Hinds takes career-best 5/32 but Red Force face uphill task

TRINIDAD AND Tobago Red Force pacer Terrance Hinds captured his maiden First-Class five-wicket haul (5/32) against Barbados Pride on Thursday but the hosts still remain in a challenging position after day two of the West Indies Championship fourth round continued, under hazy conditions, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba.

In response to the Red Force’s first innings total of 133, Barbados resumed the second day’s play on 87/2.

Overnight batsmen Raymon Reifer (79) and Jonathan Carter (41) constructed a stern 101-run partnership to lead the Pride to 135-3, before a 59-run seventh-wicket stand from Justin Greaves (50) and Akeem Jordan (31), carried them to 294 all out, and a first innings lead of 161 runs.

At the close of play, the Red Force were in a familiar position, struggling at 51/3 and trailing by 110 runs.

When play resumed at the south venue, Reifer (32 not out) and Carter (19 not out) played patiently against fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and off-spinner Bryan Charles.

Skipper Imran Khan did not take long to switch up the attack and brought in another pace-spin combination by way of pacer Uthman Muhammad and leg-spinner Yannic Cariah. The change reaped early rewards as Muhammad had Carter out caught by Keagan Simmons.

New batsman Roston Chase had a good start, hitting Cariah for two fours, while he also struck Muhammad and leg-spinner Imran Khan for one each, before he perished for 28, bowled by Hinds, who snagged two scalps on the opening day.

Joining Reifer at the crease was Greaves, who like Chase, got off to a flying start. He went on to smash eight fours and a six in his half-century knock and build a 35-run partnership with Reifer. Reifer however, fell soon after, spectacularly caught and bowled by Charles, as the scoreboard read 204/5.

Shane Dowrich (eight) did not last but Jordan buckled down with Reifer to extend the lead for the Pride team.

Hinds snapped up Jordan, caught behind by Joshua Da Silva, and achieved his first-ever five-for by having Jomel Warrican (nine) caught by Muhammad. Miguel Cummins (duck) was the last go as he was brilliantly run out courtesy a direct hit from the TT skipper, who also finished with 2/60.

Red Force openers Jeremy Solozano and Simmons had an improved start. On the back foot, Simmons struck Pride pacer Ramon Simmonds through the off-side for four and then edged left-arm pacer Simmonds through slips for another boundary.

‘Solo’ hit one four in his knock of 14 but he pulled one into the hands of Cummins to kickstart another Red Force top-order collapse. Charles, who was shockingly used as a night-watchman, with an hour of the day's play remaining, faced 13 balls without scoring and was then caught behind by Dowrich from a quick Greaves delivery.

The Red Force were now 32-2 after 16 overs. In came Darren Bravo.

With 14 overs to go in the day’s play and heavy clouds of Sahara dust looming, the umpire used the light meter and suggested that the Pride utilise their spin bowlers only or play would be called off for the day. Pride skipper Kraigg Brathwaite chose the first option and inserted off-spinner Chase and left-armer Warrican into the attack.

Bravo’s dismal run of form continued as he hit four from nine deliveries before he was bowled by Chase.

New batsman Jason Mohammed got off the mark with a four but with ten overs to go, the umpires checked the reading on the light meter which resulted in them calling off the remainder of the day’s play.

Simmons is unbeaten on 26 and Mohammed on six.

Summarised Scores:TT RED FORCE 133 – Imran Khan 29, Terrance Hinds 25, Joshua Da Silva 23; Jomel Warrican 3-21, Justin Greaves 2/17 & 51/3 – Keagan Simmons 26 not out, Jeremy Solozano 14 vs BARBADOS PRIDE 210 – Raymon Reifer 79, Justin Greaves 50, Jonathan Carter 41, Akeem Jordan 31; Terrance Hinds 5/32, Imran Khan 2/60.