Yannic Cariah produced yet another excellent all-round effort to guide Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to a nervy three-wicket win over Leeward Islands Hurricanes and keep their unblemished record intact here last night.
Arriving at the crease with the hosts in deep trouble at 44 for four in the 14th over in pursuit of 199 for victory, the left-handed Cariah punched a controlled unbeaten 45 off 102 deliveries as Red Force notched their third win in four games to return to the summit of the Super50 Cup standings with 30 points.
Cariah, yet to be dismissed in the tournament following scores of 71 not out and 31 not out, anchored three critical partnerships – a 65-run, fifth wicket stand with Jason Mohammed (41), a 36-run, seventh-wicket stand with Terrance Hinds (21), and a 43-run, unbroken eighth-wicket stand with Sunil Narine.
Mohammed struck five fours in a breezy 49-ball knock while Hinds, already with a first-class hundred to his name, lashed three fours in a 17-ball knock.
For his part, veteran Narine counter-attacked brilliantly in a 17-ball cameo, which included a four and four sixes and which killed off Hurricanes’ hopes of a comeback.
Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh (3-32) and fast-bowling captain Alzarri Joseph (3-45) were both outstanding with three-wicket hauls.
“We got off to a shaky start. I thought they bowled well. They were aggressive to us, [and] I thought we didn’t really play that situation well,” said captain Darren Bravo.
“But having said that, Yannic again played an extremely brilliant innings. Terrance at the back end, he came and played a little blinder, and Sunil, basically, showed his experience in the end.
“It wasn’t a clinical performance but at the end of the day, we came out on top, which is the most important thing.”
In contrast to his explosive half-century against Guyana Harpy Eagles last week, Cariah counted a single four and a six and narrowly missed out scoring a fifty and taking five wickets for the second straight game.
“I try my best to play the situation of the game. Whatever the team requires from me in that point in time, I make up mind to try and go as deep as possible,” said the 31-year-old Cariah.
Openers Kieran Powell (75) and Justin Greaves (58) had, earlier, lit up the Brian Lara Stadium in an opening stand of 110 before the innings collapsed spectacularly for 198 in the 38th over, undermined by Cariah’s five for 48 from 10 overs of leg-spin.
The left-handed Powell blasted five fours and half-dozen sixes off just 48 deliveries while Greaves struck four fours in a 71-ball knock as Hurricanes flourished after being sent in.
However, once Cariah bowled Powell in the 15th over with the third ball of his spell, Hurricanes lost their last nine wickets for 85 runs, with off-spinner Narine picking up three for 30.