Hurricanes and Red Force contest ends in tame draw
BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC –Four batsmen scored half-centuries on the fourth and final day as the eighth round match between the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force petered out into a draw yesterday.
In a high scoring match, the Hurricanes set their opponents a mammoth total of 352 for victory after declaring their second innings on 315 for six.
Joshua DaSilva and Lendl Simmons then posted halfcenturies as the Red Force climbed to 236 for four before the match was eventually called off.
Earlier, Devon Thomas fell just six runs short of a century and Jahmar Hamilton made 77 as the Hurricanes batted themselves to safety after resuming the day on 159 for three.
The pair put on 159 runs in a fourth-wicket partnership to rule out any possible hopes the Red Force had of pushing for victory.
They carried the score to 273 before Odean Smith finally got the breakthrough by bowling Hamilton.
Rahkeem Cornwall only lasted four balls before he too was dismissed by Smith for one.
But within sight of three figures Thomas lost his wicket to Khary Pierre, prompting an immediate declaration.
He faced 109 balls and blasted five sixes and four boundaries.
In pursuit of an improbable target, the Red Force’s batsmen were still positive in their approach, scoring at over four runs an over.
Openers Jeremy Solozano and DaSilva put on 88 runs for the first wicket before the former lost his wicket to Damion Jacobs to be out for 30.
DaSilva, who scored 75 and Simmons who made 59 at better than a run-a-ball, then added another 88 runs in only 16 overs.
Even when the pair fell in quick succession, the Red Force were never in any danger of losing the match, with the two sides agreeing to a draw shortly after.