Another inept batting display by the T&T Red Force saw Jamaica walk away with a 38-run win in their third round WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) clash at the Queen's Park Oval yesterday.
Chasing 239 runs to claim the victory, the local boys lost early wickets when they resumed on 24 for one and slipped to 84 for six, under some brilliant slow bowling by Nikita Miller, who grabbed 7/63, as they made 201 all out.
Youngsters Nicolas Pooran 55 and Akeal Hosein 35 not out, pointed to a better future but again T&T's batting let them down. The last four wickets were able to conjure up 117 runs but after the top order collapse, it was difficult to spring a win. Jamaica with the win gets 15 points from this match, while Red Force got three. Jamaica moves into second place in the standings with 34 points–five behind leaders Guyana. Red Force slips to fourth position on 23 points, with Barbados ahead of them on 27. Windwards are fifth with 22, followed by Leewards on seven.
Earlier, when play got off half an hour early at 9.30am to make up for time lost, the Jamaicans were immediately on song. Left arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell sent back nightwatchman Marlon Richards for a duck. This gave the visitors an immediate lift and put more pressure on the locals. While Simmons was finding it difficult to middle the ball and scratching around, spinner Miller kept searching.
He sent back Jason Mohammed for a duck caught at slip playing a nothing shot and finally scalped Simmons–who was stumped for 27. Simmons who has endured a rough start to the season, batted for 76 minutes, faced 56 balls and struck three fours and a six, in the same over he was dismissed.
At 53 for four, the writing was on the wall and the Jamaicans seemed more interested in looking over the Republic Bank Stand–where the rain comes because only the heavens could have saved the Red Force from that point.
Young Yannick Ottley who scored an unbeaten 76 in the last match was joined by Nicholas Pooran and they took the score to 81 for four when rain came at around 11am to force the players off.
An early lunch was taken and when play resumed, a double strike by Miller pushed T&T back even further. Ottley was caught at slip was John Campbell and wicketkeeper Stephen Katwaroo was caught behind for his second 'duck' of the match–giving Miller his fifth wicket.
Skipper Rayad Emrit came in to join Pooran and both batsmen decided to counterattack. The Jamaicans receded and T&T had a glimmer of hope. The two added 65 runs for the seventh wicket with Pooran smashing T&T's only half century of the match off 84 balls with five fours and three sixes in 90 minutes batting. He then fell soon after going for another big hit off Miller. Cottrell running in from long on held on to a fine catch low down and Pooran was on his way for 55.
At this point a lot depended on Emrit but he did not deliver, as he found Dave Bernard at long on off the impressive Miller. He made 30 off 48 balls in 53 minutes with four fours and a six.
T&T will next play Guyana from Friday at the Queen's Park Oval.
SCOREBOARD
TT Red Force vs Jamaica
Jamaica 1st inns 172 all out
T&T 1st inns 131 all out
Jamaican 2nd inns 196 all out
T&T 2nd inns target 239
(overnight 24/1)
L Simmons st Baugh b Miller 27
E Lewis c Thomas b Miller 10
M Richards c Thomas b Cottrell 0
Y Ottley c Campbell b Miller 16
J Mohammed c Campbell b Miller 0
N Pooran c Cottrell b Miller 55
S Katwaroo c Baugh b Miller 0
R Emrit c Bernard b Miller 30
A Hosein not out 35
I Khan c Bernard b Jacobs 9
D St. Clair c Baugh b Lambert 5
Extras 4b, 1nb, 1lb 6
Total all out 201
Fall of wkts: 23, 29, 49, 53, 84, 84, 149, 155, 180, 201.
Bowling: S Cottrell 13-3-46-1, M Mindley 6-1-20-0, D Jacobs 18-4-60-1, N Miller 29-11-63-7, T Lambert 0.5-0-1-1.
Result: Jamaica won by 38 runs.
standings:
Team M PTS
Guyana 3 39
Jamaica 3 34
Barbados 3 27
T&T Red Force 3 23
Windwards 3 22
Leewards 3 7?