Trinidad and Tobago Red Force made an emphatic start to their West Indies Championship campaign, as four batsmen notched up half-centuries on the opening day of their day/night contest against Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Wednesday.

Vikash Mohan (66) and Cephas Cooper (80) laid a solid foundation with a 139-run opening partnership, while Jyd Goolie, on 76, and veteran Jason Mohammed, on 75, built on that platform with an unbroken 144-run stand to propel Red Force to an imposing 303-2 at stumps.

The day began with frustration as persistent showers washed out the morning and afternoon sessions. However, when play finally got underway, Red Force wasted little time asserting their dominance under the lights.

Cooper was the more aggressive of the two openers, as he struck 13 fours and a six in his steady 140-ball knock, while Mohan played a more measured 132-ball innings in which he found the boundary eight times. Their stand set the stage for what promises to be a formidable first-innings total.

CCC found some relief when Damel Evelyn removed Cooper, and five overs later, Mohan was dismissed by Akeem Jordan with the score at 159-2. However, any hopes of a collapse were quickly quashed as Goolie and Mohammed took charge.

Goolie played with confidence as he stroked 11 boundaries, while Mohammed, ever the dependable middle-order batsman, struck 10 fours of his own. Their partnership ensured that Red Force ended the day firmly in control, with the pair poised to pile on more runs when play resumes on Thursday.