Despite two brilliant knocks by West Indies players Darren Bravo and Denesh Ramdin, the Barbados Pride stopped the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force winning streak when they clashed in the crucial Zone A final round day-night match at the famous Queen’s Park Oval last evening.The Barbados Pride team secured a hard fought three-wicket and secured a semi-final spot and will clash with Zone B winner Windwards Volcanoes on Thursday at the QP Oval from 13:30 hrs
Having batted first, T&T Red Force started disastrously when attacking opener Evin Lewis (0) was dismissed off the fourth ball of the innings by skipper Jason Holder who went on to become his team main wicket-taker with four for 35 from eight overs.
Barbados-born franchise player Kyle Hope top-edged to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich off the bowling of off-spinner Ashley Nurse who also scalped Kjorn Ottley (c Sulieman Benn for 38).
Leftarm spinner Joel Warrican got a gift from skipper Jason Mohammed (9) who attempted a cut shot to wide delivery and succeeded in getting the ball into the gloves of wicketkeeper Dowrich who gleefully accepted the catch at left T&T Red Force at 87 for 4 off 28.1 overs.
Ramdin joined Bravo and two players played contrasting roles in taking the initiative away from the Barbadians as they compiled a heartening 88-run fifth wicket stand that revived hopes of a decent total to challenge the powerful Barbados batting line-up.
But Ramdin’s departure for an entertaining 57 (caught in the deep by Carlos Brathwaite off Holder) changed the momentum as Yannick Ottley (3) and Reyad Emrit struggled to strike the ball cleanly. Bravo tried to up the tempo and raced to 82 but was soon outfoxed by Jason Holder who also bowled Jon Russ Jaggesar (1).
T&T Red Force mustered 226 and must have fancied their chances of victory after Emrit bowled Dwayne Smith (18) a beautiful away swinger.
However, the elation soon changed the mood when Jamaican umpire Patrick Gustard turned down a very confident shout for LBW to Shai Hope off the bowling of the fired up Emrit who was also a victim of two other very close decisions not given in the affirmative by the same umpire. Hope was on two and together with WI opener Kraigg Brathwaite added 63 for the second wicket partnership.
Hope was LBW to Jon Russ Jagessar for 20 while Brathwaite topscored with 48. Jonathan Carter 31, Shamarh Brooks 18, Holder 26 and Shane Dowrich 29 (not out) were the other main contributors as the Barbados Pride celebrated victory with two overs to spare.
Emrit provided some late drama when he finally got an LBW verdict against Holder and then yorked Carlos Brathwaite with consecutive deliveries.
The T&T Red Force will feel aggrieved with those close calls that did not go their way but they will now have to focus all the energies to topple Windward Volcanoes in the second semi-final on Thursday at the same venue from 13.30hrs.
By BRIJ PARASNATH