FOR THE SECOND TIME in as many matches a Barbadian has undermined the progress of the Barbados Pride in the Digicel Regional Four Day Cricket Competition.
Roshon Primus, a former student of the Coleridge and Parry School and a member of the Wanderers Club, hit a polished half century and then made three crucial strikes to put Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on top against Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval yesterday.
Barbados dismissed the visitors for a modest 196 but then limped to 27 for five off 16 overs in an extended final session.
Primus, who resumed after tea on 21 with the Red Force 147 for six, reached his half century off just 62 balls in 79 minutes, with one six and eight fours.
The Trinidadians lost three wickets for 21 runs early in the final session as Imran Khan, Marlon Richards and Bryan Charles all fell cheaply. Kevin Stoute, with four for 51 and Justin Greaves three for 29, did most of the damage.
Last man Sheldon Cottrell helped Primus frustrate Barbados for 38 minutes in a tenth  wicket partnership of 28.
Primus celebrated his half century by hooking Greaves over long leg for six but Greaves later got a measure of revenge when he bowled the heavy set batsman for 60, made off 80 balls in 103 minutes with two sixes and eight fours.
Cottrell struck early when Anthony Alleyne (4) was spectacularly caught by wicket keeper Amir Jangoo diving to his left but Primus eventually replaced him and created havoc. Kyle Corbin (5) and Roston Chase (0) both flicked to Isaiah Rajah at mid-wicket. The same combination and a similar stroke accounted for Shane Dowrich (4) off the final delivery of the day.
Between Primus’ heroics medium pacer Tion Webster won an lbw decision against Kraigg Brathwaite (14) but it was really the Roshon Primus show as his three for three from 3.2 overs gave the visitors the advantage on opening day.
Earlier The Trinidadians failed to capitalise on their decision to bat first. A lunch time position of 76 for two quickly declined to 122 for five when Primus came to the crease and by tea the Red Force was in deep trouble at 147 for six.
Primus gave notice of an impending counter attack when he hooked fast bowler Rachid O’Neale over long on for six. Next ball he edged to the third man boundary. Shortly after, Primus cut O’Neale to the backward point boundary for four and drove left arm spinner Jomel Warrican through extra cover for another boundary. By tea Primus had counted a six and three fours having faced 32 balls.
In the pre-lunch session wicket-keeper/batsman Jangoo and number three Isaiah Rajah put on 53 for the second wicket after Jangoo’s opening partner Kjorn Ottley was caught by wicket keeper Dowrich off medium pacer Justin Greaves for just nine.
Jangoo fell shortly before lunch when he edged Kevin Stoute to Kraigg Brathwaite at second slip having scored 32 off 74 balls in 113 minutes with five fours.
Barbados maintained the pressure in the second session, at one stage keeping the Red Force scoreless for seven overs. During that period Greaves sent down three consecutive maidens while claiming the wicket of Rajah who was bowled for 38 made off 78 balls in 113 minutes with six fours.
Stoute delivered four consecutive maidens, in the process squaring up Webster to have him caught by Alleyne at gully. Yannick Cariah was bowled by Warrican in the left arm spinner’s first over and then O’Neale secured his first wicket at the first class level when wicket keepr Dowrich dived to his left to come up with a brilliant one-handed catch as Akiel Cooper fended off a short delivery. (PH)
