Trinidad and Tobago Red Force took a firm grip on their fifth-round West Indies Championship clash against Barbados Pride, thanks to a lethal display of fast bowling and a composed batting response at Kensington Oval on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, the Red Force seam trio of Jayden Seales (2-32), Anderson Phillip (4-36), and Joshua James (3-8) exploited a lively surface to skittle the Pride for a paltry 86 in just 26.2 overs. In reply, the Red Force reached 182-4 by stumps—a lead of 96 runs—with Amir Jangoo, on 37, and Yannic Cariah, on 19, set to resume on Thursday.
With a batting lineup boasting the experience of Shai Hope, Roston Chase, and Jason Holder, Barbados Pride would have expected to post a solid first innings total. However, the Red Force pacers had other ideas, as they dismantled the hosts’ batting lineup in ruthless fashion.
Phillip set the tone early when he bowled captain Kraigg Brathwaite (five). Seales then struck twice in quick succession, as he accounted for Jonathan Drakes (three) and Kevin Wickham for a duck, as the Pride slumped to 10-3.
When Phillip returned to trap Zachary McCaskie (11) in front, the Pride found themselves in deep trouble at 35-4. Joshua James then stepped up and wreaked havoc with a devastating spell. He sent Roston Chase (11) and Jason Holder (zero) packing in consecutive deliveries before orchestrating the run out of the dangerous Shai Hope (16) with a sharp piece of fielding.
James wasn’t done yet, as he also dismissed Matthew Forde (two) shortly after to leave Barbados reeling at 73-8. Phillip polished off the tail after lunch when he removed top scorer Kemar Roach (21) and Jomel Warrican (zero) in quick succession to wrap up the innings for a mere 86—the Pride’s lowest total this season.
In contrast to the Pride’s struggles, the Red Force batters approached the challenge with composure and purpose. Openers Cephas Cooper and Kamil Pooran laid the foundation with a solid 104-run stand—easily surpassing Barbados' first innings total.
Pooran played with fluency and peppered the boundary with nine fours and a six in his enterprising 60 off 83 balls. His dismissal came against the run of play when he edged behind off Jason Holder shortly after Kemar Roach had broken the opening stand by removing Cooper, who made 32 off 55 balls.
The Pride bowlers clawed their way back momentarily, as Holder trapped Jason Mohammed (four) leg-before and Matthew Forde had captain Joshua Da Silva (seven) caught behind to reduce the Red Force to 131-4.
However, Jangoo and Cariah steadied the ship in the final session, with an unbeaten 51-run partnership that further tilted the balance in favour of the visitors.
With a lead already nearing 100 runs and six wickets in hand, the Red Force will look to extend their advantage on day two, while the Pride face a daunting task of trying to claw their way back into the game.
Holder (2-35) has been the pick of the bowlers so far.