After rain and an early blow to Evin Lewis, Amir Jangoo and Joshua Da Silva put Red Force back on track with an unbeaten 247 for three at stumps.
ANTIGUA, yesterday — Rain disrupted the start, an injury rocked the visitors almost immediately, and yet Trinidad and Tobago Red Force still managed to finish day one in control.
Red Force’s third-round West Indies Championship clash against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes began in chaotic fashion at the Antigua Recreation Ground, and the turning point came after Evin Lewis retired hurt without facing a ball following a throw from Cameron Pennyfeather that struck his left ankle.. With the early setback leaving them a batter down inside the first three balls, the match looked like it could unravel for the visitors.
But Misryoum was not served a collapse.. Jyd Goolie and Jason Mohammed steadied the innings, first with a quickening of pace and then with a controlled build toward the end of the day, when Amir Jangoo and captain Joshua Da Silva took over in the most important phase.. By stumps on a rain-shortened day, Red Force were 247 for three, with Jangoo 69 not out and Da Silva 72 not out.
The day’s interruptions mattered.. Red Force were sent in to bat after lunch because rain delayed the start, meaning their early rhythm was never quite the same.. The moment Lewis was hurt, that lack of rhythm showed—suddenly, they were negotiating their innings with the squeeze of time and a depleted batting plan.
Still, Goolie responded like a batter intent on finding momentum.. He counter-attacked alongside Cephas Cooper, racing to 27 inside four overs with a sharp sequence of boundaries.. There was a six and two fours in a single over off Kelvin Pitman, and it pulled the innings forward before the Hurricanes could fully settle into their lines and lengths.. Oshane Thomas then delivered a key breakthrough soon after, removing Cooper for six, caught at second slip—an exit that briefly checked the flow but didn’t stop it.
Mohammed stepped up immediately after, especially against Pennyfeather, striking four boundaries in quick succession as Red Force surged to 83 for one.. He reached 47 before the game shifted again—edging Thomas to Karima Gore at gully shortly after tea—bringing the score to 115 for three and leaving the Hurricanes with a renewed chance to apply pressure.
From there, the recovery became a partnership.. For a period, boundaries dried up for about 12 overs as Jangoo and Da Silva consolidated, suggesting a deliberate tactic: protect wickets, wait for the ball to come, and then build the tempo steadily rather than chasing it.. Eventually, the shackles loosened.. Da Silva struck consecutive boundaries off Justin Greaves, a reminder that the Hurricanes’ attack couldn’t afford to keep line and length too rigid for too long.
Both batsmen then attacked as the innings gathered momentum, with the pair pushing Red Force past the 200-run mark in the 47th over.. Milestones came close together: Da Silva moved to his half-century off 76 balls with a single, while Jangoo reached his fifty with a boundary after facing 100 deliveries.. The manner of those milestones felt significant in match terms—neither was forced into an all-or-nothing shot to get there, which is often what you want when you’re trying to turn a shaky start into a platform.
This is where day one’s story matters most going into day two.. An unbeaten position of 247 for three doesn’t just register runs; it controls the match’s emotional temperature.. The Hurricanes bowled with effort, including spells from Thomas and Pennyfeather, but they were left to toil against two batters who were increasingly comfortable—frustrating any attempt at a late-day surge.
Rain also has a way of reshaping momentum, and Red Force will benefit from finishing well after the disruptions.. By the close, Jangoo had faced 137 balls for 69, while Da Silva struck 72 from 125 deliveries.. With Red Force firmly positioned at stumps, the pressure now sits more on the Hurricanes to find a breakthrough early on the next day rather than simply defending.
The Hurricanes made two changes to their lineup earlier: James came in for Kadeem Henry, and Pennyfeather replaced the injured Jeremiah Louis.. Red Force, meanwhile, were without leading wicket-taker Jayden Seales, rested for workload management, with medium pace all-rounder Joshua James taking his spot in the starting XI.
One more practical detail sets the stage for today: play begins 30 minutes early at 9.30 am to make up for time lost on day one.. If Red Force can convert their stability into early wickets against them—without losing the patience that carried them through—the recovery led by Jangoo and Da Silva could become the foundation for a decisive advantage.