T&T Red Force was reeling on 87 for four at the end of the third day's play of its WICB PCL four-day clash against Jamaica Scorpions, at the Queen's Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
After overhauling the Red Force's first innings effort of 271 and taking a 20-run lead, the Jamaicans grabbed four wickets before the close, as the T&T men closed on 87 for four–67 runs to the good with six wickets standing, going into today's final day.
There were two stars on the day for the Jamaicans, the first being Andre McCarthy who scored an imperious 121 and then in the final session part time spinner John Campbell snared four wickets to leave the Red Force in a spot of bother.
After leg-spinner Imran Khan grabbed 7/90 to bowl out Jamaica for 291, the Red Force batsmen failed to deliver. Openers Kjorn Ottley and Jeremy Solozano started solidly and while they were batting no one could have imagined what was to come. They posted 48 for the first wicket, before the Scorpions stormed back to take four wickets for the addition of 39 runs.
Solozano who made his maiden First Class century in the first innings, fell for 19 as Campbell had him caught at slip. Immediately after John could not believe his good fortune, as he sent back the Barbadian import Kyle Mayers for a 'duck'. He would then add opener Ottley for 31 off 81 balls and then finish off with the big fish Narsingh Deonarine for 14. The former West Indies under-19 opening batsman finished with 4-39.
Resuming on the overnight position of 119 for three, the Jamaicans batted well and kept the T&T bowlers at bay for quite a while. McCarthy and Tamar Lambert added 149 runs for the fourth wicket that was pivotal in taking the visitors past the Red Force. McCarthy counted a brilliant 121 in 229 minutes off 180 balls with 16 fours. Khan accounted for him and from that point the home team was able to get back into the contest. Lambert left 11 runs later, as Khan had him snapped up by Yannick Ottley for 45. He batted for 217 minutes, faced 191 balls and struck four fours. After his fall, the innings went into a tail spin and Khan was able to rush through them.
Play on the final day today starts at 10 am.
SCOREBOARD
Trinidad Red Force vs Jamaica Scorpions
T&T Red Force 1st inns 271
Jamaica inns
J Campbell c Katwaroo b St Clair 2
P Palmer b Khan 35
K Edwards lbw Deonarine 19
A McCathy c Ottley b Khan 121
T Lambert c Ottley b Khan 45
C Walton not out 33
D Bernard st Katwaroo b Khan 11
N Miller c Katwaroo b Khan 13
D Jacobs c St Clair b Khan 0
J Dawes lbw Khan 2
M Mindley c Solozano b Kantasingh 0
Extras 5b, 4lb, 1w 10
Total all out 291
Fall of wkts: 3, 46, 73, 222, 233, 259, 279, 279, 284, 291.
Bowling: M Richards 12-3-25-0, D St Clair 12-2-47-1, K Kantasingh 28-8-55-1, N Deonarine 16-2-43-1, I Khan 28-5-90-7, Y Carriah 5-0-21-0.
T&T inns
J Solozano c Palmer b Campbell 19
K Ottley c Jacobs b Campbell 31
K Hope c McCarthy b Campbell 0
N Deonarine c Walton b Campbell 14
Y Carriah not out 8
Y Ottley not out 10
Extras 2b, 1w, 1nb, 1lb 5
Total for 4 wkts 87
Fall of wkts: 49, 49, 56, 74.
Bowling: M Mindley 3-0-8-0, J Dawes 1-0-14-0, D Bernard 2-0-6-0, N Miller 18-4-21-0, J Campbell 17-4-35-4.