Trinidad and Tobago
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Red Force aim for second gear in Super50

Sports
Jelani Beckles Red Force spinner Yannic Cariah (L), celebrates a wicket with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva (R) during a CG United Super50 match against Guyana Harpy Eagles on Saturday, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba. - CWI Media
Red Force spinner Yannic Cariah (L), celebrates a wicket with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva (R) during a CG United Super50 match against Guyana Harpy Eagles on Saturday, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba. - CWI Media

COACH of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force David Furlonge said his team has not peaked yet despite a strong start in the CG United Super50 tournament, saying improvements can still be made.

Red Force will play Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Thursday from 1 pm.

Both teams have made a similar start in their campaign, winning two out of three matches.

Speaking to Newsday on Wednesday, Furlonge said, "I think we are building, we have not peaked as yet. We have a couple of areas that we are looking to improve on."

However, he is satisfied with the quality Red Force are showing so far.

"It is impressive. The batting, bowling and fielding have been good."

The Red Force's first match against Combined Colleges and Campuses was abandoned on October 17 at the Queen's Park Oval in St Clair because of rain.

On October 19 at the oval, Red Force defeated Windward Islands by six wickets led by a century from Kjorn Ottley. The left-hander cracked 11 fours and three sixes in his innings of 134 not out off 142 balls to steer Red Force to 255/4 in 48 overs.

Earlier in the match, leg spinner Yannic Cariah picked up 4/57 to limit Windwards to 254/9 in 50 overs.

Red Force picked up their second win of the tournament with a massive 114-run win over Guyana Harpy Eagles on Saturday in Tarouba. Half-centuries from Cariah (71), Ottley (52) and captain Darren Bravo (51) guided TT to 290/8.

In response, Harpy Eagles were dismissed for 176 in 33.4 overs with Cariah destroying the batting with 5/34.

Furlonge said Cariah is showing his ability. "I consider (him) to be one of the better batsmen in the Caribbean right now...he is one that I am looking to take us over the line all the time. Whenever he bats or bowls, I have confidence in his performance."

The Red Force coaching staff have encouraged Ottley to be consistent and he has delivered scoring more than 200 runs in three innings. "We sort of challenged Ottley over the last couple years...he has been playing in the 50-overs tournament and scoring maybe one fifty and a lot of forties...it is good to see him scoring runs."

Furlonge said Red Force are trying their best to get batting bonus points, but also avoid batting too quickly and lose early wickets.

With two wins and one loss, Hurricanes have been showing pedigree. Out of favour West Indies player Hayden Walsh Jnr, more known for his leg spin, has also contributed with the bat.

Spinner Daniel Doram has been a handful for batsmen, grabbing ten wickets which included figures of 7/29 in a Hurricanes win over Jamaica Scorpions at Brian Lara Cricket Academy.