PORT OF SPAIN – Captain Denesh Ramdin has branded his side’s batting in both innings as “unacceptable” after Trinidad and Tobago Red Force crashed to a 245-run defeat to Leeward Islands Hurricanes on Monday.
Set 342 to win at the Brian Lara Stadium, Red Force began the final day on 26 without loss, but capitulated for a paltry 96 all out, 15 minutes into an extended first session.
They looked in decent shape at 72 for two but lost eight wickets for just 24 runs.
“Our bowlers fought hard on that wicket but losing six wickets in a morning session [on Sunday] was unacceptable. Then (on Monday) losing all ten wickets for under 100 runs, as a professional unit, is not acceptable,” Ramdin lamented.
“Guys have to take more ownership, especially some of the senior guys. Look at (Jeremy) Solozano; he batted really well. It’s for guys to get starts.”
Solozano top-scored in the Red Force first innings with 80, but was one of five wickets which fell for 59 runs on Sunday’s third day as the innings folded for 252, handing Hurricanes a crucial lead of 173 on first innings.
The left-hander top-scored again in the second innings with 42. He was one five batsmen to fall with the score on 78, leaving Red Force with no way back at 78 for nine.
Solozano, 23, came in for praise from both Ramdin and head coach Kelvin Williams.
“[He’s] batting well. Hopefully he’ll grow from strength to strength,” said the former West Indies Test skipper.
“He’s applying himself so [I hope] the other batters give him that support. I think he could get a couple more centuries.”
Williams added: “Solozano showed us how to do it, in both innings. The rest of batsmen need to take a page out of his book and do what he’s doing.”
The defeat was Red Force’s second straight in the Regional Four-Day Championship after they went down to Windward Islands Volcanoes by 76 runs in the second round before the Christmas break.
Ramdin, in his first match after returning from Windies duty, urged his batsmen to spend time at the crease.
“It’s all about [application] of yourselves in the middle – giving ourselves time,” he pointed out.
“Nobody is batting two sessions or anything like that. Getting out in one session and the other team is getting four sessions and not giving our bowlers rest is not doing ourselves justice.”
Red Force travel to Kingston later this week to take on Jamaica Scorpions in their fourth round match at Sabina Park.
They are fifth in the six-team standings on 10.2 points, only above Scorpions, who are bottom on 9.8. (CMC)
Subscribe now to our eNATION edition.
For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.
