BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – A half-century from Yannic Cariah led consistent batting down the order from Trinidad & Tobago Red Force against Leeward Islands in the Regional 4-Day Tournament yesterday.
Cariah was unbeaten on 73 and a few others got starts without carrying on, as the Red Force dodged showers and batted the entire first day of the 10th round match to reach 269 for six in their first innings at the close.
The left-hander anchored the visitors’ batting for the latter half of the day, as fellow left-hander, opener Amir Jangoo supported with 46, Ewart Nicholson made 45, fellow rookie Akiel Cooper added 41 and Isaiah Rajah made 40 after the visitors were put in to bat on a typically batsman-friendly Warner Park pitch.
None of the Hurricanes’ bowlers distinguished themselves, after new captain Montcin Hodge called correctly and the two sides spent part of the day avoiding rain which swiped close to an hour of play.
Red Force suffered an early setback when makeshift opener Imran Khan was lbw to Jeremiah Louis for a duck in the fourth over of the day.
The rest of the visitors’ batting however, gradually wore down the Hurricanes bowlers with Jangoo featuring in successive half-century stands with Rajah and Nicholson before off-spinner Jacques Taylor bowled him after lunch.
For the remainder of the day, Cariah was the glue that held the Red Force batting together, sharing a vital 94 for the fifth wicket with Cooper that took the edge off the Hurricanes’ bowling later in the day.
