No easy games

While the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force have been on a roll in the CG United Super50 Cup, their previous two matches have served as a reminder that no team can be taken for granted.

The hosts have won their last four matches in the tournament. They defeated the Windward Islands Volcanoes by six wickets thanks to Kjorn Ottley’s unbeaten 134. A ‘clinical’ 114-run win against the Guyana Harpy Eagles followed but things got tighter after that.

Darren Bravo’s team clinched a close three-wicket victory over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes before defeating the West Indies Academy by four wickets on Saturday.

Even though they are unbeaten so for this tournament, Red Force head coach David Furlonge said his players have been guarding against complacency from game one.

“After every game we talk about complacency and the quality of the other team and that we are not going to take any team lightly,” said Furlonge.

“In any game, if we have a team in trouble, that is when we have to take advantage.”

“Having said that, yes, we have been winning but we haven’t played a perfect game yet. We haven’t peaked,” he added.

Looking back at their most recent win, Jason Mohammed, who hit an unbeaten 70 to bring home the win at the Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday, said “It was a bit tricky”.

The Academy had posted 263 for eight while the Red Force replied with 264 for six.

“I think the wicket was very slow in the second innings and when the ball got softer, it got more difficult to score. But I was happy to be able to be there at the end, I had a lot of starts in the tournament and I am pleased to be able to get a 50 and carry the team over the line,” Mohammed added.

He also noted that his experience was key in helping the Red Force get over the line.

“We knew it would be a difficult chase and I thought they got 30 or 40 too much but in saying that I know we have been batting well as a team so we were very confident and I think we batted well as a unit again and we got over the line which is most important,” the 37-year-old batted said.

“I’ve been around a while now so I think I just tried to gather my thoughts and I think playing at this level for a very long time, I was able to cope with everything which was important,” he added.

The Red Force will resume training today ahead of their next game on Thursday against defending champions Jamaica Scorpions at the Oval from 9a.m.

The hosts will complete the group stage on Sunday against Barbados Pride at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba from 1 p.m.

The tournament resumes today with the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) facing the Pride at UWI from 9a.m. while the Volcanoes square off against the Hurricanes at the Oval from 9a.m.

UPCOMING MATCHES:

Today

CCC vs Barbados Pride, UWI 9a.m.

Winward Islands Volcanoes vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes, QPO 9 a.m.

Tomorrow

WI Academy v Guyana Harpy Eagles, UWI

9 a.m.

SUPER 50 STANDINGS

TEAMS P W L NR PTS

1. Red Force 5 4 0 1 37

2. CCC 5 2 1 2 26

3. Hurricanes 4 2 2 0 25