Trinidad and Tobago Red Force captain Darren Bravo scored another century against the Hurricanes in the second innings of the West Indies four-day championship match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
Accordingly, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force held the match to a draw against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
The Volcanoes were 243/7 on day four of their first innings, trailing the Red Force’s first total of 418/9 by 175 runs, with Rahkeem Cornwall (33 not out) and Hayden Walsh (18 not out) leading the chase.
The pair added 40 runs to the total – an 83-run partnership between them – before taking the Leewards to 283, before the dismissed big man Cornwall.
Cornwall notched up his second half-century of the season when paceman Terence Hinds hit a four for 67 before an effort was missed by off-spinner Brian Charles.
Walsh was dismissed for 31 and Colin Archibald for 10 as the Volcanoes were bowled out for 302, 116 behind the Red Force.
Skipper Darren Bravo scored his second century to set the hosts a winning target of 300 with one session to play. The Red force skipper faced 143 balls for his second century and before that he claimed 183 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.
With only 23 overs to go in addition to the 15 overs in the final hour, the Hurricanes are not looking to go for runs despite the batting in good shape.
They were 72 for one in 23 overs when the leaders shook hands to end the game.
Batting for the second time, T&T lost opener Keegan Simmons in the second over, but Bravo held the innings together with some impressive shots en route to his century.
Simmons was comprehensively run out by Sheno Berridge and paceman Jeremy Solozano looked to up the tempo before the T&T declaration before bowling off wicket-keeper Jahmar Hamilton to take 3 wickets off-spinner Kofi James.
Bravo, who opened the batting alongside Simmons, stood tall for the visitors, using sweeps and cuts against both Walsh’s leg-spin and James’ off-spin. He wasn’t afraid to run through the covers as he counted ten quarters to every part of the ground.
The Reds lost opener Kegan Simmons inside nine balls, to Sheno Berridge, but Bravo and Solozano managed to take them to 86.
Solozano was out for 26, and Bravo continued to win the cause with Jahmar Hamilton caught off another Berridge delivery.
Jason Mohammed (12), Teone Webster (3), and Terence Hinds (16) took the next three wickets before off-spinner Kofi James and Amir Jangu scored 10 not out. The Reds’ skipper finally reached the treble with a fierce single from James before tea. (153 balls, ten fours, 14th first-class century).
Bowling for the Leewards, James took 3/39 and Berridge 2/32.
Kieran Powell (21), Montzin Hodge (31 not out), and Casey Carty (11 not out) were the only wickets in the middle as the Volcanoes were bowled out for 72/1 on the final day’s reply in Antigua.
Bravo’s century was the final thriller of the match as both teams settled for a draw after losing more than two sessions on the first two days of the match due to rain.
The third round will resume on March 15 and run until April 1 for the final three rounds, after which the champions will be crowned and presented with the Hedley Weeks Trophy.
The remaining matches will be played at Brian Lara Academy, Taroba, Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain and Diego Martin Sports Complex in Trinidad.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RED FORCE 418-9 dec. (Darren Bravo 100, Imran Khan 92, Yannic Cariah 52, Terrance Hinds 51; Jeremiah Louis 3/78, Colin Archibald 3/111, Sheeno Berridge 2/72) & 183-5 dec. (Darren Bravo 100 not out; Kofi James 3/29).
LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 302 (Keacy Carty 95, Rahkeem Cornwall 67; Bryan Charles 4/84, Khary Pierre 3/63) & 72-1 (Montcin Hodge 34 not out)