Redwood debuts with 7-fer in Scorpions win

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

THE JAMAICA Scorpions and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force expectedly wrapped up comfortable victories on the fourth and final day of the first round of matches in the West Indies Championship yesterday.

Led by a sensational seven-wicket haul from debutant Tamarie Redwood, the Scorpions defeated the Windward Islands Volcanoes, while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre also bagged seven wickets as the Red Force registered a mammoth innings-and-75-run victory over the Combined Campuses and Colleges.

At Arnos Vale in St Vincent: Teenaged leg spinner Redwood ran through the Volcanoes’ middle order on the way to finishing with the impressive figures of 7-72 on debut, as the Scorpions wrapped up a comfortable 178-run victory.

Resuming on their overnight total of 65 for one and requiring an improbable 355 more runs for a historic win, the Volcanoes made a promising start before Redwood unleashed his fury.

Sunil Ambris and Keron Cottoy added 60 runs for the third wicket after Redwood had dismissed Stephan Pascal early in the opening session.

But with the score on 137 for two, left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal bowled Cottoy for 31 to break the partnership and open the floodgates.

Ambris hit the topscore of 56 before Redwood claimed his wicket, and the 18-year-old produced a gem of a delivery that spun sharply from outside off stump to bowl the left-handed Gian Benjamin for 23.

Redwood then also claimed the wickets of Ryan John for one, Shadrack Descarte for 47 and Kenneth Dember for eight, before he fittingly ended the match by having Daurius Martin stumped for a duck.

Royal lent good support, taking 2-81.

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad: Fighting half-centuries from Damel Evelyn and Shaqkere Parris were not enough to prevent the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) from an innings defeat to the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force.

The CCC were undone by Pierre’s superb spell of 7-40 from 24 overs, the spinner pioneering a middle-order collapse that saw them lose their last six wickets for just 15 runs.

Needing 192 more runs to make the Red Force bat again after they started the day on 90 for one, Pierre struck early when he trapped Avinash Mahabirsingh lbw for 14.

Evelyn eventually scored his half-century, but soon after was also caught plumb in front by Pierre for 57 to leave the score 116 for three.

Sadique Henry and Parris joined forces during a 52-run partnership to frustrate the Red Force bowlers, until leg spinner Yannic Cariah accounted for the former’s wicket after he had scored 15.

CCC were still comfortably placed at 192 for four, but when Pierre bowled Parris for an even 50 it transformed the match.

Pierre bowled Demario Richards for a first-ball duck, the next ball and without a run being added, Kyle Corbin was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Jyd Goolie.

Pierre then dismissed Abhijai Mansingh and Andre Bailey for five and three respectively, while Goolie bowled Ojay Shields for a duck to complete the victory.