The powerful T&T Red Force flexed its muscles last evening to bowl out the defending champions Windward Islands Volcanoes for just 78 runs in their round six of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Super50 Tournament clash at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando, last night.
The Red Force went on to win the match by seven wickets with Lendl Simmons striking his third successive half-century.
Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin won the toss and sent in the Windwards to take the first strike. One hour and 45 minutes were lost to rain and the match was reduced to 38 overs per side.
As the innings began Ravi Rampaul as has been the case for his entire career, grabbed an early wicket. He sent back Tyrone Theophille and from that point, there was a constant progression to and from the pitch.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan, who replaced an injured Sunil Narine was the pick of the bowlers on a turning track, took three wickets for 13 runs from four overs.
Fellow spinner Khary Pierre was also on target with two wickets for seven runs. Earlier, all-rounder Rayad Emrit was good as well and took two wickets for eight runs from four overs.
The only batsman to make an impression for the Windwards was Gidron Pope. The opener slammed 37 runs from 44 balls with five fours and a six.
Left to get 79 runs for victory off 38 overs, the Red Force batsmen went on the attack with 12 overs to go to the supper break. The hosts lost three early wickets to left-arm spinner Kaveem Hodge, but the in-form batsmen Simmons and Nicolas Pooran stayed the course to earn the win.
Kieron Pollard, who has struggled in this tournament so far, was sent to open the batting with the Red Force looking to get the target by 17.5 overs to earn the bonus point. The move didn’t pay off as Pollard left a gaping gap between bat and pad and was bowled going for an almighty swing. He failed to score, just as he did in the last match against Guyana Jaguars on the weekend.
Soon after Jason Mohammed and Darren Bravo fell to Hodge, as the Red Force reached 23/3. Pooran came and helped to take the pressure off Simmons, spanking an 11-ball 25 not out, while Simmons cracked 52 not out - winning the match with a six. Simmons faced 30 balls, five fours and four sixes. Pooran smacked three fours and two sixes.
With the win, Red Force remains in the second position on 24 points, one behind the Jaguars.
SCORES
VOLCANOES 78 off 22.1 overs (Gidron Pope 37; Imran Khan 3-13, Khary Pierre 2-7, Rayad Emrit 2-8)
RED FORCE 83 for three off 9.4 overs (Lendl Simmons 52 not out, Nicholas Pooran 25 not out; Kavem Hodge 3-48)