Meeting held to finalise Red Force squad

A MEETING was held at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair late on Wednesday to finalise the 15-man TT Red Force squad for the Cricket West Indies Super50 tournament.

The Super50 tournament will be played in Antigua from February 4 to 27.

The selectors, led by chairman Rajendra Mangalie, met in the closing stages of a Red Force practice match, at the Queen’s Park Oval. The meeting included Red Force captain Kieron Pollard and head coach David Furlonge.

Last week a 22-man provisional squad was chosen to continue to prepare for the tournament.

The TT Cricket Board is expected to release the 15-man squad, on Friday.

Red Force have a formidable unit as several senior players are available including Ravi Rampaul, Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Bravo, Rayad Emrit, Imran Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Khary Pierre.

In the practice match, Pollard struck 95 to lead the Pollard XI to 190 all out in 42.2 overs.

Pollard’s knock came off 86 deliveries and included three fours and eight sixes. The other batsmen struggled as the next highest scorer was 22 from wicket-keeper Ramdin.

The Khan XI fast bowlers were successful as Anderson Phillip grabbed 3/22 in eight overs, Terrence Hinds snatched 3/24 in nine overs and Rayad Emrit took 2/23 in 5.2 overs.

In response, the Khan XI got to 191/6 in 45.1 overs to emerge victorious. Left-handed Isaiah Rajah cracked 61 not out off 96 balls which included three fours and one six. Dwayne Bravo, who will be the Red Force mentor during the tournament, scored 42 off 60 deliveries.

Off spinner Bryan Charles picked up 2/39 in 9.1 overs.

SUMMARISED SCORES

KIERON POLLARD XI 190 (42.2 overs) (Kieron Pollard 95, Denesh Ramdin 22; Anderson Phillip 3/22, Terrance Hinds 3/24, Rayad Emrit 2/23) vs IMRAN KHAN XI 191/6 (45.1 overs) (Isaiah Rajah 61 not out, Dwayne Bravo 42; Bryan Charles 2/39) KHAN XI won by four wickets