Jeremy Solozano hit the game’s only half-century in the Red Force’s first practice match in preparation for the regional Super50 series later this month.
Opening batsman Solozano scored 72 as Sunil Narine XI beat Kieron Pollard XI by 38 runs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, yesterday.
With his side batting first, Solozano was the mainstay of the innings, facing 111 balls and hitting nine fours before becoming the last wicket to fall as Narine’s side were reduced to 156 for four when rain intervened in 40.1 overs.
Solozano put on 39 for the first wicket with Joshua Da Silva (38) for the second with Jason Mohammed and 69 for the fourth with Kirstan Kallicharan, who made an unbeaten 31 off 49 balls.
None of Narine’s forwards were able to score better than a run with the ball against an attack that included Jon Russ Jagessar (9-3-21-0) and veteran guard Rayad Emrit (4-0-12-1).
When the Pollard XI replied, they had to chase down a revised target of 192 under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method. Denesh Ramdin (36 off 57 balls), Isaiah Rajah (30 off 57), Jyd Goolie (12 off 12) and Jesse Bootan (16 off 20) all started but did not continue as their side finished on 153 for eight.
After completing the scheduled matches last week, the players will have one more game tomorrow before the final Super50 squad is chosen.
The tournament will be played in Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua, with the Reds opening their Zone A campaign against Combined Campuses and Colleges on October 31 in Tarouba.
Summary results:
Narine XI 156-4, 40.1 overs (Jeremy Solozano 72, Kirstan Kallicharan 31 no,) vs Pollard XI 153-8, 40 overs (target: 192) (Denesh Ramdin 36, Isaiah Rajah 30; Mark Deyal 2/2).
—Narine XI won by 38 runs, DLS method.
