Left-handed batsman Keagan Simmons on Thursday followed the strong Simmons tradition in cricket by hitting 89 on debut for the T&T Red Force against Jamaica Scorpions on the opening day of the 2020 Cricket West Indies Professional Cricket League at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
His wonderful hand, spiced with classical drives and delicate cuts, would have made his family members, West Indies coach Phil Simmons and opener Lendl Simmons, proud. More importantly, the innings helped the Red Force close on 241-3, with new skipper Darren Bravo unbeaten on 50 and Joshua Da Silva with him on 14.
Simmons’ effort, added to the 73 from pint-sized opener Jeremy Solozano, gave the TT Red Force control early on.
Simmons gave a glimpse of the batting future for T&T as he stepped forward soon after collecting his national cap and looked as if he had gotten it a long time ago.
Languid in his stroke play and upright at the crease, he painted a lovely picture on an almost perfect day in Tarouba. However, deep into the final session, Simmons cut a forlorn picture as he trudged off, after being dismissed by part-time medium-pacer Rovman Powell, contemplating a missed century after facing 218 balls and hitting 10 of those deliveries to the fence.
The solid Solozano, who is slowly becoming one of the more consistent national players, made his 73 off 163 balls with 10 fours as well.
Barbadian import Kyle Hope had disappointed at the top of the order on a good batting strip when he was trapped lbw by pacer Derval Green for eight after Bravo won the toss and decided to bat first. When he left for just nine, it looked as if the Red Force would continue their horror run at the ground named after the nation’s favourite cricketer Brian Lara.
Simmons then strode out at number three to join Queen’s Park teammate Solozano and they batted T&T right back into the match. Firstly, it was all about seeing off the new ball in the first hour and then looking to climb into the attack. While the Southpaws batted, Jamaica retreated and they only got to breathe after 135 runs were added for the second wicket.
As if to add icing on the cake, Bravo then scored a classic 50 not out as he charmed his supporters which may yet bring more fans to the ground today to see if he can complete a century. His innings came off 105 balls and included five fours and a six. Da Silva and Bravo have so far added 66.
SCOREBOARD
T&T Red Force inns
J Solozano b Campbell 73
K Hope lbw Green 9
K Simmons c Thomas b Powell 89
D Bravo not out 50
J Da Silva not out 14
EXTRAS: 6
TOTAL: for 3 wkts 241
Wkts at: 13, 148, 214.
BOWLING: M Mindley 17-5-33-0, D Green 18-2-51-1, R.Powell 11-1-21-1, A Williams 5-3-6-0, D Bulli 6-0-43-0, P Harty 20-2-56-0, J Campbell 11-1-26-1, J Blackwood 2-0-3-0.