Only Shannon Gabriel’s nerveless bowling in the final over could deny Roshon Primus glory on Thursday night.
An outstanding game of 50-over cricket between the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the Barbados Pride was finally decided by Gabriel’s five deliveries bowled at Primus leg that denied him the chance to knock down the 17 runs he needed Pride for victory.
After pulling the first ball of the final act in this North Sound drama for four, Primus had to settle for just two more runs as Gabriel won the battle of the big men at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium; Red Force prevailing by 11 runs to book their place in Saturday’s final.
In this high-scoring thriller of a semi-final between defending champions Red Force and Never-say-die Pride, Primus’ 130 could only push his side to 302 for eight in their 50 overs, chasing 313.
Red Force captain Nicholas Pooran took the Man-of-the-Match honors for his brilliant 111 off 82 balls that had pushed his side to 312 for six. But he was quick to acknowledge the majesty of Primus’ impressive clean hitting that delivered all nine sixes in the Pride innings, plus ten fours in a knock that lasted just 79 deliveries.
In the end, Pooran and all his men went up to their comforted former Red Force comrade to give him a handshake and a pat on the head.
“Prime Time” Roshon had given them a great fright. As he ducked, head down, shocked that his effort had come up short, he could not fully appreciate the spectacle he had provided those within reach. Primus could easily be man of the match. But this was a game in which there could have been a three-way tie for that rating.
Gabriel, leaner but as quick as ever, bowled ten convincing spells of fast bowling that gave him figures of four for 43. On a pitch ripe with runs, the undoing of openers Kyle Hope (bowling) and Zachary McCaskie ( caught in the wrong) with great pace and the subsequent dismissal of Jonathan Carter and Jomel Warrican, plus his laser-accurate finish to Primus, was the final difference between the two sides.
Primus, however, will be disappointed by the unnecessary way Akeem Jordan (33, 43 balls) was run out by a wide Gabriel in the 43rd over.st tall. Put together at 146 for six halfway through the 30th overth Ultimately, the duo led their team back into contention with a seventh-place finish with 93 points. That was before Jordan was beaten by goalkeeper Amir Jangoo’s free-kick at the striker’s end.
The piece of misjudgment sapped the Pride of its vital momentum. And Gabriel followed it up by smashing Warrican’s stumps with one of the blisteringly hot full deliveries he seemed to deliver at will all evening.
However, Primus followed up with his hundred, in the process, processing all-rounder Terrance Hinds for 16th tall.
Poran, however, kept faith with his seamer for the penultimate over and was rewarded as Hinds (8-0-63-0) bounced back from a poor start to leave Gabriel with a 17 cushion.
Earlier, the Red Force captain continued to stamp his authority on the competition, following up his unbeaten 99 in the last game against Winward Island Volcanoes with his first List A ton for his franchise.
Pooran put on 147 for the fourth wicket with left-hander Jangoo.
As the skipper stretched the Pride bowlers with eight sixes and five fours, opener Jangoo backed up with 81 off 114 balls (six fours, one six).
He and Darren Bravo had calmly restored order after seamer Jordan dismissed Kjorn Ottley and Jason Mohammed inside the first three overs to leave the Red Force in a two-for-two nest egg.
Prode captain Shai Hope’s decision to field first was paying huge dividends at that stage.
But Bravo continued to show signs of returning to his best self with a third fifty of the series -54 off 65 balls. then he helped Shamar Springer into the hands of Warrican at deep leg after posting 92 with Jangoo.
And after Pooran and Jangoo were dismissed, Akeal Hosein powered the Red Force past 300 with a dazzling performance of 42 off 20 deliveries.
With bat and ball, the champions had an answer for every question the Pride threw at them.
Especially in that finale, Gabriel talked a lot on Prime Time.
Summary results:
T&T Red Force 312-80 in 50 overs (Nicholas Pooran 111, Amir Jangoo 81, Darren Bravo 54, Akeal Hosein 42 not out; Shemar Spriunger 4/64, Alkeem Jordan 2/31)
vs Barbados Pride 302-8, 50 overs (Roshon Primus 130 not out, Jonathan Carter 45, Nicholas Kirton 33; Shannon Gabriel 4/43.)
—-Forca e Quqe won by 11 runs
