AN ENERGETIC all-round performance by Kevin Stoute and a classy unbeaten half century by Amir Jangoo kept Barbados Pride and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force locked in an enthralling battle for supremacy at Kensington Oval last night.
When the second day of the ninth round contest in the Digicel Regional Four Day Competition ended, the Red Force led by 161 runs with five second innings wickets standing.
The visitors closed on 133 for five after bowling the Pride out for 168 in reply to Red Force’s first innings 196.
Jangoo is not out on 71 having held the Red Force innings together, mainly in a fourth wicket stand of 73 with Yannick Cariah, who made 31.
The left-handed opener dominated the final session of play after going to tea on 14 with Red Force 19 for one. One hundred and fourteen runs were scored in the final session from 32 overs. Jangoo has batted for 178 minutes and faced 129 balls. His enterprising knock has so far included two sixes and seven fours.
Justin Greaves (three for 39) removed Isaiah Rajah and Toni Webster shortly after tea as the Red Force stuttered to 21 for three. Cariah and Jangoo rebuilt the innings before a double strike by Stoute (two for 29) put pressure back on the Trinidadians.
Jangoo responded to the developing crisis with aplomb, launching a straight six off Stoute and with Roshon Primus, pose a major threat to Barbados’ hopes of wrapping up the Red Force second innings.
The first half of the day belonged to Stoute whose refined, unbeaten half century kept Barbados Pride on even terms with their opponents. He batted responsibly to score an undefeated 81 to lift Barbados from a perilous overnight 27 for five.
Stoute and Kenroy Williams added 87 for the seventh wicket after night watchman Jomel Warrican was caught at forward short leg by Akiel Cooper off left arm pacer Sheldon Cotterell for two.
Williams brought up the 100 for Barbados before lunch with a pleasant extra cover drive for four in the first over bowled by off spinner Bryan Charles (three for 32). The landmark was achieved in 185 minutes off 238 deliveries.
Stoute was dropped at forward short leg off Charles when 38 and the score 103 for six. The right handed all-rounder went to lunch on 40 while Williams was unbeaten on 42 with the Pride 111 for six off 45 overs.
Williams, who survived a confident appeal for lbw trying to sweep Charles shortly after lunch, fell to the same bowler when Cooper held a sharp chance at forward short leg. Justin Greaves, playing forward to Charles, was lbw first ball as Barbados slipped to 124 for eight.
Preston McSween provided excellent support for Stoute in a ninth wicket stand of 38, allowing Stoute to reach his 50 off 97 balls in 140 minutes with seven boundaries.
Almost immediately on achieving the goal, Stoute exhibited immense power in lifting leg spinner Imran Khan for a straight six. He then used his feet and drove Charles wide of long off for four and smashed Khan high over extra cover for another boundary.
He raised the 150 for Barbados by clipping the first delivery of a new spell from Primus (four for 21) through square leg for four.
McSween (7), deceived by a slower ball, was caught and bowled by Primus. Last man Rachid O’Neale miscued a pull to be caught at forward square leg by Khan off Charles, leaving Stoute not out on 81 having faced 137 balls in 199 minutes, with a six and ten fours. (PH)