The supporter clad in red, white and black, walked up the towering stairs of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy with tremendous Pride after the Red Force won its last clash against the Jamaican Scorpions last week in Kingston, Jamaica. The same man was left flat in his seat by the end of the second session of play on the first day, as his beloved team had crashed to 145 for eight against the Barbados Pride on the opening day of their fourth round West Indies Four-day clash in Tarouba, San Fernando yesterday.
At the break, Yannic Carriah was leading the fight on 23 not out off 85 deliveries with two fours. A number of T&T batsmen got starts but gave away their wickets after looking set. Skipper Denesh Ramdin made 19, Jeremy Solozano 20, Khary Pierre 15 and Kyle Hope 15.
The bowler doing the damage for Barbados was Kevin Stoute, who had 4 for 29 at the break. Opening bowler Marquino Mindley was also good and took 2 for 32.
Earlier, Ramdin won the toss for the first time in First Class cricket at this venue and immediately decided to take the first strike.
With Red Force batting at the ground for the first time in any First Class cricket match, saw openers Kyle Hope and Jeremy Solozano starting off well. They were together for the first 46 minutes of play, and life was looking good for the Red Force men.
However, in the space of 20 minutes, three batsmen were packing their cricket bags in the locker room. Marqino Mindley outfoxed Hope beautifully when he brought one back sharply into him and followed with an outswinger to peel off the edge of his bat.
The openers posted 38 for the first wicket and five runs later Solozano, the rock of this Red Force batting was sent packing.
Mindley angled one across him and next ball was found coming back into the left-hander, who missed and heard the dreaded sound of timber falling.
Amir Jangoo, who has averaged just 20 in the series thus far, needed to bat long. He was unable to do that as medium pacer Kevin Stoute sent him packing for five via the leg before route, to make the score 43 for 3.
Ramdin and Jason Mohammed then got together and the pair brought some calm to the proceedings. They batted well, leaving deliveries outside the off stump with regularity, only playing at those that were very necessary until Mohammed lost his head on the stroke of supper.
The right-hander feathered a delivery just outside the off stump to leave the arena for 19 - his best score of the season. At supper, Ramdin was unbeaten on 14 and the Red Force 79 for 4.
After the break, Kevin Stoute continued his good work from the Northern End, as he worked his way into the middle and lower order of the hosts.
The first salvo he sent the way of the Red Force was when he induced an airy on-drive from Ramdin that was snapped up by Springer at short mid-wicket. The Windies keeper made 19 runs from 53 balls with two fours.
Stoute then followed up with the wickets of Imran Khan (12) and Odean Smith (2) both with the help of swinging balls and the big glove of wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott.
SCOREBOARD (Day 1)
T&T Red Force vs Barbadian Pride
Red Force 1st innings
K Hope c Nurse b Mindley*15
J Solozano b Mindley*20
A Jangoo lbw Stoute*5
D Ramdin c Springer b Stoute*19
J Mohammed c Walcott b Springer*19
Y Carriah not out*23
I Khan c Walcott b Stoute*12
O Smith c Walcott b Stoute*2
K Pierre b Nurse*15
D St. Clair not out*0
Extras*15
Total for 8 wkts*145
Fall of wkts: 38, 43, 43,
79, 96, 108, 110, 144.
Bowling:
Keon Harding 10-1-35-0,
M Mindley 12-4-34-2,
K Stoute 17-7-29-4,
S Springer 9-2-28-1,
A Nurse 5-1-11-1.
OTHER SCORES
At Grenada National Stadium: Volcanoes batted all day.
WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 263 for six (Devon Smith 124, Kavem Hodge 56, Denis Smith 36 not out; Dennis Bulli 5-94) vs JAMAICA SCORPIONS
At Guyana National Stadium: Hurricanes trail Jaguars by 139 runs with seven wickets remaining.
GUYANA JAGUARS 196 (Chris Barnwell 58, Leon Johnson 44, Keemo Paul 32; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-70, Damion Jacobs 3-15)
LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 57 for three.