Pride fighting back

A three-wicket burst by Justin Greaves prior to the second interval, helped Barbados Pride restore the balance following a century stand as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force reached 262 for seven on the second day of the Digicel Regional Four-Day competition at Kensington Oval yesterday.

When the day/night fixture  resumed with an early 1.30 p.m. start, a fourth-wicket partnership of 125 between Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin and Ewart Nicholson helped the visitors build on a half-century opening stand between Jeremy Solozano and Amit Jangoo.

At the second break, Ramdin was within sight of a century in his first first-class match in almost two years. The former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman was not out on 84, having batted for 196 minutes, during which he faced 142 deliveries. His innings included ten boundaries. Vice-captain Marlon Richards was with him, not out on five.

Greaves (four for 64) removed Tion Webster, Roshon Primus and Imrah Khan within the hour leading up to the second interval, to reduce the Red Force to 243 for seven.

In a lively spell in which he moved the ball away from the right-handers, Greaves had Webster and Primus caught by wicketkeeper Mario Rampersaud while Imran Khan was well caught by Ashley Nurse diving to his left at second slip.

Had Nurse also held a low catch to his right off Greaves, Richards would have joined his teammates in the pavilion. Ramdin was also lucky to edge Greaves to the left of the diving Rampersaud for a boundary that took him to 75.

Earlier, Solozano and Jagoo got Red Force off to a rapid start, putting on 62 for the first wicket before Barbados captain Kevin Stoute (two for 27) broke the stand by having Jagoo caught by Jonathan Carter at second slip for 26 in the tenth over. Isiah Rajah was lbw to Stoute first ball and when Solozano was caught at the wicket by Rampersaud, Red Force had reached 100 for three.

Solozano’s 54 came off 50 balls in 81 minutes with a six and eight fours. Nicholson and Ramdin rebuilt the innings with some positive strokeplay. Nicholson launched three sixes and eight fours in an enterprising knock of 74 that ended when he swept left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican straight to Kenroy Williams on the backward square boundary.

The century stand with Ramdin was raised in 95 minutes off 166 deliveries. Red Force’s 200 was achieved at the same time in 178 minutes off 272 balls.

The dismissal of Nicholson triggered a collapse in which four wickets tumbled for 18 runs, but the continued presence of Ramdin was the source of optimism for the visitors as they went to the second break. (PH)