BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Joshua DaSilva was propping up Trinidad and Tobago Red Force following another batting collapse, as their sixth round encounter against Leeward Islands Hurricanes headed for an intriguing finish on today’s final day.
At the close of the penultimate day at Warner Park, Red Force were struggling on 94 for six in their second innings – a lead of only 130 runs – after Test off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall threatened to destroy the innings with a lethal spell of five for 29.
DaSilva was unbeaten on 45, an innings that has so far consumed 80 balls and nearly 1-¾ hours and included five fours and a six.
With Red Force in dire straits on 28 for five, DaSilva combined with Imran Khan (29) to put on an invaluable 53 for the sixth wicket.
Khan struck three fours in a 54-ball knock before succumbing in the fifth over before the close, which was taken early due to showers.
Hurricanes had earlier been dismissed for 251 to concede a first innings lead of 36, after resuming from their overnight 147 for five.
Left-hander Amir Jangoo, unbeaten on 72 overnight, fell for 90 while the tail wagged through Nino Henry’s 34 and Jeremiah Louis’s 29.
Trinidadian Jangoo faced 238 balls in nearly five hours at the crease and struck eight fours and two sixes while Henry’s knock was a breezy one, containing five fours and a six and coming from 54 balls.
Crucially, Jangoo extended his sixth wicket stand with Jaison Peters (21) to 63 before he was the last of three wickets to fall for 31 runs, holing out to mid-on off left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2-52) at 193 for eight.
Henry and Louis then frustrated Red Force in a 53-run, ninth wicket stand before leg-spinner Imran Khan claimed both to finish with four for 67.
Armed with a slender lead, Red Force were quickly undermined by Cornwall who removed Jeremy Solozano (5), captain Yannick Ottley (5) and Isaiah Rajah (7) all courtesy of lbw decisions, as the innings slumped to 19 for three.
Cornwall then grabbed two wickets in one over with Red Force on 28, having Khary Pierre caught at short leg by Jangoo for three and then removing Jason Mohammed first ball to a catch at slip by Terrance Warde.
