COOLIDGE – Pre-tournament favourites, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force will chase 256 to win the first semi-final of the West Indies Super50 Cup against Jamaica Scorpions.
Left-handed West Indies Test opener John Campbell hit four fours and one six in the top score off 88 and fellow international Brandon King supported with five fours and one six in 58 from 81 balls to lead the Scorpions’ batting.
The international pair put on 108 for the second wicket to be the rocks upon which the Scorpions built a total of 255 for seven from their allocation of 50 overs, after they were put into bat in the day/night contest at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
Former West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul was the pick of the Red Force bowlers, taking four for 29 from his allotted 10 overs and fellow pacer Anderson Phillips grabbed two for 41 from seven overs.
Scorpions lost Aldaine Thomas in the third over, but Campbell and King gave them a rock-solid foundation with their partnership.
King danced down the pitch and lofted part-time off-spinner Jason Mohammed onto the grandstand roof for his only six to reach his 50 from 65 balls in the 22nd over.
Then, Campbell drove Phillip to the wide long-off rope for his last boundary to reach his 50 off 74 balls in the 26th over.
King was bowled leg-stump by Phillip, playing back and across to a well-pitched delivery that moved back in the 28th over, bringing Andre McCarthy to the crease.
McCarthy put on 58 with Campbell for the third wicket before he was caught at long-off off leg-spinner Imran Khan for 35, dragging a delivery from outside the off-stump in the 37th over.
Chasing quick runs in the final 10 overs, Scorpions gifted cheap wickets, including Campbell, who was dubiously adjudged lbw to Rampaul in the 46th over. TV replays suggested he was struck outside the line of the off-stump.
There were no closing pyrotechnics from Scorpions with the experienced Red Force attack using a number of variations to stem their flow.
Summarised scores:
Scorpions 255 for seven off 50 overs (John Campbell 88, Brandon King 58, Andre McCarthy 35, Nkrumah Bonner 20, Rovman Powell 16, Odean Smith 15 not out; Ravi Rampaul 4-29, Anderson Phillip 2-41) vs Red Force. (AR)
