stands when he put on 59 for the third wicket with Hope and a further 48 for the fifth with Ottley.
Left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd got the important breakthrough when he removed Bravo in the 35th over at 132 for five, sparking a slide which saw three wickets tumble for 12 runs.
Ottley, who belted two fours and four sixes off 79 balls, then led a last ditch effort for Red Force, posting 50 for the eighth wicket with Steven Katwaroo (20) and 37 for the ninth wicket with Anderson Phillip (13 not out), before falling in the final over.
