Trinidad and Tobago Red Force secured their first outright win of the 2024 West Indies Championship after thumping West Indies Academy by six wickets, inside three days, at Conaree Sports Club in St Kitts on Friday.
At the start of play, WI Academy were in their second innings on 84/3, trailing TT’s first-innings score of 329 by 82 runs. The academy put up some resistance in the middle and lower order, but were eventually dismissed for 224, giving Red Force an easy victory target of 59.
In response, Red Force may have dropped their guard a bit as they lost four wickets en route to a victorious 60/4 from 16.2 overs.
The result was a welcome one for TT, who played to a no-result against defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles in their opening contest.
At the resumption on Friday, WI Academy lost Mbeki Joseph (34) in the fourth over as he was bowled out brilliantly by left-arm spinner Khary Pierre. Joseph was unable to add any runs to his overnight score.
Recent West Indies debutant Teddy Bishop, 21, joined Nyeem Young at the crease, but the latter soon departed on 18 as he tried to slash Pierre, mistimed the bounce, and was bowled. At that point, WI Academy were 104/5.
After the drinks break, spin-bowling skipper Bryan Charles introduced himself to the attack and was rewarded with Bishop’s scalp, trapped leg-before.
Just before lunch, Charles struck again as he had Tobagonian Joshua James (21) play into the hands of Jason Mohammed. With just three wickets in hand, WI Academy were 155/7 and still trailing TT by 11 runs.
However, after the break, Joshua Bishop and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett showed some fight and put on a good 55-run partnership to carry WI Academy to 210. But fast bowler Anderson Phillip broke their lower-order stand as he had Bishop (29) edge to wicketkeeper Amir Jangoo.
Phillip turned the screws on the academy team as Johann Layne chipped a delivery straight to Cephas Cooper, which took them to 212/9.
Bowen-Tuckett showed mettle at the back as he smashed an unbeaten 46 while final batsman Ashmead Need could only score one.
Phillip (4/33), Charles (4/57) and Pierre (2/42) accounted for the wickets.
Red Force lost a few wickets in the chase as Bishop accounted for day-two century-maker Jyd Goolie (13), Mohammed (seven) and Cooper (six), while Nedd had Vikash Mohan (18) trapped in front his stumps.
However, Tion Webster stroked 14 not out as TT met their target in under 17 overs, closing on 60/4. They begin round three against Leeward Islands Hurricanes on Wednesday at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts.
Regional Scores -
WI ACADEMY 163 (39) – Teddy Bishop 65, Joshua Bishop 32 not out, Johann Laye 27; Jayden Seales 3/26, Anderson Phillip 3/63, Khary Pierre 2/16 & 224 (70/1) – Carlon Bowe-Tuckett 46, Mbeki Joseph 34, Ackeem Auguste 34, Joshua Bishop 29, Joshua James 21; Anderson Phillip 4/33, Bryan Charles 4/57, Khary Pierre 2/42 vs TT RED FORCE 329 (115.3) – Jyd Goolie 113, Vikash Mohan 54, Amir Jangoo 40, Cephas Cooper 28, Bryan Charles 25; Ashmead Nedd 6/78, Joshua Bisho
