Red Force vs. Jaguars

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC â€“ Another middle order collapse hampered Trinidad and Tobago Red Force as they once again wasted a position of strength, on the opening day of their fourth round clash with leaders Guyana Jaguars here Friday.

Cruising at 169 for three in the final session at Queenâ€™s Park Oval, T&T lost their last seven wickets for just 29 runs to lose the momentum in the WICB Professional Cricket League fourth round battle.

At the close, however, T&T had already hit back as seamer and captain Rayad Emrit picked off Trevon for Griffith for eight, to leave the Jaguars on 27 for one.

They trail by 171 runs heading into todayâ€™s second day.

Opting to bat first, West Indies limited overs opener Lendl Simmons finally got among the runs with a top score of 59 while Yannick Cariah stroked 51 and Jason Mohammed, an unbeaten 48.

However, they were the only three batsmen to pass 15 as out-of-favour leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo snapped up four for 49 and part-time off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine, three for 25.

Simmons and Cariah kept T&T afloat through the first two sessions, anchoring three key partnerships.

Evin Lewis perished in the dayâ€™s second over for two with the score on eight, but Simmons led two successive 45-run stands to rebuild the innings.

The first was with Yannick Ottley who scored 14 and the second with Cariah, that ended when Simmons was caught at the wicket off fast bowler Ronsford Beaton with the score on 98 for three.

He faced 101 balls and struck 12 fours in 2-1/2 hours at the crease.

Cariah and Mohammed then competently carried T&T. The left-handed Cariah hit five fours and a six in a knock that spanned 119 balls and 160 minutes while Mohammed batted 131 balls and 158 minutes, stroking six fours and a six.

Once Cariah was bowled by Deonarine, however, the innings folded meekly.