Skipper Kieron Pollard claimed a five-wicket haul and Jason Mohammed followed up with a hundred as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force pulled off a hard-fought three-wicket win over Barbados Pride in Match Eight of the CG Insurance Super50 Cup in Antigua on Monday.
After Pollard’s 5-17 off three overs restricted Pride to 253-9 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Mohammed’s sixth List A ton was the foundation of Red Force’s winning response.
The victory was Red Force’s third in as many games in the tournament, while the defeat left Pride without a win after three matches this season.
Batting first, Pride were indebted to half-centuries from opener Justin Greaves and the experienced middle-order pair Jonathon Carter and Roston Chase.
Greaves topscored with 62 of 81 balls (6x4s, 1xs), while Carter made 56 off 70 (3x4s, 1×6) and Chase 56 off 57 (5x4s, 1×6). From a solid position of 208-4 in the 43rd over however, Pride slipped at the backend of the innings, as Pollard picked up his maiden List A five-wicket haul.
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein was also outstanding with the ball, claiming 2-44 off his 10 overs.
After the early loss of Kjorn Ottley for four, Mohammed and Evin Lewis put Red Force on course for a commanding win by adding 117 for the second wicket in just 19 overs.
However, after Lewis went for 61 off 47 (3x4s, 6x6s), Red Force slipped to 158-5 with Denesh Ramdin falling for 10 and Pollard and Nicholas Pooran both without scoring.
Sunil Narine (18) and Hosein (20*) kept Mohammed’s company, adding 49 and 45 respectively in reviving the innings and taking the match to the final over.
Mohammed was dismissed for 122 off 160 balls (10x4s, 3x6s) with just two runs needed, and Hosein completed the formalities off the first ball of the 50th over.
Bowling for Pride, off-spinner Chase had 3-21 off 10 overs and left-arm seamer Dominic Drakes 2-47 off seven.
CG Insurance Super50 action continues tomorrow (February 16) with Windward Islands Volcanoes playing Jamaica Scorpions from 13:30h at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
