Tag: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force

Da Silva blames toss, pitch, rain for Super50 loss

VIDIA RAMPHAL

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force were left red-faced and humbled in home conditions, following a resounding nine-wicket loss to Barbados Pride in an anti-climactic ending to the CG United Super50 Cup final on November 29 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

In a tournament heavily affected by rainy conditions, the skies were surprisingly blue for the final, but it was the home team left feeling blue after they were thumped by the boys in blue.

Barbados, powered by Kyle Mayers’ 89 not out, easily chased down the Red Force total of 168 to win with 20.3 overs to spare.

Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva said the defeat in the final was not just about execution but about mastering the very surfaces that they hoped would have given them an edge.

“The pitches weren’t great down here, especially in the daytime,” Da Silva said, “They were spinning a lot. It just wasn’t up to standard. In the night, it just got a little easier.”

Da Silva revealed they were hoping to bat first and accepted the blame for a poor showing with the bat during the final.

“It was our goal to win the toss and bowl first. We didn’t bat very well. I put my hand up,” he said, “Throughout this tournament, I didn’t do the best that I could and put up the runs for the team, especially in crucial positions.”

The Red Force skipper also pointed out that the tournament’s condensed format and constant weather interruptions were obstacles for his young Red Force squad to find its rhythm.

“It’s difficult when it’s such a short tournament. If you don’t get off to a flyer, you just don’t get off at all,” he said.

Da Silva said Jeavor Royal’s tournament top score of 124 was enough to put him in the top five run-getters in the rain-shortened competition.

“The rain definitely played a factor. We saw Guyana only getting one game in,” he said, “It was difficult, but we got three games, we made it to the final.”

Despite the disappointment of the loss, Da Silva highlighted several bright sparks in the tournament.

Youngsters Cephas Cooper, Abdul-Raheem Toppin, and Shatrughan Rambaran earned praise, while the bowling unit showed significant growth.

“Terrance Hinds coming into his own and doing what he does best,” said Da Silva, “We also saw (Ricky) Jaipaul, who was out to the system for quite some time, but really stuck to his trade and bowled really well.”

Da Silva said his team can take a lot from the tournament and return stronger in 2026.

The TT captain received the Jeffery Dujon Award for the best wicketkeeper, while teammate Jyd Goolie earned the Gus Logie Award for the best fielder.

For Barbados, the win ended a seven-year title drought in the regional 50-over competition and brought them their eighth championship overall (one shared).

Skipper Kyle Mayers says he stayed on with the team to win the title, adding that his leadership philosophy emphasised playing smart, aggressive cricket.

“I just need to empower my players, you know, try to be as positive as possible,” he said, “Try to be as aggressive as possible, but try to be smart, you know, and play fearless cricket.”

Mayers said his bowling attack laid the foundation for his team’s success, with his team bowling first in all four wins.

“I thought our bowlers really stepped up. I thought Joshua (Bishop) was very, very good in all phases of the game,” he said, “Some other players like (Kemar Smith), who did well, and then the two fast bowlers, you know, they did well in these conditions.”

Barbados’ depth was a significant factor. With the West Indies Academy and Combined Campuses and Colleges unable to play, many quality cricketers were available to the Pride set-up.

“There’s a wide spread of great cricketers in Barbados. This is just putting them together and putting them in the right positions to do well,” Mayers said.

The Barbados Pride captain admitted last year’s abandoned final gave his squad added drive.

“We didn’t get an opportunity to play the finals, and you guys were pretty disappointed,” Mayers said, “This year, they were champing at the bit to play some cricket and win the title.”

Mayers was honoured with the Richie Richardson Award for the most runs (168) in the competition, while Bishop took home the Curtly Ambrose Award for his eight wickets.

TT’s Hinds also took eight wickets, but Bishop had the superior average—the Barbadian averaged 13.37 per wicket to Hinds’ 18.62.

Darren Nedd took the Collis King Award for the tournament’s best all-rounder.

The Windward Islands all-rounder scored 133 runs and had four wickets with two catches.

The match marked the final Regional Super50 match for 39-year-old Jason Mohammed, who ended with a record 3,827 runs to his name.

His departure leaves a sizeable gap, but it also opens the door for the next generation to shape TT’s future.

As the curtain falls on his distinguished Super50 career, the Red Force turns their focus on the 2026 campaign.

A record-extending 15th regional title will depend not only on fresh talent but on finding the consistency that eluded them this season.

Red Force skipper on Super50 final: Play smart, win for Jason

TRINIDAD and Tobago Red Force chase history, silverware and a sentimental send-off for star veteran Jason Mohammed when they take on Barbados Pride in the 2025 CG United Super50 Cup final at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, on November 29, from 2 pm.

For TT captain Joshua Da Silva, it is a chance to lift his first senior national title as Red Force skipper. For head coach Rayad Emrit, it represents an opportunity to claim his maiden Super50 crown since taking charge. Another added incentive is a fairytale ending for veteran all-rounder Mohammed, 39, who will be making his final appearance for Red Force in the 50-over format.

Da Silva, whose team stormed into the final with a commanding eight-wicket semi-final win over Leeward Islands Hurricanes on November 27, said Red Force’s success will depend heavily on team discipline, especially against a seasoned Barbados outfit.

Red Force last won the Super50 crown in 2023, and are, by default, defending champions since no winner was crowned at last year’s edition, in a farcical and rain-affected final that ended in a forfeiture.

Da Silva wants clear skies and a comprehensive performance from his fully-fit squad.

“We have to play smart cricket. Once we do the right things properly for a long period of time… Barbados have a lot of experience and they’re not shy to the position as well. It’s just one game, so make sure we play the best cricket that we can and find a way to bring home the title again,” said the wicketkeeper-batsman.

This year, the tournament was heavily curtailed by persistent rain in Trinidad. Red Force topped the six-team standings after five rounds, and were the only team to notch three wins from five matches, with two no-results.

Second-placed Barbados had two wins from five, with three no-results, while third-placed Windward Islands Volcanoes won two, lost one and suffered two no-results; all owing to rain or a wet outfield.

Despite these setbacks, TT’s victory over Leewards put them in the driving seat heading into the trophy match. Momentum, Da Silva said, is firmly on their side, with both batters and bowlers stepping up when it matters most.

The Red Force skipper also highlighted the impact of returning international Amir Jangoo and the value of Mohammed’s experience ahead of his farewell match, stressing that Red Force’s depth had come together at the right time.

Jangoo was brought in ahead of the Leewards clash, replacing opener Kjorn Ottley, who was ruled out of the rest of the tournament owing to a back injury. On his return, Jangoo smashed an unbeaten 72, partnered with Tion Webster’s knock of 83 and Jyd Goolie’s 23 not out, to lead them into the final.

“Amir obviously comes on and boosts the batting line-up a lot. He brings back his experience from international cricket.

“We have Jason Mohammed who is going to play his final game in the 50-over tournament. The experience he brings is going to be crucial to us. And we see all the bowlers are bowling pretty well, so it’s just about using those things to get the right combination and get the result,” Da Silva said.

For Da Silva, captaining the TT Legions to the maiden Breakout League T20 title earlier this year was a welcomed achievement, and his first as skipper. However, that league featured franchise players in each squad. Now, he is eager to lead an all-TT Red Force side to a regional title, and believes he can achieve that milestone by overcoming the Pride.

“It would mean a lot because as captain for a few years now, we’ve gotten close. Last year we were eliminated in the semi-final and the four-day title eluded us again. It will be nice to get the first one (Red Force trophy as captain). Hopefully that sparks some more titles in the future. I know for Rayad, that will be his first as TT coach as well and to send Jason off with a title would be really good.”

Mohammed, who will bow out of Super50 cricket as the competition’s all-time leading run-scorer (3,815 runs), urged supporters to rally behind the team on his final day in national colours.

“I want to encourage the fans to come out and support us. It’s my last game but the more important factor is that TT are playing in a final. That’s the most important thing for us, to win this tournament. It’s my last and I’d like the fans to come out, we put together a good game of cricket and win this so it could be a good send-off for me,” he said in a Red Force interview on November 28.

As he prepares to walk away from the format, Mohammed said finishing atop the Super50 all-time run-scorers list is something he will cherish deeply.

“It’s a great feeling to finish my career as the all-time leading run-scorer in Super50 cricket, I think is a great achievement. I can lift my head high and say I’ve done some good things for TT cricket.”

CG United Super50 Cup squads:

TT Red Force – Joshua Da Silva (captain), Navin Bidaisee, Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper, Jyd Goolie, Terrance Hinds, Ricky Jaipaul, Joshua James, Jason Mohammed, Amir Jangoo, Shatrughan Rambaran, Abdul-Raheem Toppin, Tion Webster, Rayad Emrit (head coach)

Barbados Pride – Kyle Mayers (captain), Joshua Bishop, Leniko Boucher, Kraigg Brathwaite, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Akeem Jordan, Matthew Jones, Javed Leacock, Zachary McCaskie, Demetrius Richards, Kemar Smith, Kevin Wickham, Nyeem Young, Vasbert Drakes (head coach)

Red Force into Super50 Cup final with Pride

VIDIA RAMPHAL

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force booked their place in the 2025/26 CG United Super 50 Cup final with an eight-wicket win over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes on November 27 at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair.

Seamer Terrance Hinds and spinner Ricky Jaipaul took three wickets apiece to restrict the Leeward Islands to a manageable 214 in 49 overs.

Tion Webster and Amir Jangoo then notched half-centuries to ease the Red Force to victory with 41 balls to spare—their fourth finals appearance in the last five years.

TT Red Force will play Barbados Pride in the final on November 29 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba—the first meeting between the traditional rivals in the Super50 final since 2016.

Barbados’ match against Guyana Harpy Eagles was washed out — a fate that befell all five games played at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, with only 31 balls in total bowled at the St Augustine playing field.

The Windward Islands battled Jamaica Scorpions in the day-night game at Tarouba, but neither team had a chance to make it to the final, given the daylight the Red Force (22 points) and the Pride (29 points) had opened ahead of the chasing pack.

Joshua Da Silva’s team started confidently, with Hinds accounting for the first three batters within the first 39 balls of the match.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ Karima Gore bowls during the CG United Super50 Cup match, against TT Red Force, on November 27, at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair.

The slingy pacer had Kofi James (8) edging to Da Silva, got Carlon Bowen-Tuckett caught for 5, and then clean bowled Mikyle Louis for 13.

At 31 for 3, Karima Gore started to rally the innings with Jewel Andrew adding 30 runs for the fourth wicket off 38 balls.

However, Andrew fell for 7, the first wicket for Jaipaul, before Jahmar Hamilton got stuck in with skipper Gore.

Hamilton, who famously blasted T&T out of the 2019 Super50 Cup semifinal, found the Red Force bowling to his liking again.

The right-hander added 52 with Gore in relatively quick time before the tidy Yannic Cariah dismissed Gore for 39.

Hamilton continued to prosper despite wickets falling at a regular clip, with Nathan Edward (13) and Rahkeem Cornwall (20) keeping his company longest.

As the partnerships dried up, he was forced to take more chances and was ninth out at 198.

Jaipaul, who had removed the dangerous Cornwall, had Hamilton caught for 71.

In the flood of wickets at the back end of the innings, Joshua James, Jyd Goolie, and Abdul-Raheem Toppin all took wickets as the Leeward Islands folded for 214.

When the Red Force openers went to the crease, the focus was on Tion Webster, who has had a lean time in this tournament.

The talented right-hander came good when it counted for TT, piercing the field at will on his home ground as the Leeward Island bowlers struggled to contain the Red Force.

The redoubtable Cornwall, bowling fourth change, eventually made the breakthrough for the Hurricanes, bowling Cephas Cooper for 28.

Amir Jangoo, returning to the Red Force line-up after his stint in the West Indies maroon, gave a timely reminder of what he has to offer in the 50-over game.

With Webster returning to form, the TT batters sensibly added 88 runs off 141 balls to kill off the game as a contest.

Webster fell for 83 off 117 balls, before Jangoo and Goolie knocked off the remaining 42 off only 39 balls to seal victory.

Jangoo was 72 not out from 85 balls, while Goolie was undefeated on a run-a-ball 23.

With the win, TT Red Force joined Barbados Pride on an unassailable 31 points, putting both teams in the final. The regional rivals have met nine times in the regional 50-over finals since the format began in 1973.

Red Force fans will be hoping to see their team complete their seventh win in regional 50-over finals over their rivals, and a record-extending 15th title overall.

Jangoo returns as Red Force face must-win Super50 clash

TRINIDAD and Tobago Red Force welcome wicketkeeper-batsman Amir Jangoo into the squad at a crucial moment as they prepare for a must-win CG United Super50 Cup round-five showdown against Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, on November 27.

With Red Force sitting second on 22 points – two wins and two no results – the fixture carries heightened significance in the race for the coveted November 29 title match.

Once Red Force can withstand the Hurricanes and churn out a positive result, they automatically advance to the final, where the top two teams battle it out for the coveted crown.

With the points table tight, since leaders Barbados Pride (27 pts) and third-placed Windward Islands Volcanoes (17 pts) all still within reach, the clash against the Hurricanes (eight pts) offers Red Force a chance to consolidate their position. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are desperate for their first win after two losses and two rain-outs.

Additionally, Windward Islands Volcanoes (17 pts) are third with one win, a loss and two no results, while Leeward Islands Hurricanes (eight pts) are fourth with two losses and two no results.

Rounding off the table are the unluckiest of the bunch – Guyana Harpy Eagles (seven pts) and Jamaica Scorpions (six pts) – who’ve both suffered three no results because of unplayable weather in Trinidad. They’ve also both lost one match each.

TT head coach Rayad Emrit made it clear that while his team is prepared, their biggest opponent so far has been the persistent Trinidad rain.

“We are hoping that we get some good weather. We’re frustrated not getting to play all the games we’ve played. We’ve won two games so far and it’s a bit frustrating,” Emrit said, relating to the impact of four consecutive weather-affected rounds across the tournament.

“Players just want to play cricket at the end of the day, that’s what they want to do. It’s out of our control,” he added.

Across the past four rounds, seven of the 12 matches ended in a no result while one of the remaining five was adjudged via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, again, owing to rain.

Emrit stressed that qualification scenarios only increase the urgency in their set-up.

“We’re hoping we get some good weather and we can have a game. The game is very important for us. We need to win to qualify. We’re hoping that we can get a good result tomorrow. Hopefully, we get some play.”

The biggest squad development is the inclusion of Jangoo, who replaces opener Kjorn Ottley. Ottley’s back injury has ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament.

Jangoo’s return comes after his recent stint with the West Indies during the T20 and ODI series in New Zealand, where opportunities were limited. Despite modest returns in two T20 appearances, his international exposure is seen as a valuable asset within the Red Force setup.

“We’re lucky to have Jangoo back into the team. He’s going to bring a lot of experience. He’s been with the international team for a few months now. Hopefully, he can bring that experience into the team. We know exactly what he’s capable of. I’m hoping that he’s not too jet-lagged and he can give us a good showing,” Emrit said.

His presence also strengthens the middle order – a department Red Force will rely on heavily if the Oval pitch offers the typical spice early on.

Although weather interruptions have disrupted the team’s rhythm and energy, Emrit praised the squad’s professionalism and mental readiness.

“The mood in the camp is upbeat. The guys know the importance of the game. We are as ready as we can be. We had a nice training session this morning (November 26).”

Should conditions hold, Red Force will start as favourites, boasting greater depth and momentum despite limited play over the past week.

The Hurricanes, however, have shown flashes of resilience, but will have to bring their A-game if they are to stop Red Force, who have their eyes set on a place in the title match two days later.

Across at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St Augustine, Barbados Royals will be hoping to maintain their position atop the standings when they take on Guyana Harpy Eagles while Windward Islands Volcanoes also hunt an important win over cellar-placed Jamaica Scorpions at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

TT Red Force

Joshua Da Silva (captain), Navin Bidaisee, Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper, Jyd Goolie, Terrance Hinds, Ricky Jaipaul, Joshua James, Jason Mohammed, Amir Jangoo, Shatrughan Rambaran, Abdul-Raheem Toppin, Tion Webster, Rayad Emrit (head coach)

Leeward Islands Hurricanes

Karima Gore (captain), Jewel Andrew, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, Rahkeem Cornwall, Daniel Doram, Nathan Edward, Chamiqueko Gumbs-Landefort, Jahmar Hamilton, Kofi James, Mikyle Louis, Micah Mckenzie, Ishmael Peters, Oshane Thomas, Tyrone Williams, Steve Liburd (head coach)

Red Force vs Volcanoes Super50 match abandoned due to rain

FOR the fourth straight game in the truncated 2025 CG United Super50 tournament, no result was possible at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in UWI, St Augustine as the clash between hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the Windward Island Volcanoes on November 25 was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The match was scheduled to bowl off at 9 am. However, persistent early-morning rain created a quite soggy outfield and dreadful conditions for cricket, with the game being called off just before 10 am.

After consecutive wins against Jamaica Scorpions and Guyana Harpy Eagles, the Red Force entered the match in second spot on 20 points – just seven points behind leaders Barbados Pride (27 points), who were scheduled to bowl off against Jamaica from 2 pm at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on November 25. Windwards (15 points) were third on the six-team table before the abandoned clash with the Red Force.

Due to financial constraints, this year’s Super50 tournament was cut down to just six teams as both Combined Campuses and Colleges and the West Indies Academy were excluded. Meanwhile, after the six teams engage in round-robin play, the 11-day tournament will conclude on November 29 in Tarouba when the top two teams from the prelims square off in the final.

Up to the time of publication, the November 25 match between Guyana and the Leeward Islands Hurricanes had yet to commence because of a rain delay at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair.

Weather permitting, the Red Force will finish off the preliminary round against the Leewards with a clash at the Queen’s Park Oval on November 27.

CG United Super50 standings before matches on November 25

Team*GP*W*L*NR*BP*Pts

Barbados Pride*3*2*0*1*17*27

TT Red Force*3*2*0*1*10*20

Windward Volcanoes*3*1*1*1*9*15

Leeward Hurricanes*3*0*2*1*4*6

Guyana Harpy Eagles*3*0*1*2*1*5

Jamaica Scorpions*3*0*1*2*0*4

Red Force edge Harpy Eagles by four runs in Super50 Cup

TRINIDAD and Tobago Red Force secured their second win on the trot at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on November 23 after defeating Guyana Harpy Eagles by four runs, courtesy of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, in a rain-affected contest.

Rain forced a delayed start and the match was reduced to 44 overs, but that did not stop Red Force from dismissing the visitors for 196 from 40.3 overs; Guyana batting first.

The Harpy Eagles had their top order wings clipped as a result of dominant opening spells from TT’s bowling attack.

Reeling at 21/4 after 10.2 overs, Guyana relied on the experience of Gudakesh Motie, who slammed 65 runs from 58 balls, Keemo Paul (39) and Ronaldo Alimohamed in the middle, to rescue their mediocre start.

Paul and Kemol Savory (20) constructed their best partnership of 65 runs. However, fast bowler Terrance Hinds (3/18) and slow left-arm orthodox spinner Ricky Jaipaul (3/29) showed mettle to clean up the Guyanese batting line-up.

In reply, TT also had a fair start but lost top-order batsmen Cephas Cooper (12), skipper Joshua Da Silva (ten) and Yannic Cariah (two) cheaply.

When Jason Mohammed (15) was dismissed, TT were in a spot of bother at 65/4, but opener Tion Webster (31 not out) and Jyd Goolie (29 not out) stuck to the plan.

Together, the pair carried Red Force to 106/4 after 21.2 overs before the heavens opened once more.

The rain fell for a lengthy period and umpires were forced to implement the DLS method to determine a winner. Red Force emerged on the winning side, but mostly due to Goolie’s fireworks with the bat in the 20th over.

There, he smashed one boundary and three sixes to bolster their chase, which, inevitably, went in their favour at the end.

The victory for Red Force (ten points) saw them climb to second on the six-team standings after three rounds. Their record is two wins and one no result.

Barbados Royals, also on ten points, lead the table owing to a superior net run rate.

Windward Islands Volcanoes (six points) are third, while Guyana (four points) are fourth. Jamaica Scorpions (four points) and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (two points) round off the standings respectively.

The rain, however, continued to dampen the tournament’s progress with several matches ending in a no result or being abandoned.

In other round three matches, Barbados defeated Windwards by seven wickets at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, while Leewards and Jamaica had their fixture abandoned without a ball bowled at the Sir Frank Worrell Ground in St Augustine, because of a wet outfield.

Round four matches bowl off on November 25 with Red Force taking on the Volcanoes in St Augustine, Hurricanes up against the Harpy Eagles at the Oval and Scorpions versus Pride at Tarouba. All matches begin at 9 am.

CG Untied Super50 Summarised Scores

GUYANA HARPY EAGLES 196 (40.3) — Gudakesh Motie 65, Keemo Paul 39, Ronaldo Alimohamed 25, Kemol Savory 20; Terrance Hinds 3/18, Ricky Jaipaul 3/29 vs TT RED FORCE 106/4 (21.2) — Lion Webster 31 not out, Jyd Goolie 29 not out, Jason Mohammed 15; Junior Sinclair 2/21 — Red Force won by four runs via DLS method

WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 137 (37.2) — Teddy Bishop 28, Johann Jeremiah 26, Stephan Pascal 22, Shadrack Descarte 21, Sunil Ambris 20; Kemar Smith 5/25, Javed Leacock 2/22 vs BARBADOS PRIDE 138/3 (24.1) — Kraigg Brathwaite 59 not out, Zachary McCaskie 47, Kevin Wickham 14 not out; Kennth Dember 2/36 — Barbados won by seven wickets

LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES vs JAMAICA SCORPIONS — No Result (wet outfield)

Round Four Matches (November 25)

TT Red Force vs Windward Islands Volcanoes (St Augustine)

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Guyana Harpy Eagles (Queen’s Park Oval)

Jamaica Scopions vs Barbados Royals (Brian Lara Cricket Academy)

Hinds, Jaipaul shine for Red Force as Motie keeps Guyana hopeful

VIDIA RAMPHAL

TRINIDAD and Tobago Red Force let a position of complete dominance slip as Guyana Harpy Eagles recovered from 21 for 4 to post in their Super50 Cup meeting at Tarouba on November 23.

Ricky Jaipaul’s early wickets, combined with excellent early support from Terrance Hinds and Joshua James, saw Guyana lapse to 79 for 6 in the 20th over.

However, Gudakesh Motie and Keemo Paul engineered a spirited fightback to rally the Happy Eagles to 196 in 40.3 overs, their inning ending neatly at press time.

Heavy rains forced a later start to the match, with the game reduced to 44 overs a side.

Joshua Da Silva’s team was eager to build on their 75-run win over the Jamaica Scorpions two days earlier.

Guyana were anxious to get their campaign firing after their opening two matches were rained out.

However, Hinds ensured a nervous start by casting Guyana skipper Matthew Nandu for two in the power play.

Jaipaul, who made his List A debut against Barbados, was quick to establish his presence on the game, removing Raymond Perez (11) for his maiden List A wicket.

He followed up by getting rid of the dangerous Kevlon Anderson (2) within the space of four balls.

Joshua James joined the party soon after, bowling promising batsman Mavendra Dindyal for 1 to leave the Harpy Eagles reeling at 21 for 4.

Guyana wicketkeeper Kemol Savory and Ronaldo Alimohamed attempted to mount a counterattack, with the latter defiantly launching Yannic Cariah over the ropes.

However, Cariah, who snatched victory for the Red Force with a hat-trick on Friday, bowled Alimohamed (25) before the over was complete.

Leg-spinner Navin Bidaisee ended Savory’s gritty knock at 20, guiding a delivery through his defences—the fourth Guyana batter to be bowled in the innings.

However, at 79 for 6, TT found stout resistance from Guyana’s batting all-rounders.

Motie—who has a first-class century and three international fifties—came in to join Paul, who had already cleared the ropes in his typically belligerent style.

Both batters—unfamiliar with passive resistance— successfully hit the usually Cariah out of the attack.

The former West Indies leg-spinner was relentlessly targeted, conceding 29 runs off his three overs.

Motie and Paul also had the youthful Abdul-Raheem Toppin, who made his List A debut against Barbados last week, in their sights.

They added a dangerous 65 off 64 balls, forcing De Silva to go back to his main weapon.

And Hinds delivered. The 33-year-old induced an edge off Paul’s bat on its way to Da Silva, sending Paul back for 39 off 40 balls.

Motie, who was dropped for the New Zealand tour due to poor form, showed his batting skills have not diminished, as he found and cleared the boundary regularly.

Da Silva also brought back Jaipaul, whose quickish spin proved to be the undoing of his former Marchin Patriots teammate Richie Looknauth (1).

However, it would be Toppin and his persevering bowling that ensured Guyana would not breach 200.

The former TT U19 captain, 20, ended Motie’s 58-ball stay at the crease at 65 to end with figures of 1 for 29.

Motie smashed six fours and three sixes in his stay with his audacious innings—returning hope to the Harpy Eagles camp.

Hinds ended the innings at 196, dismissing the number 10 batsman Junior Sinclair for 17.

He led the TT bowlers with 3 for 18, while Jaipaul took 3 for 29, the best figures of his nascent career.

With 197 to chase, Trinidad and Tobago hoped to notch their fifth successive Super50 win over Guyana.

The Harpy Eagles, mindful of eight defeats in their last 10 meeting with the Red Force, were eager to rewrite the script at Tarouba.

Cariah hat-trick caps off Red Force win over Jamaica Scorpions

A late-order hat-trick from leg-spinner Yannic Cariah helped home team Trinidad and Tobago Red Force seal an emphatic 75-run win against the Jamaica Scorpions in their CG United Regional Super50 match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba on November 21.

Batting first, the Red Force made a competitive score of 256 for eight on the back of fifties from veteran Jason Mohammed (87 off 103 balls) and debutant Cephas Cooper (72 off 78). There were also cameos from allrounders Joshua James (22 off 15) and Navin Bidaisee (20 off 16), but it was the brilliance of Cooper and Mohammed which gave the Red Force bowlers something meaningful to work with.

The Scorpions lost wickets at regular intervals and half their team was down by the 16th over when Jermaine Blackwood (16) was dismissed by pacer Abdul-Raheem Toppin (one for 20) with the score on 81. Peat Salmon (33 off 42) then put on 52 for the sixth wicket with his captain Brad Barnes (41), before he was dismissed by James (one for 19) in the 29th over as Jamaica slipped to 133 for six. At the start of the 38th over, with Jamaica pushing their score to 166 for six, the Cariah-show started as the 33-year-old leggy first had Abhijai Mansingh (18 off 23) caught at cover by Jyd Goolie, before removing Jeavor Royal and Marquino Mindley off consecutive balls as the Scorpions slipped to 166 for nine and on the brink of defeat. The latter batsmen were both outfoxed by the massive turn of the “googly,” as Royal was comprehensively bowled while Mindley was trapped lbw.

To cap off his Man of the Match performance, Cariah claimed the scalp of Barnes in the 40th over as Jamaica were dismissed for a paltry 181. It was the first win of the tournament for the Red Force, as their November 19 clash with Barbados Pride at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St Augustine was called off with just 5.1 overs possible due to rain. Jamaica’s first clash against the Guyana Harpy Eagles also ended in a no-result.

Earlier in the Jamaica innings, it was the off-spin of Goolie which set the visitors back as he took three for 15 from four overs and took the wickets of wicket-keeper/batsman Romaine Morris (16 off 14), opening batsman Kirk McKenzie (39 off 41) and middle-order batsman Javelle Glenn (two) as the Scorpions slipped from 45 for one to 79 for four in the space of seven overs.

Allrounder Terrance Hinds (one for 29), James and Toppin grabbed a wicket each.

From 2 pm at the BLCA on November 23, captain Joshua Da Silva and the Red Force will go after a second straight victory when they clash with the Guyana Harpy Eagles. Thus far, the Harpy Eagles have had little luck with the weather conditions as their first match with Jamaica ended in a no-result with just one innings being completed, while their game with the Windward Islands Volcanoes was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Summarised Scores:

TT RED FORCE: 256/8 from 50 overs (Jason Mohammed 87, Cephas Cooper 72, Joshua James 22; Marquino Mindley 3/39, Brad Barnes 3/43) vs JAMAICA SCORPIONS: 181 from 39.4 overs (B Barnes 41, Kirk McKenzie 39, Peat Salmon 33; Yannic Cariah 4/24, Jyd Goolie 3/15). Red Force won by 75 runs.

Red Force hoping for clear skies vs Scorpions

TRINIDAD and Tobago Red Force will be hoping for clear skies on November 21 in anticipation of their CG United Super50 Cup round two fixture against Jamaica Scorpions at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, from 2 pm.

Their opening contest, two days prior at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St Augustine, versus Barbados Royals, ended in a no result owing to persistent rainfall. The abrupt end saw both teams salvage two points each.

After an over five-hour delay courtesy of a wet outfield, the match was reduced to a 20-over affair. Barbados openers Kyle Mayers and Leniko Boucher put on 48 without loss from 5.1 overs, before the rains came once more to end the day’s play.

A similar occurrence at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain saw Guyana Harpy Eagles and Jamaica Scorpions also settle for two points each. Guyana, batting first, scored 287/7 from 47.1 overs before the heavens opened.

Play could not continue for the remainder of the day and this match also ended in a no result.

But at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Windward Islands Volcanoes got off to a winning start, defeating Leeward Islands Hurricanes by two wickets in a day/night contest, to go top of the table.

Put into bat, Leewards piled on 324 all out from 47.3 overs, courtesy of a Kofi James (103) century, and half-centuries from Mikyle Louis (59) and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett (56) with Windwards’ bowlers Shadrack Descarte (3/43), Darron Nedd (3/53) and Kenneth Dember (3/56) bagging three scalps each.

And despite Windwards, in reply, losing opener Johann Jeremiah without scoring just three balls in, the Volcanoes erupted with solid middle-order performances from Nedd (94) and wicketkeeper Dillon Douglas (61), and opener Stephan Pascal and skipper Teddy Bishop (32).

They went on to achieve a victorious 325/8 from 43.5 overs to claim four important points from round one. Oshane Thomas (3/62) was the pick of the bowlers for Leewards while Karima Gore (2/41) was also among the wickets.

In round two, Red Force play Scorpions at Tarouba from 2 pm, Windwards chase another victory versus Guyana Harpy Eagles at St Augustine from 9 am while Leewards take on Barbados at the Oval, from the same time.

Red Force remain dependent on improved weather conditions for their second clash as another stoppage could hamper their journey to the coveted Super50 Cup crown.

Round one results

TT RED FORCE vs BARBADOS ROYALS 48/0 (5.1) — Kyle Mayers 24 not out, Leniko Boucher 21 not out — No Result (rain)

GUYANA HARPY EAGLES 287/7 (47.1) — Kevlon Anderson 83, Raymond Perez 61, Matthew Nandu 54, Mavendra Dindial 26, Kemol Savory 25, Ronaldo Alimohamed 25 not out; Brad Barnes 2/45, Marquino Mindley 2/51 vs JAMAICA SCORPIONS — No Result (rain)

LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 324 (47.3) — Kofi James 103, Mikyle Louis 59, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 56, Jeewel Andrew 31, Jahmar Hamilton 23; Shadrack Descarte 3/43, Darron Nedd 3/53, Kenneth Dember 3/56 vs WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 325/8 (43.5) — Darron Nedd 94, Dillon Douglas 61, Stephan Pascal 40, Teddy Bishop 32, Sunil Ambris 25, McKenny Clarke 22 not out; Oshane Thomas 3/62, Karima Gore 2/41 — Windwards won by two wickets

Squads set as Super50 Cup bowls off

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force begin round one of their CG United Super50 Cup campaign against last year’s finalists Barbados Royals at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St Augustine on November 19 from 9 am.

At the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, the other 2024 finalist, Jamaica Scorpions do battle against Guyana Harpy Eagles, from 9 am, while Windward Islands Volcanoes take on Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, from 2 pm.

The Red Force last won the tournament in 2023 and are considered the defending champions, as no winner was crowned at last year’s edition.

This followed an anticlimactic end to the final between the Royals and Scorpions, in which both captains refused to take the toss after heavy rain at the Tarouba facility delayed play for over five hours, resulting in a double forfeit with no champion being declared.

The Joshua Da Silva-captained squad boasts a wealth of experience and youth, with veteran middle-order batsman Jason Mohammed, leg-spinner Yannic Cariah and left-handed batsman Jyd Goolie helping lead the charges, which also feature five players earning a maiden call-up.

They are all-rounders Shatrughan Rambaran and Ricky Naipaul, fast bowler and TT Cricket Board 50-over Cup MVP Abdul Raheem Toppin, right-handed batsman Cephas Cooper and another leggy in Navin Bidaisee.

However, Bidaisee and Cooper have both represented TT in the West Indies Championship (the regional four-day competition), while Rambaran previously featured in the Super50 Cup for Combined Campuses and Colleges.

The five new players displayed dominant performances across the Red Force trials and practice matches ahead of this year’s Super50, with both head coach Rayad Emrit and skipper Da Silva praising their work ethic in the lead-up.

Red Force, though, vie for top honours this year without key players: Akeal Hosein, Khary Pierre, Amir Jangoo, Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip, all on West Indies duty.

All-rounder Joshua James is also in the mix, alongside fast bowler Terrance Hinds, top-order batsman Kjorn Ottley, Tion Webster and ace off-spinner Bryan Charles.

Since the squad was selected earlier this month, they have been training regularly at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, playing several practice matches.

CG United Super50 Cup 2025 Squads:

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force — Joshua Da Silva (captain), Navin Bidaisee, Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper, Jyd Goolie, Terrance Hinds, Ricky Jaipaul, Joshua James, Jason Mohammed, Kjorn Ottley, Shatrughan Rambaran, Abdul-Raheem Toppin, Tion Webster, head coach Rayad Emrit

Jamaica Scorpions — Brad Barnes (captain), Andre Bailey, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brown, Khari Campbell, Javelle Glenn, Jordan Johnson, Kirk McKenzie, Marquino Mindley, Romaine Morris, Abhijai Mansingh, Jeavor Royal, Tamarie Redwood, Peat Salmon, head coach Robert Haynes

Barbados Pride — Kyle Mayers (captain), Joshua Bishop, Leniko Boucher, Kraigg Brathwaite, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Akeem Jordan, Matthew Jones, Javed Leacock, Zachary McCaskie, Demetrius Richards, Kemar Smith, Kevin Wickham, Nyeem Young, head coach Vasbert Drakes

Windwards Volcanoes — Teddy Bishop (captain), Sunil Ambris, McKenny Clarke, Darel Cyrus, Kenneth Dember, Shadrack Descarte, Dillon Douglas, Keon Gaston, Johann Jeremiah, Daniel McDonald, Kimani Melius, Kirtsen Murray, Darron Nedd, Stephan Pascal, head coach Keon Peters

Leeward Islands Hurricanes — Karima Gore (captain), Jewel Andrew, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, Rahkeem Cornwall, Daniel Doram, Nathan Edward, Chamiqueko Gumbs-Landefort, Jahmar Hamilton, Kofi James, Mikyle Louis, Micah Mckenzie, Ishmael Peters, Oshane Thomas, Tyrone Williams, head coach Steve Liburd

Guyana Harpy Eagles — Matthew Nandu (captain), Antony Adams, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Kevlon Anderson, Shamar Apple, Mavendra Dindyal, Thaddeus Lovell, Richie Looknauth, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Raymond Perez, Kemol Savory, Junior Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall, head coach Ryan Hercules

Super50 Cup Day One Schedule (November 19)

TT Red Force vs Barbados Royals at Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine (9 am)

Jamaica Scoprions vs Guyana Harpy Eagles at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain (9 am)

Windward Islands Volcano vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba (2 pm)

New faces for Red Force as Da Silva resumes captaincy for Super50 Cup

Wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua Da Silva returns to skipper the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force for the 2025 CG United Super50 Cup, which bowls off in Trinidad from November 19.

Da Silva was confirmed as captain on November 1, when the TT Cricket Board (TTCB) announced the 14-member Red Force team to face Barbados Royals in their opener fixture at Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St Augustine.

Five players achieved their maiden call-up to the Super50 squad for this year’s competition: all-rounders Shatrughan Rambaran and Ricky Jaipaul, rising fast bowler and TTCB 50-over Cup MVP Abdul Raheem Toppin, right-handed batsman Cephas Cooper and leg-spinner Navin Bidaisee.

However, Bidaisee and Cooper previously represented TT in the West Indies Championship (regional four-day) while Rambaran featured in the Super50 Cup before, but for Combined Campuses and College.

Seasoned contenders such as Jason Mohammed, Yannic Cariah, Terrance Hinds and Tion Webster all made the cut, but the Red Force will be without key players such as Akeal Hosein, Anderson Phillip, Amir Jangoo, Jayden Seales and Khary Pierre; all on West Indies duty.

Red Force head coach Rayad Emrit believes his team represents a healthy balance of youth and experience, despite several senior players being unavailable. The 2023 champions enter the tournament with a reshuffled but promising unit.

Emrit said the changes were a timely opportunity to refresh the squad and expose emerging players to top-level competition.

“It’s a good mixture of senior players and youngsters. I thought it was the right opportunity now to get some youngsters in,” Emrit said.

Emrit said the new inclusions earned their places through consistent performances and hard work in local cricket and the earlier Super50 trial matches.

“Shatrughan has played for CCC, so he’s played at this level before. It’s not new to him. Being in a national team obviously is new to him,” Emrit said. “Toppin has just played under-19 and he’s been around the guys and he’s been very impressive. I think rewarding them at this point in time is very crucial.”

For Emrit, early opportunities for young players are vital in preparing them to step up seamlessly when senior stars are unavailable.

“The message you want to send now is that the guys are doing well. You don’t want to wait too long before you give them that opportunity,” he added. “Giving them opportunities so that when the senior players go, they’re not just going to be thrown into the team and don’t know what to do.”

Emrit confirmed that Da Silva’s calm leadership and growing experience will be crucial as the team looks to reclaim regional one-day supremacy.

Da Silva, who also led the team in the regional four-day championship, has earned Emrit’s full backing to guide a squad in transition.

“Josh, he’s someone who leads from the front. He has done it before the championship this year. I don’t think it will be anything different. He likes to win. He likes to set the example from the front. He’s easy-going and above expectations.”

Emrit said the team’s main focus will be on maintaining a positive brand of cricket and fostering a strong team culture.

“We just want to bring a brand of cricket that is impressive and positive. We’re going to try to change the culture as we go along. Guys want to be there—it shouldn’t be a task. You enjoy playing, no matter what it is. That’s what we’re trying to achieve.”

Red Force begin their campaign against Barbados, a side Emrit expects to provide a tough opening test given the teams’ recent history. Barbados went on to meet Jamaica Scorpions in the final at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, but persistent rainfall significantly delayed the match.

When the toss was scheduled to be taken, hours after the match’s initial start, both captains forfeited the toss, refusing to play. As a result, Cricket West Indies declared that no champion would be crowned.

“Barbados has always been a very good white-ball team. We got the better of them in the preliminary round last year and they got the better of us in the semi-finals. We’re obviously going to want some revenge there.”

With both teams missing key players to international commitments, Emrit said the early stages of the tournament will hinge on momentum.

“In these short tournaments, you want to start well. If we can get a good start and get a victory early on, that would be a plus.”

TT Red Force Team for CG United Super50 Cup

Joshua Da Silva (captain), Kjorn Ottley, Tion Webster, Jason Mohammed, Jyd Goolie, Yannic Cariah, Terrance Hinds, Joshua James, Ricky Jaipaul, Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper, Shatrughan Rambaran, Abdul Raheem Toppin, Navin Bidaisee

Super50 Cup Day One Match Schedule (November 19) — All matches begin at 9 am

TT Red Force vs Barbados Royals at Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine

Jamaica Scoprions vs Guyana Harpy Eagles at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain

Windward Islands Volcano vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba

Ramdoo, Cooper, Govia star in Red Force trial match

MULTIPLE players continued to give TT Red Force coach Rayad Emrit a headache in selecting his final squad after the latest trial match at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, on October 28.

The Red Force are preparing for the CG United Super50 tournament, which will be held in Trinidad from November 19-29.

Batting first, the Bryan Charles XI posted a healthy 292/7 in 50 overs with Cephas Cooper continuing his prolific form with a knock of 88 off 97 deliveries with two fours and six sixes.

Shatrughan Rambaran also showed his quality with 61 off 55 balls (eight fours, three sixes) and the experienced Yannic Cariah hit 48 not out off 60 balls.

Spin bowler Mikkel Govia was the pick of the bowlers for the Vikash Mohan XI, grabbing 3/44 in eight overs. Fast bowler Shaaron Lewis took 2/44 in his eight overs.

In response, the Mohan XI fell just short, dismissed for 291 in 48.4 overs.

Kyle Ramdoo struck 101 off 130 balls to lead the chase. The former Fatima College student struck six fours and five sixes.

Navin Bidaisee, who made a name for himself in the 2025 Caribbean Premier League, made 44 off 36 balls. Kamil Pooran belted 38 off 18 and Govia demonstrated his ability with bat also, hitting 37 off 15.

Rambaran (2/39), Deyal (2/42) and Cariah (2/66) all took two wickets for the Charles XI.

Summarised scores:

CHARLES XI 292/7 (50 overs) (Cephas Cooper 88, Shatrughan Rambaran 61, Yannic Cariah 48 not out; Mikkel Govia 3/44, Shaaron Lewis 2/44) vs MOHAN XI 291 (48.4 overs) (Kyle Ramdoo 101, Navin Bidaisee 44, Kamil Pooran 38, Mikkel Govia 37, S Rambaran 2/39, Mark Deyal 2/42, Yannic Cariah 2/66). CHARLES XI won by one run.

Three players hit fifites, but rain spoils party in Super50 trials

TRINIDAD and Tobago Red Force hopefuls were robbed of the opportunity of a full day’s tune-up on October 8 when the two games in the TT Cricket Board’s National Senior 50-Overs Cup were rained out.

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, three batsmen scored fifties for the Scarlet Blazers versus the Cocrico Warriors, but their team’s promising innings was cut short in the 44th over with the score on 271 for five. Opening batsman Mbeki Joseph (five) was dismissed early by former Windies pacer Shannon Gabriel, before Jeremy Solozano (76 off 81 balls) and Red Force skipper Joshua Da Silva (57 off 46) put on 100 runs in 15 overs before the latter retired hurt in the 19th over.

With Da Silva heading back to the pavilion, Vikash Mohan (51 off 50) also showed good form and put on 69 with Solozano before the latter was dismissed by Matthew Patrick, who grabbed figures of two for 42. Solozano hit seven fours and two sixes in his knock. Justin Jagessar (32 off 28) and Daniel Williams (21 not out off 24) both got starts before the rain prematurely brought an end to the Blazers’ innings and the game as a whole.

At the National Cricket Centre, Couva, no play was possible between the Soca Strikers and Steelpan Titans, who both registered wins on the opening day of the tourney on October 4. The final matches in the preliminary round of the four-team preparatory tourney will be played on October 15, when the Titans face the Warriors at NCC and the Blazers meet the Strikers at the BLCA. The tournament is being used as preparation for players vying to make the Red Force squad for the upcoming CG United Super50 tournament.

Summarised Scores:

SCARLET BLAZERS – 271/5 from 43.3 overs (Jeremy Solozano 76, Joshua Da Silva 57, Vikash Mohan 51, Justin Jagessar 32; Matthew Patrick 2/42) vs COCRICO WARRIORS.

Red Force begin Super50 prep with four-team tourney

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force bowl off their preparations for the 2025 Cricket West Indies (CWI) CG United Super50 Cup with the best available locally-based talent in a four-team tournament starting October 4.

Matches will be played at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, and the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba from 9.30 am.

The tournament will continue on consecutive Wednesdays (October 8 and 15) and the final is slated for October 18; a day/night fixture, from 1.30 pm.

Selected to captain the respective 14-man squads are wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua da Silva (Scarlet Blazers), spinner Bryan Charles (Cocrico Warriors), all-rounder Tion Webster (Steelpan Titans), and batsman Andrew Rambaran (Soca Strikers).

Red Force coach Rayad Emrit is confident the four-team tournament will provide the best opportunity for the cricketers to stake their claim and maintain TT’s regional superiority in the limited overs format.

No champion was crowned at last year’s edition after both finalist captains forfeited the final when their captains were not present for a delayed toss after several hours of rain.

A TT Cricket Board statement on September 26 confirmed that top Red Force batsman in this year’s Regional four-day tournament, Jason Mohammed heads the list of available players who will turn out for the Cocrico Warriors.

Also in that line-up are Tobagonian all-rounder Joshua James, Kjorn Ottley, Christian Thurton, Ricky Jaipaul and young talent Brendon Boodoo.

Mikkel Govia stands out for the Scarlet Blazers, boosted by Dejourn Charles, Vikash Mohan, Justin Gangoo, and Aadian Racha.

The Soca Strikers boast exciting opening batsman Cephas Cooper, the experience of Yannic Cariah and Terrance Hinds, and Isaiah Rajah.

Kamil Pooran is slated to head the batting for the Steelpan Titans along with Jyd Goolie, and Mark Deyal complemented by an attack led by Kyle Ramdoo and all rounder Anderson Mahase.

The four-team tournament has been organized by the TTCB as major preparation for the CG Super50 Cup after Premier League clubs agreed to forego the Sunday League 50-Overs competition earlier this season because of inclement weather.

“Instead, the four-team tournament was proposed, which will give the top cricketers an excellent opportunity to address the national selectors,” the release added.

The CG Super50 Cup is tentatively scheduled for TT from November 15 to December 14.

TEAMS

SOCA STRIKERS: Andrew Rambaran (Capt.), Cephas Cooper, Leonardo Julien, Akeel Mohammed, Isaiah Rajah, Yannic Cariah, Terrance Hinds, Damion Joachim, Avinash Mahabirsingh, Abdul-Raheem Toppin, Shaaron Lewis, Videsh Sookhai, Aneal Rooplal, Jacen Agard.

Manager: Adrian Ali; Coach: Keston Harrypersad

COCRICO WARRIORS: Bryan Charles (Capt,), Kjorn Ottley, Shatrughan Rambaran, Christian Thurton, Jason Mohammed, Brendon Boodoo, Antonio Gomez, Joshua James, Trevon James, Chadeon Raymond, Ricky Jaipaul, Matthew Patrick, Justin Joseph, Aaron Bankay.

Manager: Frank Simmons; Coach: Earnil Ryan

SCARLET BLAZERS: Joshua Da Silva (Capt.), Dejourn Charles, Vikash Mohan, Kirstan Kallicharan, Daniel Williams, Mikkeal Govia, Justyn Gangoo, Aadian Racha, Justin Manick, Shiva Sankar, Joshua Davis, Justin Jagessar, Jerve Cummings, Jovan Ali.

Manager: Kent Ghisyawan; Coach: Nisar Mohammed

STEELPAN TITANS: Tion Webster (Capt.), Kamil Pooran, Rajeev Ramnath, Kyle Ramdoo, Mark Deyal, Jyd Goolie, Anderson Mahase, Jeese Bootan, Sameer Ali, Abdur-Rahman Juman, Camillo Carimbocas, Aamir li, Jean-Phillipe Beharry, Rivaldo Ramlogan

Manager: Sgt. Sheahan Panchu; Coach: Gibran Mohammed

Emrit hails Red Force’s four-day campaign despite final blip

TRINIDAD and Tobago Red Force flirted with top spot in the 2025 West Indies Four-Day Championship for most of the season, before eventually finishing in third place on 111 points when the competition concluded on April 12.

TT began the final round within touching distance of Guyana Harpy Eagles, but the latter team went on to clinch their eighth title in ten years after drawing their match with the Red Force at Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair. Guyana amassed 126.6 points to cop the title and the US$ 250,000 prize, with Barbados Pride (121.2 points) snatching second place and a US$ 100,000 prize.

With TT missing out on landing their first four-day title since the 2005/06 season, head coach Rayad Emrit, who was in his debut campaign, commended the efforts of his squad despite the blip at the end of the tournament. Emrit took charge of the team after the first-round clash against Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC), as former coach David Furlonge returned to Queen’s Park Cricket Club.

“All in all, it was a really good season. There’s always room for improvement. We’re very disappointed with how we finished and where we finished, but we only have ourselves to blame because we put ourselves in that position after the Jamaica game,” Emrit said, after his team’s draw with Guyana.

In the penultimate round versus the Jamaica Scorpions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, the Red Force did all their hard work a disservice as they were beaten by a whopping 223 runs in the day/night, pink-ball match. Jamaica eventually finished fifth after suffering a five-wicket loss to the CCC in the final round.

“We were unbeaten until the Jamaica game. The Jamaica game was a bit disappointing. We probably took them for granted for some periods,” Emrit said. “Coming into the last game, we were still in a good position to win the title, but playing the number one team in the competition and the advantage they had on the first day with the bowler-friendly conditions, I thought they used the conditions really well and put us on the back foot.”

Though TT’s batting let them down in crunch time against Jamaica and in their first innings against the Guyanese when they were bowled out for 240, Red Force still had the top two batsmen in the tourney, along with the leading wicket-taker. Jason Mohammed topped the batting charts with 679 runs, including four centuries, with skipper Joshua Da Silva scoring 583 runs which included three centuries. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Khary Pierre took 41 wickets, including a career-best return of eight for 27 versus the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the second round.

“Overall, I thought our batsmen were really consistent throughout the tournament. Yes, we played on flat wickets but it’s good to see batsmen scoring centuries,” Emrit said.

TT opening batsman Cephas Cooper was also among the runs as he struck four fifties and a maiden First Class hundred which helped him to 452 runs at an average of 41.09.

NEW SPEEDSTERS WANTED

Among the things his team needs to work on, Emrit pointed to a need for greater fitness, a fresh cop of fast-bowling talent and better application by the middle-order against spin-bowling.

After the TT seam attack accounted for 16 wickets in their innings and a 56-run win away to Barbados in round five, Red Force were left light in the fast-bowling department as Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip headed overseas to take up County Championship duties – missing the last two fixtures. Both Phillip and Seales played four games this season, taking ten and nine wickets respectively. Their departures paved the way for the return of 36-year-old Shannon Gabriel, who retired from West Indies duty last August.

Emrit defended the selection of Gabriel but admitted new pacers must be blooded. Merry Boys seamer Justin Manick featured in the first round versus CCC, but was unused for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, allrounder Joshua James took 16 wickets in seven matches in his debut First-Class season with TT.

“Obviously, there’s going to be a new crop of fast-bowlers coming through because Jayden and (Anderson) will be playing international cricket and Shannon Gabriel is probably on his way out and Terrance (Hinds) is playing a lot of white-ball cricket. We have to try and get replacements for these guys.” Emrit said.

The selection of Gabriel stirred up much discussion among cricket enthusiasts.

“It’s always up in the air when Shannon plays. We thought we would have needed the extra pace of Shannon in these (last) two games. We have Terrance Hinds and Joshua James who bowl medium-pace, so we needed that kind of X-Factor who could come and try to rough up batsmen.

“I think Shannon did well. Yes, we could probably use a youngster in the future, but I thought for these two games, I thought we needed the seniority and I thought Shannon was the best choice.”

Having improved on their fifth-placed finish from the 2024 season, Emrit will hope TT continue to make strides towards ending their regional four-day title drought.

CWI boss: Integrity of the game comes first

Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Kishore Shallow has affirmed the cricket board’s zero-tolerance policy for actions which bring the game into disrepute after two Guyana Harpy Eagles players were fined for ball-tampering offences in their West Indies Four-Day Championship clash with Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair.

The final round clash ended in a draw on April 12, handing Guyana their eighth four-day title in ten years and their third straight crown. However, Guyana’s title win was overshadowed as veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul and top-order batsman Kevlon Anderson were fined by CWI for level-two offences related to “changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3. of the Laws of Cricket.”

CWI president Kishore Shallow – Photo by Jeff K. Mayers

In an April 14 CWI release, Shallow congratulated Guyana on their title-clinching feat. However, he condemned the behaviour of the aforementioned players.

“While we celebrate the success of the season, I want to remind players that CWI holds the integrity of the game in the highest regard,” he said.

“There is zero tolerance for conduct that undermines the spirit of cricket and brings the game into disrepute. The legacy of West Indies cricket has always been built on talent, pride, and integrity, and we are committed to upholding our core values.”

Permaul was fined 75 per cent of his match fee for the level-two breach during the first day of the match. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Christopher Taylor and Kashif Sandy after the end of the first day. Permaul admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Michael Ragoonath, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

Meanwhile, Anderson was fined 90 per cent of his match fee for a similar offence on day three on April 11 during TT’s second innings. Anderson accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

In each instance the ball was changed, with the batting team given the option to choose.

Meanwhile, Guyanese allrounder Ronaldo Alimohamed was fined 65 per cent of his match fee for also a level-two breach of the CWI Code of Conduct. The medium pacer breached Article 2.1–2.5; Paragraph 3.6 of the Code of Conduct – “Throw the ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near player or official in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner.”

Guyana Harpy Eagles players Ashmead Nedd (L) and Kevlon Anderson celebrate after their team won the West Indies Four-Day Championship title at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair on April 12. Anderson was fined 90 per cent of his match fee for a ball-tampering offence in the final-round match. Photo by Roneil Walcott. –

Speaking to Newsday at the end of the match on April 12, Guyana captain Tevin Imlach said he didn’t want his team to be seen as cheaters.

“(It does put a bit of a taint on the title). It’s something you don’t want to be known for,” Imlach said. “You don’t want to play cricket that way where you’re being accused of stuff like that. We play hard cricket. To use that is going to paint the Guyana team as cheaters or we’re doing something wrong, and it’s obviously not a good look.”

Guyana topped the table with 126.6 points, while TT slipped to third as they ended on 111 points. Barbados Pride (121.2 points) finished second after their dramatic final-round win against Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Ball-tampering claims mar Red Force vs Guyana clash, TT official wants ‘bigger sanctions’

A Trinidad and Tobago Red Force team official is hoping more serious punishment will be handed down to the Guyana Harpy Eagles after allegations of ball tampering marred the final-round match of the West Indies Four-Day Championship tournament, being played at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair.

With the regional four-day title up for grabs between league leaders Guyana and second-placed TT, the visitors were penalised twice and TT were given five extra runs in both innings. The Harpy Eagles have a narrow six-point lead over Red Force.

Red Force were bowled out for 240 in their first innings, falling into a huge deficit after Guyana replied with 463 all out. TT are 101 for two, still trailing by 122 runs, on day three in their second innings.

Newsday tried to get a comment from match umpire Michael Ragoonath after play on April 11, but he said, “I am unauthorised to speak to the media. You have to go through Cricket West Indies.”

A Red Force team official, who wished to remain anonymous, is upset that the game is not being played in the right spirit.

“Firstly, it is very disappointing,” he said. “They did it in the first innings and they got reprimanded five penalty points (runs). The second innings the same thing happened.”

Harpy Eagles have been dominating the last-round match with Red Force hoping for a massive turnaround on the final day on April 12 to pull off an unlikely win.

The Red Force official said there is no room for unsportsmanlike conduct in cricket, fondly referred to as “the gentleman’s game.”

He said, “It is very disappointing that we have to reach this stage. They are on top of the game. We don’t know if that was one of the factors that made them on top in the first innings and now again in the second innings where they on top of the game. We are trying to fight to win a title and we have to put up with this.

“There should be bigger sanctions when you get caught with this. We don’t know what is going to be the outcome, but I think CWI should get involved and there should be sanctions for the players that get involved and for the entire team.”

In the opening session on day three, a brave batting performance by Harpy Eagles diminished Red Force’s chances of pulling off a victory.

Red Force would have been hoping to wrap up the Harpy Eagles first innings early in the day.

Starting the day on 269/5, already with a lead of 29 runs on first innings, the Harpy Eagles middle and lower order frustrated Red Force.

Led by an attacking display from Keemo Paul, the Harpy Eagles built a massive lead.

Paul showed no fear as he found the boundary regularly as he raced to 47, before being forced to retire hurt. When Paul retired, Harpy Eagles were almost 100 runs ahead of Red Force with the score on 333.

Paul was not a one-man show as Ronaldo Alimohamed (19), Veerasammy Permaul (52 not out) and Ashmead Nedd (22) helped pile on the runs.

Paul returned in the second session to add more misery to the TT bowlers. One of the few moments the Red Force had to celebrate is that they denied Paul from reaching his century. He was caught by Kamil Pooran for 93 to give left-arm spinner Khary Pierre the wicket.

The right-hander faced 126 balls, hitting ten fours and two sixes as Harpy Eagles posted a healthy 463 all out.

One bright spot for TT was Pierre, who ended with 4/119 in 44 overs, bowling twice as many overs as any other bowler.

Fast bowler Joshua James took 2/78 and off spinner Jyd Goolie grabbed 2/29.

At the close of play, the Red Force were showing fight batting a second time. When Red Force reached the 100-run mark in the first innings, they were already five wickets down.

Cephas Cooper (26) and nightwatchman Bryan Charles (one) are the not out batsmen. Amir Jangoo struck 50 off 96 balls, before being dismissed late in the day.

Summarised Scores:

TT RED FORCE – 240 (Jyd Goolie 58, Cephas Cooper 50, Khary Pierre 38; Nial Smith 4/49, Keemo Paul 3/45) and 101/2 (Amir Jangoo 50) vs GUYANA HARPY EAGLES – 463 (K Paul 93, Raymond Perez 82, Veerasammy Permaul 52 not out; K Pierre 4/119, Joshua James 2/78, J Goolie 2/29).

LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES – 444/9 declared (Justin Greaves 124, Jahmar Hamilton 84, Jewel Andrew 66; Jomel Warrican 7/111) and 40/4 (Kaecy Carty 21 not out; Ramon Simmonds 4/13) vs BARBADOS PRIDE – 315 (Matthew Forde 120, Kevin Wickham 74; J Greaves 3/36, Rahkeem Cornwall 2/35, Oshane Thomas 2/86).

JAMAICA SCORPIONS – 133 (Kirk McKenzie 31, Brad Barnes 23; Jaden Edmund 5/59, Larry Edward 3/6) & 342 (John Campbell 104, Javelle Glenn 86; L Edward 5/86, Chemar Holder 3/79) vs CCC – 327 (Shaqkere Parris 112, Johann Jeremiah 69, L Edward 44; Abhijai Mansingh 5/91, Peat Salmon 2/74) and 153/5 (S Parris 85 not out, Marquino Mindley 2/30, P Salmon 2/55). CCC won by five wickets.

An abysmal performance

WHAT an unpredictable sport is cricket. The hackneyed statement of the glorious uncertainties indeed comes into play in this instance. The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force cricket team which, just a few weeks ago, marched past the Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval in a truly triumphal manner in two days, were truly and convincingly whipped by the Jamaican Scorpions in three days.

The continuation of the four-day first-class CWI regional competition in the Brian Lara Stadium, at Tarouba, was the venue of this comprehensive beating at the hand of the Jamaicans.

It would be interesting to learn what this victorious team over Barbados, away from home three weeks ago, did in the line of preparation between the two games. How many practice sessions did they have and was it concentrated or just light stuff, taking it easy, a sign of overconfidence?

I don’t think that could be it, however, because already they were missing two of their main men, fast bowlers Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip. Although the side would be weakened without these two, especially Seales, no matter how brilliant, it would still take the contribution of eleven players working together as one unit to win a game.

Shannon Gabriel was brought in as a replacement fast bowler. Although he didn’t bowl badly, he’s definitely over the hill and his bad habit of leaving the field so often during a game leaving the fan who is watching on, plus the commentators, a bit mystified as to his reasons, only serve to discourage his teammates.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s Cephas Cooper braces as Jamaica Scorpions’ Jermaine Blackwood plays a shot on during the West Indies Four Day Championship match, on April 3, 2025 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba. – Photo by Lincoln Holder

The team was an unbalanced one. It was lacking in the fast bowling department. There were three fast bowlers, Gabriel, along with Joshua James, a 2025 newcomer, who has been bowling a tidy line and length and looks promising. Then there was Terrance Hinds who is certainly not up to this standard. Khary Pierre, the slow left-arm orthodox and at present, the leading wicket-taker in the competition, was the main man.

The off-spinner Bryan Charles and Yannic Cariah are the other two specialist spinners. Yet, with the injury suspect Cariah in the team, it signalled problems. He was chosen as an all-rounder to bat at number 6, but his obvious disability prevented him from bowling and although he batted at number 11 in the first innings (and this was after Gabriel, so one could imagine how badly injured he must have been), he could not bowl in the second innings. Nevertheless, he moved up in the batting order from 11 to 8. Unable to move his feet comfortably he was bowled for zero.

Cariah had not been fit for a couple of weeks, yet he was selected in a vital position as an all-rounder, expected to bat at 6. He bowls right-handed, back-of-the-hand leg spin. Unfortunately, he played no serious part in the game. The selectors and fitness trainers who pass a player as fit have to answer for this.

Thus, the batting was thin from 6 to 11. That burden was too much for the top four batsmen. The opening batsmen, Cephas Cooper and Kamil Pooran, appeared out of depth, while the two main batsmen, Amrit Jangoo and Jason Mohammed, were careless and nowhere near their best form, an absence of concentration.

This should not be. The only time that batsmen who are rated highly, plus enjoying recent scores that reveal their good form, nonetheless display nothing like their true ability, is because of a lack of practice. The captain, Joshua Da Silva, exuding self-confidence, picked up the ball early out of the bowler’s hand, feet moving swiftly into position with bat-swing confident and positive.

All that is written here is not to take away from the Jamaican team whose bowlers bowled steadily, the fast bowlers moved the ball off the seam and the spinners extracted turn from the pitch. Marquino Mindley always looked dangerous but his partner Ojay Shields, needs more control to maintain a proper line and length. Abhijai Mansingh, the right-hand leg-spinner, is a useful cricketer who has places to go as his bowling approach, angles and flighted deliveries promises a bright future if he works at it.

Their batsmen played well. Javelle Kenny’s century showed excellent concentration and determination. He was well supported by Jermaine Blackwood and Mansingh, both scoring half-centuries.

Da Silva won the toss and decided to field. It was a risky decision in the absence of his two main penetrative opening bowlers Seales and Phillip.

One should never take cricket for granted.

Red Force coach: Scorpions stand in the way

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force resume their quest for 2025 West Indies Championship glory when they face Jamaica Scorpions in the penultimate round at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on April 2, from 1 pm.

Red Force (101 pts) are currently second on the eight-team standings behind leaders and defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles (102.6 pts), with both teams having won four and drawn one of their five matches this season.

Victory for TT over Jamaica across the next four days would keep them within contention of the coveted crown, which has eluded them since 2006. Additionally, it would also set up a grand finale between TT and Guyana, who meet in their final round at Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair, from April 9-12.

Red Force will be without two crucial fast bowlers, Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip, who have left the squad to play County cricket in England. However, of the remaining players, everyone is fit for the Jamaica contest, but up to publication, the final squad was not yet confirmed.

TT head coach Rayad Emrit, who was part of the 2006 title-winning Red Force team, believes his squad has the formula to go all the way, with Jason Mohammed atop the batting leaderboard with 519 runs at an average of 103.80, with three centuries.

In the bowling department, after five rounds, TT left-arm spinner Khary Pierre tops the charts with 31 wickets.

In an interview on April 1, Emrit told Newsday, “The feeling is good. The guys are confident. We trained this morning and had our meeting. The guys are really happy with where they are. We don’t want to get complacent. We know what we have to do and there’s a job still at hand, and we’re hoping to get another good result.”

Emrit said victory against the Scorpions would be one of their most important wins to remain on course for the trophy.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been in this situation. If we can get a good result in this game, the last game will be a grand finale playing at home against Guyana. It’s a game we’re looking forward to, but we have to take care of Jamaica first. It’s like a semi-final for us.

“We have a full squad to pick from. Everyone is fit and there are no injury concerns. Everyone has passed their fitness tests.”

Having been appointed head coach after round one, on the heels of David Furlonge’s resignation, Emrit has thrived at the helm. He’s enjoying the ride but confirmed there were some changes he had to make to get the best out of his players.

As coach leading his team into the final two rounds with a possibility of ending their lengthy four-day title drought, Emrit said, “It’s been good. I thoroughly enjoy this journey. As a coach, coming into a team, you would want to be in this position. The guys have really welcomed me and the hardest thing is to try to adapt to change, and I think they have done an excellent job.

“They are seeing the progress and that’s the most important thing. Our culture, we needed to change some things in it and they’ve bought into it.”

When asked on what he expects fifth-placed Jamaica (59.8 pts) to bring to the table, Emrit knows it will be no pushover.

“We know they have some good players. John Campbell, Brandon King and Jermaine Blackwood can be destructive. Marquinho Mindly has also been good.

“We have our plans and we have to execute them. We’re not wary of them but we know they’re very good players. I know they are also wary of us. As long as we control our controllables – and I ask the team to be positive in whatever we do and not reckless, and do the right things consistently.”

Round six:

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Guyana Harpy Eagles at Warner Park, St Kitts, 10 am

Windward Islands vs Barbados Pride at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia, 10 am

Combined Campuse & Colleges vs West Indies Academy at the Frank Worrell Ground, St Augustine, 10 am

TT Red Force vs Jamaica Scorpions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, 1 pm

WI Championships standings

Teams*Points

Guyana Harpy Eagles*102.6

TT Red Force*101

Leeward Islands Hurricanes*79.6

Barbados Pride*78

Jamaica Scorpions*59.8

Windward Islands Volcanoes*45.8

Combined Campuses and Colleges*26.6

WI Academy*25

Pooran joins Red Force for ‘toughest challenge’ vs Barbados

TOP-ORDER batsman Kamil Pooran replaces opener Vikash Mohan for the mega West Indies Championship round-five clash between Red Force and Barbados, from March 12-15, at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Rayad Emrit confirmed Mohan picked up an injury just before their round-four victory over West Indies Academy and did not feature in that game, despite being picked.

Pooran faced Barbados as part of the Combined Campuses and Colleges squad in the previous round, notching scores of 11 and 36.

“We had to make a forced change with Vikash picking up an injury. He had some back spasms so we didn’t want to take any chances and we might have been a player short during the game. So we had a forced decision there with him,” Emrit said before their final training session on March 11.

With stylish West Indies One-Day International captain Shai Hope back in the Barbados squad and set to take the gloves, Emrit believes the Royals will serve as TT’s toughest test yet in the competition.

Currently, Red Force (77.8 pts) are second on the eight-team standings, with defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles (81.2 pts) atop and Barbados (73 pts) completing the top three.

TT, however, have three wins and a draw from their four matches played while the hosts have three wins and a loss. With just three rounds remaining, Emrit wants his troops to stick to the plan.

“We spoke about this before the season started, trying to focus on what we need to do as a team to win matches. We have done that for the entire tournament.

“Yes, Barbados are going to be our toughest challenge so far, but we’re doing a lot of good things as a team, and must focus on that. We have been trying to control what we can and that’s the goal,” Emrit said.

With Hope joining Windies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite and fellow maroon teammates Roston Chase, Jason Holder and Kemar Roach in the Bajan setup, TT face an uphill task against an experienced team. Hope replaced Kyle Mayers while Jair McAllister comes in for Chaim Holder against Red Force.

TT’s batting and bowling consistency remain key to a Red Force victory. Mistakes made before, Emrit said, cannot be replicated against Barbados.

“The confidence is there. It was a hard-fought victory against the Academy team. We were put in (tough) positions in both innings when we batted and the guys came out of it pretty well. But we don’t want to put ourselves in those positions against Barbados, especially with them at home.”

Against West Indies Academy, the last four batsmen – Khary Pierre (42), Jayden Seales (29), Bryan Charles (23 not out) and Anderson Phillip (eight) – combined for 102 runs, alongside captain Joshua Da Silva (120), to carry TT to a solid 304 all out, after they were reeling at 91/6.

Emrit enjoyed TT’s lower-order partnerships in the last game and believes solid combinations in the middle augur well for a possible Red Force triumph.

“We’ll make sure our batting is consistently good. It’s just a couple areas we need to work in our batting. Trying to get big partnerships. We got in at the end of our innings in our lower order, which is good because it shows how deep our batting can go.

“Our bowling has been doing excellent. To get 20 wickets in three matches is excellent. The confidence is there to get 20 wickets and we’re going to try to do that again in this game.”

In other round-five matches, Guyana host Windward Islands Volcanoes at Providence Stadium, Leeward Islands Hurricanes take on Combined Campuses and Colleges at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua while West Indies Academy face Jamaica Scorpions at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Matches bowl off from 10 am.

Red Force squad: Joshua Da Silva (captain), Cephas Cooper, Jason Mohammed, Tion Webster, Amir Jangoo, Yannic Cariah, Joshua James, Khary Pierre, Anderson Phillip, Bryan Charles, Jayden Seales, Kamil Pooran, Jyd Goolie.

Barbados squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shai Hope, Jason Holder, Leniko Boucher, Roston Chase, Jonathan Drakes, Matthew Forde, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Kemar Roach, Ramon Simmonds, Jomel Warrican, Kevin Wickham.