TT Red Force's Simmons shines on debut

KEAGAN Simmons almost had a perfect debut. The left-hander struck 89 to propel TT Red Force cricket team into a strong position at the end of opening day of the West Indies Four-Day Championships at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, on Thursday.

The knock by Simmons guided Red Force to 241/3 at stumps against Jamaica Scorpions. Simmons, 20, faced 205 deliveries and struck ten fours.

After the close of play, Simmons was disappointed he could not get to triple figures, but was happy the team is in the driver’s seat. “It is unfortunate that I did not get the hundred, but I think that the most important thing is our team is in a good position. I am just looking forward to coming back tomorrow (Friday) and I hope the guys put on a good score.

“The main thing coming out from today (Thursday) is the lessons that I have learnt in terms of batting for long periods…I know there are some things I have to work on and that is the main thing for me.”

Simmons said being overconfident is not an issue for him and he wants to continue learning.

Simmons, a former West Indies Under-19 player, showed glimpses of his potential when he played a couple matches in the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Tournament that ended in December.

After a short rain delay and the loss of Kyle Hope for nine, Simmons and Jeremy Solozano were watchful in the last hour of the morning session taking the Red Force to 52/1 at the lunch break.

In the second session, the left-handed pair started to take the attack to the Scorpions’ bowlers.

They matched each other stroke for stroke and looked as though they would take Red Force safely to tea. However, Solozano was bowled behind his back by off spinner John Campbell for 73 off 173 deliveries, an innings that included ten fours.

New Red Force captain Darren Bravo joined Simmons and the home team progressed to 173/2 at tea with Simmons on 75 and Bravo 11. Scorpions looked everywhere for answers as skipper Campbell used no less than eight bowlers.

Bravo and Simmons continued to play positively and the former got Red Force to 200 when he struck left-arm spinner Patrick Harty for a six over long off.

Thirty-five minutes into the final session, rain along with some issues with the side screen caused a delay with Red Force 201/2 with Simmons 83 and Bravo 31. Part of the side screen on the northern end of the ground, which is just about ten metres away from the Red Force tent, fell after high winds blew across the venue.

After the 40-minute delay, Bravo and Simmons did not lose much momentum.

Bravo cracked a splendid cover drive for four off Rovman Powell and in the following over, Simmons cracked a cover drive off Derval Green that reached the fence.

However, Simmons could not complete the job as he found the edge and was caught by wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas for 89 to give medium pacer Powell the wicket.

Joshua Da Silva was a bit unsettled when he joined Bravo, but started to play with some confidence. Bravo got to his half century in the final over as he closed on 50 not out off 107 balls with five fours and one six.

The match will continue at 10 am, on Friday.