BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — Opener Evin Lewis struck his sixth first-class half-century as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force made a positive start to their campaign in Regional First Class Championship here yesterday.

The left-hander top-scored with 66, an innings that lifted the visitors to 155 for three against Leeward Islands Hurricanes on the rain-hit opening day of their encounter at Warner Park.

Guyanese Narsingh Deonarine, Red Force’s overseas acquisition, was unbeaten on 43 and fellow left-hander Yannick Cariah was 28 not out, when bad light brought an early end to the day’s play.

Sent in, Red Force were in early trouble when they lost opener Kjorn Ottley (6) and Barbadian Kyle Hope (1) with 28 on the board.

Ottley fell to a catch at silly mid-on off off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, while Hope, the brother of West Indies batsman Shai Hope, nicked an out-swinger from seamer Gavin Tonge to wicketkeeper Jaison Peters.

Lewis and Deonarine then combined in an 85-run, third-wicket stand to repair the innings and take Red Force to lunch at 60 for two.

The 23-year-old Lewis faced 146 balls, in just over 3 1/4 hours at the crease and counted eight fours and two sixes, while Deonarine has so far lasted 170 deliveries and struck four fours.

Unbeaten on 35 at the break, Lewis finally departed just before tea following interruptions for rain, lbw to Tonge who finished with two for 38.

Cariah then joined Deonarine to add 42 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand, to deny the hosts any further success.