TAROUBA, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force clinched their only victory of the West Indies Championship when they whipped bottom-of-the-table Jamaica Scorpions by nine wickets inside three days here yesterday.
Playing at the Brian Lara Stadium in their final match of an otherwise disappointing season, Red Force bowled out Scorpions for 275 in their second innings before easily overhauling the 99 runs required for victory.
Opener Vikash Mohan, in his third first class match after making his debut earlier in the campaign, steered the hosts over the line with an unbeaten 44.
He put on 74 for the first wicket with Kamil Pooran who made 39, ensuring Red Force encountered no hiccups en route to the uncomplicated target.
The 28-year-old right-hander was positive in his approach to the chase, lashing five fours and a couple of sixes in a 66-ball knock. Once Pooran departed after facing 70 balls and striking half-dozen fours, captain Darren Bravo arrived to belt two fours and a six in an unbeaten 14, to bring a swift end to the contest.
Earlier, Scorpions managed to add only 76 to their overnight 199 for five before being bowled out in their second innings on the stroke of lunch.
Aldaine Thomas, on seven at the start and Abhijai Mansingh, on 10, stretched their overnight sixth wicket stand to 61, threatening to frustrate the hosts bid for a quick victory. Thomas played freely, hitting 39 from 58 deliveries with half-dozen fours and a six while Mansingh struck 32 from 54 balls with four fours.
Test speedster Shannon Gabriel (2-52) got the breakthrough when he bowled both batsmen in successive overs as Scorpions lost their last five wickets for only 23 runs. Leg-spinner Imran Khan added a further three wickets to his tally to finish with four for 47.