Red Force on course for First Round win

Khan, who has been one of TT ’s top bowlers over the past few seasons, showed up again yesterday finishing with figures of five wickets for 81 runs off 26.2 overs. Khan’s spell dismissed the Volcanoes for 254 in their second innings, which gave the visitors an overall lead of 154 runs.

Chasing 155 for victory the Red Force got to 88 for one at the tea break last night, 67 runs away from victory.

Led by 65 from Shane Shillingford the Volcanoes showed some determination after starting the day on 135/4 in the second innings.

After Khan removed overnight batsman Sunil Ambris for 43 and Liam Sebastien for his second duck of the match in the same over, Shillingford took the attack to the TT bowlers. Shillingford and Kavem Hodge combined for a 21-run seventh wicket partnership before Khan took his third wicket of the day and fourth for the innings when he trapped Hodge leg before for 16. The Windwards were now 193/7.

Shillingford found an able partner in Mervin Matthew as the pair showed grit in a 49-run partnership.

While Matthew was contented to play the supporting role Shillingford destroyed Jon-Russ Jagessar, hitting the off-spinner for two sixes and one four in the same over as he raced into the 40s. The first four was through mid wicket followed by a six over long off and another six over mid wicket.

Khan was not speared the brunt of Shillingford’s bat as he slammed Khan for a straight six after bringing up his half century.

The Volcanoes pair seemed to be taking their team to the dinner break without any further damage but Red Force captain Yannick Ottley broke the stand when Matthew found the edge and wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo held on to the catch. The Windwards went to the break on 242/8, a lead of 142 runs.

The Volcanoes did not last long after the break. Delorn Johnson, who scored a vital 38 in the first innings, could not deliver on this occasion as he was leg before for two off Jagessar. Shillingford, struck Khan for a six over long on, but going for another big shot was bowled for 65 by Khan to give the leg spinner his fifth wicket of the innings. Shillingford faced 99 deliveries lashing three fours and five sixes.

Red Force openers Kyle Hope and Jeremy Solozano gave the home team a solid start putting on 61 for the first wicket. Solozano, who batted patiently in the first innings, was more positive before he was leg before to Shillingford for 19. Kyle Hope, who scored 56 in the first innings, attacked the Volcanoes bowlers bringing up his 50 just before the tea break. At the interval Hope was unbeaten on 51 and Yannic Cariah 12 not out.