WEST INDIES CHAMPIONSHIP - Charles, Pierre spin Red Force into final

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force’s spin duo of Khary Pierre and Bryan Charles delivered a masterclass on the final day at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here on Wednesday, bamboozling Barbados Pride to secure a resounding 140-run victory in the West Indies Championship play-off.

Pierre was the architect of the collapse, finishing with stunning figures of 5 for 54 from 19 overs, while Charles provided the perfect supporting act with 4 for 62 from 16.3 overs as Pride crashed to 177 all out in their second innings.

Set a tricky 318 for victory, Barbados never recovered from early jitters. Former Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite was the first to go, caught behind off Jayden Seales for just four in the opening over.

Shayne Moseley and Jonathan Drakes steadied the ship somewhat by taking the score to 54, before Drakes was bowled by Pierre for 14.

Charles then got in on the act, sending back Moseley for a top score of 39 and Kevin Wickham for 19, to leave the Pride reeling at 85-4.

Pierre then snared the prized scalp of Roston Chase for 24. The left-arm spinner went on to strangle the middle order when he had Kyle Mayers caught behind for 17, then trapped Leniko Boucher lbw for 20, and dismissed Shamar Springer for 25 to complete his five-wicket haul.

Charles then returned to clean up the lower order, removing Johann Layne and Jomel Warrican in quick succession to seal the result.

Earlier, Pierre had also made a vital contribution with the bat. Resuming on his overnight score of nine not out, the left-hander smashed 64 off 97 deliveries, including six boundaries, to propel Red Force’s second innings to 280 all out. 

Overnight centurian Cephas Cooper added just one run to his score, before he went lbw to Joshua Bishop, who finsihed with six wickets for 87 runs. Roston Chase supported with 3 for 67.

The Red Force will now take on the Guyana Harpy Eagles in the Championship decider.

The Harpy Eagles wrapped up a comprehensive innings-and-21-run win over the West Indies Academy in their warm-up game played at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Caption: Khary Pierre (right) took 5-54 and smashed 64 off 97 deliveries to put the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force into the final of the West Indies Campionship against the Guyana Harpy Eagles.