ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force clinically avoided a semi-final clash with last year’s losing finalists Barbados Pride when they humbled Leeward Islands Hurricanes by five wickets in the final preliminary game of the Regional Super50 here Sunday night.

Needing to win the day/night contest at Coolidge Cricket Ground to top Group A, Red Force hardly put a foot wrong as they completely outplayed a listless Hurricanes, to finish with 31 points from their full complement of games.

Hurricanes, who led the group from the start of the competition, finished second on 28 points and will now face tournament favourites Pride in one semi-final while Red Force take on Jamaica Scorpions in the other.

With all to play for, Hurricanes chose the wrong time to turn in perhaps their worst performance of the tournament when they were dismissed for 189.

Captain Kieran Powell, with three centuries and two half-centuries in his last five innings, finally tasted failure for the first time when he was dismissed for one and it was left to rookie Jermaine Otto with 38 to carry the Hurricanes’ charge.

Wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton chipped in with 27 and Nkrumah Bonner, 23, but the always suspect Hurricanes batting failed to fire. They were well placed at 80 for two in the 23rd over but then lost their last eight wickets for 109 runs.

Man-of-the-Match Ravi Rampaul was behind their demise, claiming three for 27 from his 10 overs while fellow speedster Shannon Gabriel picked up three for 41.

In reply, Red Force overcame a few stutters to reach their target in the 35th over, with opener Evin Lewis top-scoring with 47, while Imran Khan stroked an unbeaten 38, Jason Mohammed, 34, and captain Denesh Ramdin, 31 not out.

Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who finished with three for 40, caused the only real consternation in the Red Force run chase but those jitters were soon smoothed over.

Lewis, as usual, gave the innings a flying start when he put on 57 off 46 deliveries for the first wicket with Kyle Hope whose 20 came from 29 balls and included three fours.

The left-handed Lewis slammed seven fours and two sixes in a 23-ball cameo but was one of three wickets to fall for 19 runs as Red Force slipped to 76 for three in the 13th over.

However, any thoughts Hurricanes had of a comeback were quickly squashed as Red Force mounted two key partnerships to stitch up the innings.

Mohammed, who faced 39 balls and counted three fours and a six, put on 43 for the fourth wicket with Khary Pierre (7) before Imran Khan and Ramdin added 54 in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership.

Hurricanes had earlier slipped to 23 for two in the sixth over after opting to bat first, with their leading run-scorers Powell and Monctin Hodge (15) falling cheaply.

Powell edged Gabriel behind to wicketkeeper Ramdin with the score on five in the third over and Hodge followed with 18 runs added, driving Rampaul to Mohammed at cover.

The best stand of the innings followed when Otto and Bonner combined to add 57 for the third wicket, and halt the decline.

Otto faced 64 balls and struck five fours while Jamaican Bonner, still searching for form in the tournament, faced 50 deliveries and counted two fours.

Both fell within the space of 11 deliveries to left-arm spinner Pierre (2-31) and Hamilton and Chesney Hughes (21) cobbled together 34 for the fifth wicket before the innings stuttered again, as five wickets tumbled for 31 runs.

In strife at 150 for nine in the 40th over, Hurricanes found salvation in the dependable Gavin Tonge who lashed 21 from 35 balls in putting on 39 for the last wicket with Jason Campbell (15 not out), to ensure the tail wagged.