SUPER50: ‘Hurricane’ Hamilton slams 78* off 34 to send Red Force packing

(Report and Photography by Akeem Greene in Trinidad)

A blockbuster innings from Jahmar Hamilton powered Leeward Islands Hurricanes into Sunday’s Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup final against West Indies Emerging Players, as they inflicted a four-wicket defeat on Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Friday evening at Queen’s Park Oval.

Up-tempo half-centuries from Tion Webster and Jason Mohammed seemed to have done the trick for the hosts, but a brutal display of power-hitting from ‘hammer man’ Hamilton upstaged them in the dying moments of the match.

With his side’s chances looking dim, the skipper turned up and plundered an unbeaten 78 from just 34 balls, hitting three fours and eight massive sixes, which ended Red Force’s title aspirations with three balls remaining.

For majority of the chase, Hurricanes kept the required rate under control, mainly led by the in-form Kieron Powell, who was the key figure in the chase.

He was a part of a 33-run opening stand with Montcin Hodge, then a 48-run partnership with Amir Jangoo which had the match in the balance.

Akeal Hosein, who got appreciable turn and created problems, eventually get a thin edge off Powell’s bat, the left-hander falling just short of what would have been his third half-century this season.  He struck five fours and one six from the 50 balls faced.

At 98-3 in the 19th over, Devon Thomas and Kacey Carty added 41 to bring them back in the fray. Thomas was bowled by Imran Khan and Akeem Saunders went soon after for 11, as Red Force were back on top.

It set the stage for the rebuilding partnership with Hamilton and Carty, who went on to score 53. The tide of the match truly turned when Darren Bravo dropped Hamilton on 33 at long-on in the 41st over. That over, delivered by Khan, went for 26, and the 42^nd leaked 16 runs.

Red Force bowlers had no answers for Hamilton as anything fractionally full landed in the stands. What looked daunting with 50 needed off six overs, became a walk in the park due to the belligerence of the wicketkeeper/batsman.

Dashing Webster

Webster looked in fine touch from the start of his innings. There were some crisp cuts through backward point off Sheeno Berridge then languid drives through cover. While his feet movement was not impeccable, his fast hands had him playing some enterprising shots.

The 99-run opening stand with Jeremy Solozano ended when the later top-edged Jason Campbell for 30. Webster was given a life on 43 when Hodge dropped a dolly a short mid-wicket. He went on to score his second fifty of the tournament from 61 balls.

After Solozano’s exit and Kegan Simmons’ senseless run out for 14, the fluidity of the scoring dimmed.  From the solidity of 60-0 in 10 overs, they only added 73 in the next 19 overs.

What looked like a maiden List A century on a platter for the 24-year-old Webster turned into heartbreak and another opportunity lost. He flicked Berridge sweetly only to see the ball snapped up by countryman Jangoo on the boundary. His 91 came off 127 balls and had seven fours and four maximums.

It brought together Red Force’s most experienced pair in Bravo and Jason Mohamed, who added 59 in quick time with little to no risk.

While Bravo hit everything off the middle, Mohammed was in the nudge mode and quick to slash anything fractionally short through point.

A six over mid-wicket and a cracking drive over cover, Bravo’s imperious form this tournament was beginning to cause worry for Hurricanes, however, he had to settle for a 32-ball 34 after he mistimed Berridge to be taken at long-off.

Mohammed had to pick up the slack since both Yannick Ottley and Hosein hardly troubled the scores. He struck back-to-back boundaries to reach his half-century off 52 balls, striking six fours.

Going for another expansive shot over cover, he was snapped up on the boundary. Anderson Phillip made 14 from three balls, but despite the flying start, Red Force only added 85 in the last 10 overs and lost five wickets.

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