Damp Sabina pitch mars opening day of regional clash

The Jamaica Scorpions hold the advantage at the end of an interesting and quite unusual first day against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional Four-day match at Sabina Park yesterday.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force reached 134 for seven in the 38 overs possible for the day, but it was the long stoppage caused by a damp and dangerous pitch that was the main talking point.

The visitors, after being sent into bat, faced a torrid time from local pacers Oshane Thomas and Reynard Leveridge who got a few balls to kick alarmingly. Kyle Hope was unlucky to get one from Thomas that stopped and jumped from a good length and offered a regulation catch to gully.

That brought in Darren Bravo, and virtually from the first ball he faced, he was seen complaining about the nature of the pitch. After scoring six, he got one that bounced disconcertingly from Leveridge, and was hit on the upper body. The umpires, you could sense, were getting concerned.

The next over from Thomas saw Jeremy Solozano get one that nearly decapitated him, again from a length. Solozano then slapped the next ball straight to point to be out for 11 while Bravo continued to protest. With Jason Mohammed coming out to bat with the mannerisms of a man going to the gallows, umpires Chris Taylor and Deighton Butler decided that enough was enough. After just five overs, the umpires decided that they would have to give the pitch time to dry out. The score was then 23 for two after just under 30 minutes play, following a 10 a.m. start.

Play resumed at 2.45 p.m., and though the pitch then started playing pretty well, the Red Force batsmen did not stick around. Bravo was the first to go after the resumption, offering no shot to Rovman Powell for 17 and was out leg before wicket.

Denesh Ramdin was spectacularly bowled by the impressive Powell for six, driving at a full delivery. Jason Mohammed never suggested permanence and was snapped up at slip off Miller for 17.

Odean Smith then came and played a few shots, none better than a spectacular shot over extra cover for six off Miller. He made 18 before he played on to give Powell his third wicket. Imran Khan strangely offered no shot to a straight one from Miller and lost his off stump at 94 for seven.

Play will start at 9.30 today as the umpires try to make up for the time lost.

SCOREBOARD

RED FORCE First Innings

K. Hope c K Williams b O Thomas 2

J. Solozano c Fudadin b O Thomas 11

D.M. Bravo lbw b Powell 17

J. Mohammed c Palmer b Miller 17

*+D. Ramdin b Powell 6

Y. Cariah not out 22

O. Smith b Powell 18

I. Khan b Miller 7

K. Pierre not out 17

Extras: (b1, lb10, w1, nb6) 18

Total: (7 wkts, 38 overs) 135

A Phillip, D StClair yet to bat

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-23, 3-57, 4-64, 5-64, 6-85, 7-94

Bowling: Thomas 8-2-21-2 (nb4); Leveridge 6-1-23-0 (nb1, w1); Powell 10-2-30-3 (nb1); Miller 11-1-41-2; K Williams 3-0-9-0

Toss: Scorpions

Umpires: C. Taylor, D. Butler

Match referee: D. Hayles

Reserve umpire: C. Wright