Red Force stutter on Day 1 of title clash vs Harpy Eagles

ON the first day of his team’s title-deciding clash with TT Red Force at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair on April 9, Guyana Harpy Eagles skipper Tevin Imlach opted to bowl first as he said he wanted his bowlers to exploit the grass on the oval wicket.

At the end of the first day’s play in their top-of-the-table West Indies Championship Regional Four-Day match, Guyana’s bowlers did their part in repaying their skipper as TT were precariously placed on 214 for seven at stumps.

Brought back into the TT squad for the injured Yannic Cariah, Jyd Goolie has been a measure of composure and his unbeaten innings of 57 led a fightback for the hosts after they slipped to 96 for five earlier in the day’s play.

After a three-wicket burst from pacer Keemo Paul (three for 38) in a rain-interrupted morning session, Guyana were firmly on top when opening batsman Cephas Cooper (50) and Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva (25) were dismissed in quick succession after a 63-run stand for the fourth wicket.

With Kamil Pooran (four), Amir Jangoo (five) and Jason Mohammed (two) all falling cheaply to the seam of Paul, Goolie found an unlikely ally in lower-order batsman Khary Pierre as they stitched together a timely 79 for the sixth wicket.

Pierre made 38 off 100 balls and hit four boundaries in his watchful innings as he offered good support for Goolie, who has struck six fours in his innings so far.

The left-handed pair frustrated the Guyanese and they took their partnership to fifty as TT went to the tea interval at 146 for five.

Goolie got to his third First-Class fifty in the final session. However, shortly after a drinks break, Pierre’s resistance was ended when he edged a ball from pacer Nial Smith (two for 39) through to wicket-keeper Imlach. Red Force were on 175 for six at that stage, with a lot of work still needed to ensure they post a strong first-innings total.

Batting at number eight, Terrance Hinds (19 off 34) played a typically entertaining cameo before he was dismissed by Ronaldo Alimohammed (one for 34), who got success after a persisting with a wide line outside the off-stump, to go with a dominant off-side field.

TT slipped to 213 for seven with the fall of Hinds’ wicket in the 79th over. At the end of the subsequent over, Imlach reintroduced Paul as he took the new ball.

However, Paul only delivered three balls to Goolie before the umpires brought play to a close for bad light at 5.38 pm.

Earlier, Paul got the Harpy Eagles’ day off to a great start as he had Red Force three down for just 31. Both Pooran and Jangoo edged behind to Imlach, while Mohammed, Red Force’s top scorer this season, was caught at third slip by Raymond Perez after getting a rising delivery from Paul.

Cooper and Da Silva took Red Force to 55 for three at lunch. And the pair looked comfortable before veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul (one for 41) breached Cooper’s defence to trap him lbw. In the next over, the in-form Da Silva fell to a spectacular catch in the slip cordon from Kevin Sinclair as Red Force lost their fifth wicket.

Thus far, Goolie has shown good grit and he’ll hope to solidify his team’s innings on day two with fellow overnight batsman Joshua James.

Chasing their first four-day title since the 2005/06 season, the second-placed TT (105.4 points) trail Guyana (111.6 points) on the table. Day two will be a critical day as TT continue their push for the elusive title.

Summarised Scores:

TT RED FORCE – 214/7 (Jyd Goolie 57 not out, Cephas Cooper 50, Khary Pierre 38; Keemo Paul 3/38, Niall Smith 2/39) vs GUYANA HARPY EAGLES.

WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES – 106 (Noelle Leo 22, Kimani Melius 20, Alick Athanaze 18; Joshua Bishop 3/15, Nathan Edward 2/15) vs WEST INDIES ACADEMY – 197/5 (Teddy Bishop 53 not out, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 45, Justin Jagessar 42; Kenneth Dember 2/23).

LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES – 219/5 (Jewel Andrew 66, Keacy Carty 55, Kadeem Henry 27; Jomel Warrican 3/49) vs BARBADOS PRIDE.

JAMAICA SCORPIONS – 133 (Kirk McKenzie 31, Brad Barnes 23; Jaden Edmund 5/59, Larry Edward 3/6) vs CCC – 174/4 (Shaqkere Parris 70 not out, Johann Jeremiah 69; B Barnes 2/38).