Red Force, Scorpions in key regional clash

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the Jamaica Scorpions will face off today in a keenly-anticipated Sixth Round match in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Four Day Tournament.

The match will bowl off from 11 am (TT time) at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica.

The Red Force brushed aside the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by an innings and 16 runs in their Fifth Round match last weekend at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts. The Scorpions, meanwhile, blanked the Windward Islands Volcanoes by 10 wickets at Sabina Park.

At the half-way point of the Regional Four Day Tournament, reigning champions Guyana Jaguars sit atop the standings with 86.4 points, followed by the Red Force (61.8), Scorpions (55), Hurricanes (49.6), Barbados Pride (48) and Volcanoes (21.8).

In their previous game, the Pride and the Scorpions played to a draw at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, with the visitors scoring 431 and 141 while the Red Force responded with 380/7 declared and 84/3.

Batsmen Jason Mohammed and Kyle Hope have left the Red Force camp to prepare for the West Indies One-Day International series away to New Zealand, and have been replaced by Ewart Nicholson and opener Isaiah Rajah.

In a brief interview last evening, TT selector Tony Gray said, “I talked to the chairman of selectors (Raphick Jumadeen yesterday). He said there are no real fitness issues with the team. The camp should be a happy one. But they will have to win every game (to win the title).”

In other Sixth Round matches starting today, the Jaguars will be hosting the Volcanoes at the National Stadium in Providence, Guyana while the Hurricanes will stay at Warner Park to entertain fellow strugglers Pride.

TT Red Force squad: Denesh Ramdin (captain), Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Amir Jangoo, Imran Khan, Ewart Nicholson, Khary Pierre, Roshon Primus, Isaiah Rajah, Jeremy Solozano, Daniel St Clair, Tion Webster.