Reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force made light work of Combined Campuses and Colleges, in a successful start to the defence of their Super50 Cup title, yesterday.
Asked to chase a meagre 120 in the day/night affair at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando, Red Force cantered to their target in the 28th over with left-handed opener Kjorn Ottley steering the innings with an unbeaten 65 from 79 balls.
West Indies white-ball star Akeal Hosein had earlier picked up four for 38 to help send CCC tumbling to 119 all out in the 34th over, after the hosts opted to bowl first.
Hosein was supported by outstanding spells from West Indies seamer Jayden Seales (2-1) and off-spinner Sunil Narine (2-21), both of whom finished with two wickets apiece.
Jonathan Drakes top-scored with 38 from 40 deliveries with half-dozen fours batting at number four while number seven Matthew Forde also crunched half-dozen fours in stroking 37 from 45 balls.
However, partnerships proved hard to come by and CCC were languishing at 43 for four at the end of the 14th over, Drakes anchoring the best stand of the innings with 23 for the fifth wicket with Odain McCatty (6).In reply, the 32-year-old Ottley counted eight fours as he put on 32 for the first wicket with West Indies Test wicketkeeper (17) and 70 for the second wicket with former captain Jason Mohammad who made 23.
There was a brief stumble when Mohammed and Darren Bravo (2) perished in the space of 20 balls with nine runs added but there was never any doubt over the result, as Red Force easily completed victory.
Athanaze hundred powers Volcanoes to comfortable win
Alick Athanaze struck a maiden List A hundred as Windward Islands Volcanoes opened their Super50 Cup campaign with a 28-run victory over Guyana Harpy Eagles, yesterday.
Sent in at Queen’s Park Oval in the Zone A contest, Volcanoes marched to 296 for four off their 50 overs with the left-handed Athanaze gathering 133 from 140 balls, while counting a dozen fours and four sixes.
Opener Johnson Charles, fresh from West Indies’ failed Twenty20 World Cup trip to Australia, chipped in with 64 from 63 deliveries while Kavem Hodge hit 42 from 57 balls.
In reply, Harpy Eagles were held to 268 all out in the 47th over, West Indies’ newest Test recruit Tagenarine Chanderpaul top-scoring with 48 from 47 balls.
Brief scores
■At BLCA
T&T Red Force vs CCC
CCC 119 (33.3 overs) (Jonathan Drakes 38, Matthew Forde 37; Akeal Hosein 4-38) vs RED FORCE 120/3 (27.4 overs) (Kjorn Ottley 65 not out, Jason Mohammad 23). Red Force won by seven wickets.
■At Queen's Park Oval
Windward Islands Volcanoes vs Guyana Harpy Eagles
VOLCANOES 296/4 (50 overs) (Alick Athanaze 133, Johnson Charles 64, Kavem Hodge 42; Gudakesh Motie 2-57) vs JAGUARS 268 (46.4 overs) (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 48, Tevin Imlach 36, Kevin Sinclair 33, Gudakesh Motie 31 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 28; Shadrack Descarte 3-41, Kenneth Dember 2-46). Volcanoes won by 28 runs.