TAROUBA, Trinidad, CMC – Left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley trapped Larry Edward lbw with three balls left in the final over to end with a five-wicket haul, and propel Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to a sensational two-run victory over luckless Windward Islands Volcanoes here Sunday night.
Volcanoes, with just one win in their previous four matches, started the final over at the Brian Lara Stadium requiring four runs in pursuit of a target of 180 but Ryan John, who finished unbeaten on 38, took an ill-advised single from the first ball to hand Edward the strike.
Edward (2) was then held scoreless from the next delivery before missing a cross-batted shot and being hit plumb in front off the third ball, to spark celebrations among the hosts.
Ottley, who featured for reigning champions CCC Marooners last season, was the hero with five for 36 while new-ball partner, off-spinner Jon-Russ Jaggesar, picked up two for 39 and fast bowler Anderson Phillip, two for 30.
Kavem Hodge, leading Volcanoes in the absence of Kirk Edwards, top-scored with 46 from 55 deliveries while wicketkeeper Emmanuel Stewart fashioned an equally breezy 31 from 35 balls.
With his side in strife at two for two in the second over, Hodge added 43 for the third wicket with Bhaskar Yadram (24), 57 for the fourth with Stewart before putting on a further 30 for the fifth wicket with Alick Athanaze (21).
However, once he was trapped lbw by Phillip in the 24th over, Volcanoes lost five wickets for 19 runs as Ottley scythed through the lower order to tip the scales back in Red Force’s favour.
Earlier, Jason Mohammed (69) and Darren Bravo (58) had both struck half-centuries as Red Force were dismissed for 179 with three balls remaining in the innings, after the match was reduced to 29 overs per side because of a delayed start due to rain.
Mohammed belted half-dozen fours and three sixes in a 53-ball knock while Bravo extended his excellent form with five fours and a six off 60 balls.
Rocking on nine for two in the third over, Red Force were steadied by Bravo who put on 42 for the third wicket with Kyle Hope (16) and a further 95 for the fourth wicket with Mohammed.
Red Force were cruising on 146 for three when medium pacer Yadram (4-22) snatched two wickets in the 24th over as the hosts lost three in four balls, the last six wickets falling for 33 runs as the innings fell away.
