Katwaroo, Ottley lead fightback for Red Force
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — An unbroken half-century stand between wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo and Yannic Ottley propped up Trinidad and Tobago Red Force after Barbados Pride threatened to run through the innings on the second day of their second-round match here yesterday.
At the close, the visitors were fighting back on 153 for five, still 147 runs behind in the regional first-class championship contest at Kensington Oval.
Katwaroo was unbeaten on 27 and Ottley, 26, two innings which inspired Red Force after they had slumped from 76 for one to 99 for five in quick time, in response to Pride’s first-innings total of 300.
Barbadian import Kyle Hope stroked a top score of 45, while opener Evin Lewis got 24, but seamer Kevin Stoute claimed two for 25 to give the home side the advantage.
Earlier, Pride disappointingly lost their last six wickets for 53 runs after resuming the day on 247 for four.
Shamarh Brooks, unbeaten on 102 overnight, added just nine before nicking a defensive prod at seamer Rayad Emrit behind in the sixth over of the morning with the score on 257.
Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, unbeaten on 15 at the start, then held the innings together as wickets tumbled around him.
The right-hander scored 48 off 115 balls in just over 2 3/4 hours with six fours before being last out, bowled by left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan was the best bowler with four for 75, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel claimed three for 49, while Kantasingh picked up two for 80.
Lewis then gave Red Force a healthy start with a breezy knock, striking four fours off 29 balls, as he added 34 with Kjorn Ottley (18).
However, Stoute got the breakthrough for Pride, trapping the left-handed Lewis lbw on the backfoot, in the first hour after lunch.
Hope, returning to a familiar stomping ground, then combined with Ottley to put on a further 42 for the second wicket to push Red Force up to 70 without further loss at tea.
The right-handed Hope faced 106 balls in nearly 2 1/2 hours at the crease and hit six fours, while Ottley lasted 89 balls and counted one four.
West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican broke the stand in the fifth over after the break when he had Ottley caught at slip by Ashley Nurse at 76 for two, and 20 balls later the usually prolific Guyanese left-hander Narsingh Deonarine also fell to a catch by Nurse at second slip for five off Stoute.
Pacer Miguel Cummins got the key wicket of Hope, lbw on 97 for four and with two runs added; fast bowler Kemar Roach claimed Yannic Cariah cheaply for five to leave Red Pride in dire straits.
Katwaroo and Ottley then came together to halt the rut, in a positive stand which saw Red Force safely to the close without a further loss.
The right-handed Katwaroo has so far faced 62 balls and counted three fours, while Ottley, also a right-hander, has struck a four and a pair of sixes off 51 deliveries.