PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force captain Jason Mohammed says the hosts are bracing for a strong challenge from a strengthened Barbados Pride unit but will be going all out to keep their unbeaten record intact, when the two teams meet in the sixth and final round of the Regional Super50 here today.
Red Force have been virtually flawless in the tournament, winning four of their five matches – the other was a no-result – to sit comfortably on top of Group A with 22 points.
Pride started weakly but with the return of their international players, stormed back into contention for a semi-final sport with two successive wins, and now lie second on 14 points.
However, with Jamaica Scorpions only four points behind and clashing with minnows ICC Americas in their final game at the National Cricket Centre, Pride face a must-win scenario.
“I think they have strengthened a lot in all the departments,” Mohammed said ahead of the day/night contest at Queen’s Park Oval.
“I think they have a very good bowling attack and also they are very strong in their batting. I think we’re going to have to play a good all-round game to get the better of the Bajans and hopefully we can do it.”
In their first meeting in the second round, Red Force disposed of Pride by nine wickets at Queen’s Park Oval, after bundling out the visitors for 161.
Since then, West Indies Test captain Jason Holder has returned to lead the side, with fellow international players Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope, Carlos Brathwaite, Shane Dowrich and Jomel Warrican, also picked for the final XI.
Mohammed said Red Force were expecting a tough battle but were focussing on playing the entire tournament without dropping a game.
“It’s going to be a good game. Now they have their full strength [team] and we are at our full strength, it is going to be a good contest. It is really going to give us a real good [gauge] to see where we are really at,” Mohammed said. “It is important for us to keep winning and keep our momentum up and we really want to go through at 100 per cent, and hopefully we can go through the tournament [with a] 100 per cent [record]. If we do that, we will come out with the trophy at the end.”
Red Force have been authoritative throughout, no more evident than in their fifth round contest against ICC Americas when they crushed the development side by nine wickets on Friday.
They bundled out the Americas for 81 and then raced to their target off a mere 77 balls.
“I think we’re doing good in all three departments. There’s always room for improvement,” Mohammed explained.
“Hopefully, if our batters get the opportunity to bat first [Pride], hopefully we can put the runs on the board and if we have to chase, hopefully we can achieve whatever target we have to get.
“I think we are good in all three departments right now and hopefully we can keep it up.”
In the Group B games in St Kitts, Leeward Islands Hurricanes take on Windward Islands Volcanoes at St Paul’s Sports Complex at 9 am while Guyana Jaguars clash with Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners in a day/night game at Warner Park.
Jaguars sit on top Group B with 14 points with Volcanoes second also on 14 points because of an inferior net run rate.
Marooners are third on nine points with Hurricanes out of the running on six points.
