Trinidad and Tobago Red Force maintained their flawless record in the CG Insurance Super50 Cup, defeating Jamaica Scorpions by six wickets in semi-final one on Wednesday evening at the Coolidage Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Scores in the match: Jamaica Scorpions 255-7 from 50 overs; Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 256-4 from 42.1 overs.
Faced with an asking rate of just above five runs per over at the start of the chase, Red Force paced their innings well, capping the victory with 47 balls remaining.
Opener Lendl Simmons led the way with a fine 68 off 70 balls (7x4s, 3x6s) and Nicholas Pooran cracked 54* off 40 (4x4s, 2x6s), before skipper Kieron Pollard finished the game in a flurry with five sixes in 36* off 18.
The in-form Jason Mohammed made 41 and Evin Lewis 24. A hallmark of the Red Force chase was consistent partnerships, as the wickets added 63, 35, 41, 59 and 58*.
Odean Smith claimed 2-54 for Scorpions, whose total was built around half-centuries from West Indies players John Campbell and Brandon King.
Opener Campbell, in his first innings since returning from the successful Test tour of Bangladesh, topscored with 88 off 131 balls (4x4s, 1×6) and King made 58 off 81 (5x4s, 1×6) in a second wicket partnership of 108, which was the highlight of the innings.
Andre McCarthy made 35 and Nkrumah Bonner 20. Bowling for Red Force, the experienced Ravi Rampaul picked up 4-29 off 10 overs and Anderson Phillip 2-41.
Red Force will now await the outcome of the second semi-final between Guyana Jaguars and Windward Islands Volcanoes- set for Thursday (February 25) from 13:30h at the Coolidge Cricket Ground- to know who they will face in Saturday’s final at the same venue.
