“IT WAS just a little lapse.”
That was how Barbados Pride skipper Kevin Stoute described his side’s comprehensive nine-wicket defeat to the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in their second match of the NAGICO Super50 series at the Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday.
“Some of the batsmen who got in did not go on to get a big score, but that is how cricket goes. We still have four games to play and we will just go forward with that. It doesn’t make any sense dwelling on the loss,” the skipper added.
The last time the Red Force lost a game in the Super50 was against the Bajans in the thrilling 2014 final at the same venue. But that was not going to be the case this tme, as the Pride were dismissed for 161 after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
The Red Force replied with 163 for one off 35.5 overs to clinch the win and maintain their place at the top of the table.
Red Force hit an early stumbling block when Evin Lewis cut the third ball of the chase back onto his stumps without scoring. However maiden half-centuries from Kjorn Ottley and Kyle Hope in an unbroken 162-run stand for the second wicket set up another easy victory for the home team.
Ottley, who slammed an unbeaten 80 off 113 balls which included 11 fours, showed his attacking skills with three boundaries off one Tino Best over with shots through the covers and one pulled to the midwicket boundary. The left-hander also smacked pacer Justin Greaves for a couple fours through the covers before bringing up his 50 with a sweep for four off Kenroy Williams off 76 balls.
Barbadian Hope was also unbeaten at the end, facing 100 balls for his 70. He played shots all round the ground, including a six over wide long-on off Pride captain Kevin Stoute. Hope brought up his 50 off just 68 balls, having struck five fours and a six as the Red Force went past 100. From there, it was just a matter of time for the home team to seal the win. Hope hit a total of six fours and one six.
For Ottley, it was just a matter of getting in and playing his natural game.
“It always feels good to perform for your country and I just want to thank the Almighty, the Red Force staff and friends and family who supported me throughout,” he said after the match.
“Losing the early wicket, I thought I would go out and assess, and once I got in, I just played my natural game which is to stay positive,” the left-hander added.
While the Red Force batsmen enjoyed their time in the middle in bright sunshine, it was a different story for the Pride who started the match in overcast conditions.
They had a turbulent time, losing wickets in bunches before Ashley Nurse (50) and Greaves (31) came together to take the score into triple figures.
A lot was expected of Dwayne Smith but he failed to deliver. He tried to a hook a short ball from Rayad Emrit but missed. The ball hit his glove and dropped onto his stumps.
Hero of the first match, Marlon Richards struck in the next over as Stoute pushed at a delivery outside off-stump and edged to wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo as the visitors slipped to 14 for two.
The former champions stumbled to 66 for six as the Red Force spinners came into the attack. Off-spinner Jon Russ Jaggesar started the procession when he had Jonathan Carter stumped for one. Shamarh Brooks then edged left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein to Lewis at first slip for 25 before Kenroy Williams was run out for a duck.
Jaggesar got his second victim when Mario Rampersaud swept and top-edged to the wicketkeeper. The Pride were in trouble but Roston Chase came to their rescue, his maiden half-century in a 60-run stand for the seventh wicket with Justin Greaves giving the visitors some hope.
Chase hit three fours and faced 87 balls for his 50 before he was well caught by a diving Jason Mohammed at short cover off left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley. The lefty was on a hat-trick when Tino Best edged the next ball to Narsingh Deonarine at first slip for a duck with the score on 126 for eight.
Greaves helped the cause with 31 off 65 balls while Ashley Nurse blazed 21 off 20 balls including the only six of the Barbados innings but in the end it was not enough. (Trinidad Express)
