Red Force to face Barbados for spot in 4-Day final

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force team will play Barbados Pride for a place in the 2026 West Indies Championship final, after being unable to grind out an outright win in their third-round match against Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Antigua Recreation Ground. 

With the pitch still playing beautifully for batting on today's final day, the Red Force bowlers toiled as they tried to dismiss the Leewards for a second time. Facing a 177-run deficit after the first innings, the Leewards batsmen applied themselves much better in the second innings and eventually got to 467 for seven before the teams shook on a draw at approximately 4 pm. 

Starting the day on 160 for four, the Leewards still trailed by 17 runs, but the overnight pair of Keacy Carty and captain Justin Greaves solidified the innings with their fifth-wicket stand of 174. Carty got to a First-Class best of 147 before offering a simple return catch to Khary Pierre (one for 102), while Greaves struck 122 before being cleaned up by the tireless Anderson Phillip (four for 89) with the second new ball. In the post-lunch session, with the Leewards score on 327 for six, Greaves was dropped on 96 by TT captain Joshua Da Silva. It's difficult to say if that missed chance would have had a significant impact on the outcome, but the Leewards batsmen rarely missed a step thereafter. 

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force skipper Joshua Da Silva is congratulated by Leeward Islands Hurricanes allrounder Kofi James on his double-century knock in their West Indies Championship match at the Antigua Recreation Ground. Photo courtesy Windies Regional 

After Greaves' eventual dismissal, wicket-keeper/batsman Jahmar Hamilton (50 not out) and Rahkeem Cornwall (66 not out) effectively killed the game off with an unbeaten 112-run partnership for the eighth wicket. 

When Da Silva introduced wicket-keeper/batsman Amir Jangoo for his first bowl in First-Class cricket, it's safe to say the Red Force threw up their white flag as the game was called off as a draw at the end of the subsequent over. 

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva was presented with a trophy after his team beat the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their three-match West Indies Championship series. 

The Red Force won the three-match bilateral series against the Leewards 1-0. Still, their overall points tally fell short of the haul of reigning champs Guyana Harpy Eagles, who completed a third straight victory against the Windward Islands Volcanoes. 

Guyana will now sit down for the final, which bowls off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, on May 17, with the Red Force returning home for a short rest before facing Barbados in their semifinal playoff from May 10 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. 

Summarised Scores: 

TT RED FORCE: 522/9 declared (Joshua Da Silva 220, Amir Jangoo 83, Jason Mohammed 47; Karima Gore 4/86, Oshane Thomas 2/70) vs LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES: 345 (Jahmar Hamilton 121, K Gore 90, Rahkeem Cornwall 38; Anderson Phillip 4/92, Terrabce Hinds 3/49) & 467/7 (Keacy Carty 147, Justin Greaves 122, R Cornwall 66 not out; A Phillip 4/89). Match drawn. 

GUYANA HARPY EAGLES: 242 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 69, Keemo Paul 64; Ryan John 4/28, Darel Cyrus 3/79) & 299 (T Chanderpaul 117 not out, Gudakesh Motie 53; Kenneth Dember 3/52, R John 3/58) vs WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 223 (Kavem Hodge 74, Alick Athanaze 50 not out; G Motie 4/52, Nial Smith 2/27) & 225 (A Athanaze 64, Johann Jeremiah 25; G Motie 4/82, Veerasammy Permaul 3/41). Guyana won by 93 runs.