Joshua Bishop’s second first-class century reignited West Indies Academy’s hopes, while a shaky second-innings performance from Trinidad and Tobago Red Force left their West Indies Championship fourth-round clash finely poised heading into the final day at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua.
Despite holding a 36-run first-innings lead, the Red Force struggled in their second innings on Friday, as they limped to 218-9 at stumps, leaving them with a 254-run lead and a tense final day ahead. Bryan Charles, on 15, and Jayden Seales, on six, will resume on Saturday, hoping to extend the target further.
Scores: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 304 & 218-9; West Indies Academy 268
Resuming on 162-5, still 142 runs behind Red Force’s 304, the Academy’s overnight pair of Bishop, who resumed on 39, and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, on 38, put up a resolute fight. The duo extended their sixth-wicket partnership to 143 runs, frustrating the Red Force bowlers while both brought up well-deserved half-centuries.
Bowen-Tuckett, who played a composed 115-ball 71 with nine fours, was eventually trapped lbw by Yannic Cariah. Cariah struck again immediately, dismissing Nathan Edward for a duck, as the Academy slipped to 246-7.
Despite wickets tumbling at the other end, Bishop continued his aggressive approach, dispatching the Red Force bowlers to all parts of the ground. His attacking 81-ball 102, featuring 16 fours and one six, kept the Academy within touching distance of parity. However, with Johann Layne (8) and Jediah Blades (1) falling cheaply, Bishop ran out of partners and was the last man dismissed shortly after reaching his milestone.
Khary Pierre (3-66) and Cariah (3-37) led the Red Force bowling, with Anderson Phillip chipping in with 2-47.
With a slim 36-run lead, Red Force aimed to set an imposing target. Opener Cephas Cooper looked in fine form, leading a 42-run opening stand with Tion Webster. However, once Webster (12) fell to Layne, momentum shifted dramatically in the Academy’s favour.
Kelvin Pitman (4-38) tore through the top order, removing Amir Jangoo (seven) and Jason Mohammed (zero) in quick succession. Captain Joshua Da Silva (zero) was run out soon after, reducing Red Force to 85-4.
Cooper, who scored a confident 55 off 90 balls, including nine fours, continued to resist but was trapped lbw by Bishop, while Joshua James (six) fell to Pitman, leaving Red Force wobbling at 116-6.
A crucial seventh-wicket stand between Cariah, who made 55 off 78 balls, including 5 fours, and Pierre (30) revived their innings, as they added 66 runs. But once Cariah was trapped lbw by Rivaldo Clarke, and Pitman dismissed Anderson Phillip (one) and Pierre fell to Clarke, Red Force slumped to 206-9, before Charles and Seales survived the final moments of the day.
With one wicket remaining and a lead of 254 runs, Red Force will be eager to stretch their advantage before turning to their bowlers to apply pressure on the Academy batsmen.