WITH a long-standing title drought on the line, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force walked into Queen’s Park Oval on Wednesday with high hopes, but the opening day of their decisive seventh-round West Indies Championship clash against Guyana Harpy Eagles quickly turned into a test of character.
Reduced to 96-5 in the afternoon session after a top-order collapse triggered by Keemo Paul’s fiery spell, the Red Force looked in serious trouble. But half-centuries from Cephas Cooper and Jyd Goolie steadied the innings as the hosts clawed their way to 217-7 at stumps and kept their title aspirations alive, at least for now.

The left-handed Goolie, ever composed under pressure, will resume unbeaten on 57 on Thursday alongside the yet-to-score Joshua James, as the Red Force look to build on their modest recovery. His knock has been a study in patience and resilience, qualities his team desperately needed after their fragile start.

After being asked to bat first by the defending champions, the Red Force were rocked by a sensational opening burst from Paul, who removed Kamil Pooran (four), Amir Jangoo (five), and veteran Jason Mohammed (two) to leave the hosts tottering at 31-3 within the first hour.
Cephas Cooper and Captain Joshua Da Silva, who countered with measured resolve. Cooper, neat and efficient in his stroke play, notched an even 50 off 99 balls, lacing the boundary ropes eight times. His innings, though short of flamboyance, was exactly what the situation required. Alongside Da Silva (25), the pair stitched together a 63-run fourth-wicket stand to halt the slide.

But just as momentum seemed to be shifting, both batters fell in quick succession — Da Silva caught and Cooper trapped soon after — setting the stage for a nervy middle-order test at 96-5.
Rather than fold, the Red Force found their backbone in Goolie and all-rounder Khary Pierre. The duo blunted the Harpy Eagles attack during a 79-run partnership that dragged the Red Force back into the contest. Pierre played a vital hand with a gritty 38 off 100 deliveries, stroking four boundaries and showing his value as more than just a bowler. His vigil ended when he nicked one to Tevin Imlach behind the stumps off Nial Smith.

Terrance Hinds offered late resistance with a punchy 19 before falling to Ronaldo Alimohamed with the score at 213-7. But Goolie, watchful but never tentative, ensured there were no further hiccups before the close.
Paul (3-38) was the pick of the Guyana bowlers, combining pace and movement to dismantle the top order, while Smith (2-39) offered solid support. (Sportsmax)
Below are the summarised scores of two other matches:

At Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine: Combined Campuses and Colleges 174-4 from 48 overs (Shaqkere Parris 70*, Johann Jeremiah 69, Larry Edward 11*; Brad Barnes 2-38, Marquino Mindley 1-23) lead Jamaica Scorpions 133 all out from 36.2 overs (Kirk McKenzie 31, Brad Barnes 23; Jaden Edmund 5-59, Larry Edward 3-6) by 41 runs

At Coolidge Cricket Ground: West Indies Academy 197-5 from 51.4 overs (Teddy Bishop 54*, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 45, Justin Jagessar 42; Kenneth Dember 2-23) lead Windward Islands Volcanoes 106 all out from 25 overs (Noelle Leo 22, Kimani Melius 20; Joshua Bishop 3-15, Nathan Edward 2-15, Kelvin Pitman 2-22, McKenny Clarke 2-34) by 91 runs