Red Force, Harpy Eagles in charge

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are well-positioned to defeat the Leeward Islands Hurricanes on Tuesday’s fourth and final day of their West Indies Championship game at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Despite playing their best cricket of the competition, the Hurricanes are in a struggle to avoid defeat.

Replying to the Red Force’s mammoth first-innings total of 522 for nine declared, the Hurricanes were forced to follow on after being dismissed for 345 despite a dogged century by Jahmar Hamilton and a superb knock of 90 by Karima Gore.

Pacer Anderson Phillip then ripped through the home side’s top order to leave them 160 for four in their second innings, an overall lead of just 17.

Phillip accounted for the wickets of Kofi James for three, Gore for two and Mikyle Louis for 20, to reduce the Hurricanes to 55 for three early on.

Keacy Carty, who ended the day on 84 not out, stemmed the fall of wickets by adding 42 runs with Jewel Andrew, before the latter was dismissed by Bryan Charles for 27 to leave the score 97 for four.

Carty and skipper Justin Greaves then shared an unbroken partnership of 63 to ensure the Red Force will have to bat a second time.

Phillip has so far taken 3-30.

Earlier, Hamilton smashed 121 off just 119 balls, while Gore made 90 off 98 deliveries, and were the mainstay of the Hurricanes’ first-innings total.

Hamilton’s fluent inning included nine sixes and nine fours while Gore hit 16 fours.

The Hurricanes were also supported by lower-order batters Rahkeem Cornwall, who made 38 and Cameron Pennyfeather, who scored 29.

Phillip took 4-92 and Terrance Hinds 3-49 for the Red Force.

At the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, table leaders and defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles will be fancying their chances of recording a third consecutive victory against the Windward Islands Volcanoes heading into today’s last day.

Resuming the day on 44-2 in their second innings, the Harpy Eagles recovered from a tricky position of 129 for six to be bowled out for 299, setting their opponents 318 for victory.

They then struck early to claim the wicket of Ackeem Auguste as the Volcanoes ended the day on 17 for one.

The Harpy Eagles owed their fightback to opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who anchored the innings in an unbeaten knock of 117 off 297 balls.

The Volcanoes were in the ascendancy early on after capturing the wickets of skipper Tevin Imlach for 32, Kemol Savory for 12, Keemo Paul for 11, and Richie Looknauth for one, to see the Harpy Eagles collapse to 129 for six.

However, Chanderpaul and Gudakesh Motie combined in a partnership of 91 to change the momentum of the match.

And when Motie was dismissed by Kavem Hodge after scoring a crucial 53 off 66 balls with eight fours and one six, Chanderpaul added a further 52 runs with veteran Veerasammy Permaul, who made 29.

Those partnerships, along with a helpful knock of 17 from Shamar Joseph, helped them to carry their overall lead past the 300 mark.

For the Harpy Eagles, Kenneth Dember (3-52) and Ryan John (3-58) led the way while Gilon Tyson claimed 2-53.