A superb all-round performance from Yanic Cariah inspired Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to a three-wicket victory over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their CG United Insurance Super50 Cup encounter at the Brian Lara Academy on Thursday.
Cariah took five wickets in the Leewards’ innings of 198 and then scored an unbeaten 45 as Trinidad and Tobago reached their target of 199 for the loss of seven wickets but with 26 balls to spare.
Batting first, Leewards got solid starts from their openers Kieran Powell and Justin Greaves. Powell would make 75 from just 48 balls with five fours and six sixes while Greaves compiled 58 from 71 balls. However, it would all fall apart soon thereafter.
Cariah dismissed both openers and the rest of the batting offered little resistance. Jahmar Hamilton (18) and Hayden Walsh Jr (15) were the only other batters in double figures as Cariah finished with the admirable figures of 5-48 from his 10 overs.
Sunil Narine took 3-30 while Terrance Hinds claimed 2-24 from his four overs as Leewards collapsed to 198 all out in 37.2 overs.
Trinidad lost three wickets early to the bowling of Alzarri Joseph, who took 3-45 and when Kofi James dismissed Kjorn Ottley for nine, Trinidad were in a spot of bother. However, Jason Mohammed helped cauterize the rot with 41, despite Walsh’s bowling efforts which saw him take 3-32.
Cariah’s patient knock of 45 not out from 102 balls put Trinidad back on a path to victory and he got help from Hinds, who scored a solid 21 and Narine who smashed 33 from just 16 balls to get the Red Force over the line in 45.4 overs.