Charles Contributes to Red Force’s 125-Run Victory Over West Indies Academy

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force secured a resounding 125-run victory against the West Indies Academy in the fourth round of the West Indies Four-Day Championship, thanks to a stellar bowling performance by off-spinner Bryan Charles. After posting a first innings total of 304, built around Joshua Da Silva’s century (120) and supported by contributions from Khary Pierre (42) and Jason Mohammed (32), the Red Force were pegged back by the Academy, who responded with 268. Joshua Bishop’s century (102) and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett’s 71 provided the backbone of the Academy’s innings. The Red Force’s second innings was a more collaborative effort, with Cephas Cooper (55) and Yannic Cariah (54) leading the way to reach 241, setting the Academy a target of 278. Charles then unleashed a devastating spell, claiming 6 for 47 to dismantle the Academy’s batting line-up, who were bundled out for a mere 152. Anderson Phillip provided able support with figures of 2 for 21. Charles attributed the win to the team’s fighting spirit and his own persistent adherence to process despite less rewarding returns in previous matches.

This victory for the Red Force highlighted their resilience and depth. Despite facing challenging situations in both innings, they managed to post competitive totals. Da Silva’s century in the first innings provided a solid foundation, while the contributions from other batsmen ensured a respectable total. The bowlers, led by Charles, then stepped up to defend the target, demonstrating their ability to adapt to different conditions and opponents. Charles’ performance underlined his growing maturity as a bowler, as he maintained his focus and belief in his skills despite not achieving desired results in previous games. This win sets the Red Force up nicely for their upcoming clash against Barbados Pride.

Elsewhere in the tournament, the Guyana Harpy Eagles convincingly defeated the Jamaica Scorpions by a substantial margin of 214 runs. After posting 339 in their first innings, fueled by Kevlon Anderson’s 116 and supported by Matthew Nandu’s 61 and Kemol Savory’s 48, the Harpy Eagles declared their second innings at 193/3, having built a commanding lead. Tagenarine Chanderpaul top-scored with 74, while Anderson remained unbeaten on 50. The Scorpions faltered in both their innings, being bowled out for a paltry 44 in their first innings, owing to a devastating spell by Ronaldo Alimohamed who captured 6 for 17. While Kirk McKenzie’s defiant 147 in the second innings offered some resistance, it wasn’t enough to save the Scorpions from a heavy defeat as they were eventually dismissed for 274.

The Windward Islands also registered a comprehensive victory against the Leeward Islands, winning by an innings and 60 runs. Shadrack Descarte’s 119 and Ryan John’s 109 propelled the Windward Islands to a formidable total of 480 in their first innings. The Leeward Islands were then dismissed for 195 and 225 in their two innings, respectively. Gilon Tyson’s five-wicket haul (5/45) in the first innings and significant contributions from Justin Greaves and Mikyle Louis in the second innings weren’t enough to prevent the Leeward Islands from succumbing to a heavy defeat. The Windwards bowlers, led by Ryan John and supported by Descarte and Kenneth Dember, maintained pressure throughout, effectively exploiting the conditions to dismantle the Leeward Islands’ batting order.

In the other match, Barbados Pride secured a dominant ten-wicket victory over the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team. Roston Chase starred with both bat and ball, scoring 122 in the first innings and taking eight wickets in the match. Kevin Wickham also played a crucial role with a knock of 95. The CCC team, despite Damel Evelyn’s century (110) in the first innings and Akeem Jordan’s half-century (50) in the second innings, were unable to match the dominance of the Barbados Pride, ultimately succumbing to a comprehensive defeat. The Barbados bowlers, led by Chase and supported by Jomel Warrican, were consistent and penetrative, ensuring a comfortable victory for their team.

The fourth round of the West Indies Four-Day Championship showcased some compelling performances, with individual brilliance and collective efforts shaping the results. The Red Force’s hard-fought victory, Guyana’s commanding display, the Windwards’ comprehensive win, and Barbados’ dominant performance underscore the competitive nature of the tournament. The next round promises more exciting encounters as teams vie for crucial points to cement their positions in the standings. The upcoming clash between the Red Force and Barbados Pride will be particularly interesting, given the form of both teams. This match will be crucial for both sides as they look to solidify their position in the top half of the table.