Dillon brings ‘belief’ to winning Red Force

TT Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin said new coach Mervyn Dillon has brought a sense of belief into the camp, after the team recorded a resounding 93-run victory over leaders and defending champions Guyana Jaguars at the Queen's Park Oval in St Clair, yesterday.

The Red Force now have two wins and three losses from five matches and are still in with an outside chance of making a run for the title. After resuming day three yesterday on 264 for five in the second innings, the Red Force were dismissed for 317.

Chasing a challenging 276 for victory, the Jaguars did not get close as they were all out for 182 in the final session.

After the win, Ramdin said he likes what Dillon has brought to the team after just one game in charge. "He is easy going, (he) made us believe in ourselves a lot more," Ramdin said.

Ramdin encouraged his team to stick to the basics and enjoy the game. He said, "It's just a game of cricket; (just) try to put the batters under more pressure (and) the bowlers under more pressure. Cricket is about runs, wickets and catches, so we tried to take our catches and have the guys in good (fielding) positions. Enjoying the game is most important and having a relaxed environment, so I think the guys were much more relaxed this game."

Asked what the team can achieve this season, Dillon said, "I have to look at the table, but I know after this game it puts us back in contention. I would not even say a third-place finish (because) Guyana have now lost two games...If we do the right things, there is still a possibility of us walking away with this (title)." The Red Force were in fifth place on the six-team table before the Guyana contest.

Jaguars were off to a fairly comfortable start in their chase, with openers Chandrapaul Hemraj (30) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul putting on 44 for the first wicket.

Hemraj and Chanderpaul were indecisive in between the wickets as on two occasions they were almost run out.

After progressing to 29 without loss at lunch, the pair continued where they left off with Hemraj playing some shots and Chanderpaul displaying his usual patience.

Fast bowler Odean Smith got the first wicket with the edge of Hemraj 's bat to give wicketkeeper Ramdin a simple catch.

Following the wicket, progress was slow for Guyana with captain Leon Johnson and Chanderpaul at the wicket.

With the score on 61, the Red Force pressure was rewarded when Chanderpaul was out leg-before for 18 to pacer Ravi Rampaul.

The Jaguars could only add one more run when Jeremy Solozano lifted the entire Red Force team with a moment of brilliance. Fielding at silly mid-on, he took a brilliant one-handed diving catch to dismiss Vishaul Singh for duck off spinner Bryan Charles.

After getting to 79/3 at tea, it all went downhill for the Jaguars in the final session as it quickly became 89/6. Charles got Johnson for 22, before Raymon Reifer fell for five to fast bowler Anderson Phillip, and leg-spinner Imran Khan joined the party with the wickets of Anthony Bramble for three.

Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul decided they were not going to throw in the towel as the pair entertained the handful of spectators with a 32-run seventh wicket partnership. However, Paul's aggression led to his demise as he was caught by Phillip at mid-on going for another big shot to give Khan another wicket. Shepherd and the other batsmen continued to play shots, but could not survive as the Jaguars were dismissed for 182. The wickets were shared among Khan (3/45), Phillip (2/52), Charles (2/21) and Smith (2/29).

Earlier, Jason Mohammed was dismissed for 83 after resuming the day on 79 not out. Mohammed faced 202 deliveries and struck nine fours. Khan was eventually out for 46 after starting the day on 40 not out, to help Red Force to 317 in the second innings. The fast bowling pair of Paul and Reifer snatched 4/81 in 24 overs and 4/64 in 19.1 overs respectively.

SCOREBOARD

Red Force vs Guyana Jaguars

Red Force 1st inns 108

Jaguars 1st inns 150

Red Force 2nd inns (264/5 overnight)

J Solozano lbw b Reifer*45

J Da Silva c Chanderpaul b Reifer*49

T Webster c Singh b Motie*8

D Ramdin b Paul*10

J Mohammed lbw b Paul*83

Y Cariah lbw b Permaul 15

I Khan c Johnson b Reifer*46

O Smith b Paul*27

B Charles c Chanderpaul b Paul*5

A Phillip lbw b Reifer*2

R Rampaul not out*0

EXTRAS (B5, LB7, W9, NB6)*27

TTOAL: (all out)*317

Fall of wickets: 84, 95, 112, 130, 181, 270, 285, 303, 315, 317

BOWLING: Shepherd 17-3-43-0, Paul 24-5-81-4, Permaul 27-6-57-1, Motie 15-4-30-1, Pestano 6-0-30-0, Reifer 19.1-3-64-4, Johnson 1-1-0-0

Jaguars 2nd inns

T Chanderpaul lbw b Rampaul*18

C Hemraj c Ramdin b Smith*30

L Johnson* c Da Silva b Charles*22

V Singh c Solozano b Charles*0

R Reifer c Ramdin b Phillip*5

A Bramble+ lbw b Khan*3

R Shepherd lbw b Khan*50

K Paul c Phillip b Khan*19

C Pestano lbw b Smith*2

V Permaul c Ramdin b Phillip*9

G Motie not out*15

EXTRAS: (B4, LB4, NB1)*9

TOTAL: (all out)*182

Fall of wickets: 44, 61, 62, 79, 81, 89, 121, 136, 160, 182

BOWLING: Rampaul 12-5-27-1, Phillip 16-4-52-2, Charles 17-6-21-2, Smith 11-3-29-2, Khan 11.2-1-45-3

RESULT: Red Force won by 93 runs