Carter keeps honours even vs Red Force

SHERDON PIERRE

The clash between Barbados Pride and Red Force remains in the balance at the tea interval on day three of Cricket West Indies (CWI) regional four-day day/night match at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. At tea, the home team were 235 for five, trailing the Red Force first innings score of 300 all out.

Resuming on their overnight score of 42/1 after losing Shayne Moseley (3) on day two, opening batsman Anthony Alleyne on 28 and wicket-keeper/batsman Rampersaud (2), took advantage of perfect batting conditions which made life easier for the Barbadian Pride. The two left-handed batsmen added 86 runs for the second wicket before Rampersaud slashed at a wide ball off Bryan Charles and was beautifully caught by Ramdin fielding at second slip for 24 runs.

Alleyne, who scored a century against the Red Force last year, was given a chance on 80 when he was dropped by Ramdin off Khan in the next over. However, four runs later, he gave away his wicket easily when he was caught by Solozano for 84 runs (14 fours, 1 six), giving Charles his second wicket and the score now 127/3. Khan was relieved soon after as he got debutant Aaron Jones lbw playing back at a delivery that didn’t spin much for five runs. Pride were in some trouble after losing three quick wickets for nine runs with the score now 127/4. That wicket brought the Pride`s two most experienced players in Jonathan Carter and captain Kevin Stoute to the crease and they steadied the ship to the end of the first session with the score at 159/4.

Carter pushed on in the second session to a well-played 50 runs which also brought up his team’s 200 runs. Two balls later, St Clair ended the 73-run partnership as he found the edge of Stoute’s bat and was caught by wicketkeeper Amir Jangoo for 21. Carter (67) and Kenroy Williams (10) moved along comfortably, forcing Ramdin to take the new ball after 80 overs but the hosts stayed firm to the interval.

Under the night sky, TT picked up quick wickets with Barbados Pride struggling to get to 300 as Carter was eventually out for 85.