Red Force coach laments batting woes

The coach and captain of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are not concerned going forward in the Digicel Regional Four-Day tournament, after a poor batting display saw the team suffer an innings defeat against Guyana Jaguars in Round Four which concluded, yesterday.

The Red Force lost by an innings and 217 runs against the league leaders at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. The Red Force batting has been showing some form this season, but the Jaguars dismissed the hosts for 120 in the first innings and 147 in the second innings. Yesterday, resuming on 106 for six in the second innings, the Red Force only added 41 more runs.

Coach of the Red Force Kelvin Williams said a poor batting performance on Saturday cost his team the match. “We played three fantastic games before this one. (It was) just one bad day. We cannot be a bad team from one bad day which was (Saturday). Sixteen wickets fell so therefore I still believe the batters have it in them so I am just going to back my batters at all times.”

Before the match against the Jaguars, the Red Force drew two matches and won one match. Williams said it is tough to lose so badly.

“It is a bit disappointing that we came out and we lost this game and the manner in which we lost the game. Basically our batting (was poor). The toss was very important which we lost, Guyana went out and scored 484 runs which was a lot. Losing the skipper (to a hamstring injury) also within that period of time (was crucial), he is our most consistent batsman. It put a lot of pressure on the other batsmen, but the shot selection from the batsmen were poor in this game.”

Captain Denesh Ramdin batted in both innings, but was not as effective as he could not run quickly between the wickets. Ramdin said a lack of partnerships by the Red Force proved costly. Ramdin said, “For the last three games we had some good partnerships. I think this game we did not string together any partnerships, we got starts but we did not carry on. Coming up against a good Guyana bowling attack I don’t think we handled the pressure well. The guys put the balls in the right areas and got wickets. We also gave away some soft wickets and easy dismissals.”

Ramdin said batting did get more difficult as the match progressed but said that is not an excuse. “I would say (yesterday) was a bit difficult (to bat). It was spinning a lot more on the fourth day, but having said that the guys did not apply themselves. The bowlers bowled in good areas so we needed to bat and get a partnership.

“It is what it is. One bad batting performance have us where we are but I think the guys are in good spirits still.”