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Red Force eye victory after CCC forced to follow-on
Written by Sherdon Cowan. Posted in West Indies Championship. | 01 February 2025 | 698 Views
Tags: Cricket, Combined Campuses And Colleges, Johann Jeremiah, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, Yannic Cariah

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will be hoping to wrap up victory against the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) on Saturday’s fourth and final day of their West Indies Championship contest, as they require just nine more wickets to secure an outright win.

The Red Force asserted their dominance on Friday’s third day of the day/night clash at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, as they clinched first-innings honours and enforced the follow-on after bundling out CCC for 222 in their first innings.

With a mammoth 282-run lead after their imposing total of 504-6 declared, the hosts looked to press home their advantage under the lights. However, CCC displayed greater resilience in their second innings, reaching 90-1 at stumps, though they still trail by 192 runs.

The visitors denied the Red Force bowlers for most of the evening session, only losing their first wicket when left-arm spinner Khary Pierre found Johann Jeremiah’s (29) edge, with Bryan Charles taking a comfortable catch at first slip just before the close of play.

But Damel Evelyn, on 46, and Avinash Mahabirsingh, on five, ensured there were no further hiccups, taking CCC to the close unscathed.

Earlier in the day, the Red Force wasted little time in making inroads into the CCC lineup. Leg-spinner Yannic Cariah was introduced just four overs into the morning and made an immediate impact, striking with his third ball to remove Shaqkere Parris (20), who edged behind to wicketkeeper Antonio Gomez.

Charles then got the big wicket of his opposite number, CCC captain Jeremiah, who was caught by Cariah at short backward point for 60.

Kyle Corbin briefly counter-attacked with a couple of boundaries off Cariah to push CCC past 150, but the wickets continued to tumble. Demario Richards (2) was bowled by Cariah, and Corbin (24) soon followed, clean bowled by Charles as CCC slumped to 155-6.

Cariah claimed his third wicket before tea when Akeem Jordan attempted a wild slog and was bowled for seven, leaving CCC reeling at 173-7 at the interval.

After the break, CCC’s lower order showed some resistance, with Andre Bailey briefly countering with a six off Charles to take the score to 200, but the collapse inevitably came.

Joshua James removed Bailey (13) and Abhijai Mansingh (27), while Pierre accounted for Ojay Shields (10).

Asked to follow on, CCC adopted a more patient approach in their second innings, but their task remains daunting.