(Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 1st Innings 243, T&T Red Force 1st Innings 50/1*)
On the opening day of the opening fixture of the 2023 West Indies Championship, it was the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force who were in charge at stumps in Grenada.
After winning the toss and sending in the Windward Islands Volcanoes to bat, Red Force made early inroads. First Terrance Hinds accounted for Kimani Melius (4) in the third over while he had Kavem Hodge knicking behind for a 7-ball duck to leave the Volcanoes at 16/2. From there on the Volcanoes struggled to string together meaningful partnerships. Jerlani Robinson and Alick Anthanaze put on 28 for the third wicket before he holed out to Bryan Charles off the bowling of Tion Webster.
Anthanaze held his composure to steady the ship with Sunil Ambris (55), however, with the partnership (worth 54) in ascendancy Anthanaze was dismissed by off-spinner Charles for 41. The only other partnership of worth was 98 runs between Ryan John (who fell for 36) and Tevyn Walcott. The latter eventually ran out of partners as the Volcanoes were skittled out for 243, Walcott’s innings was a mixture of aggression and composure, his 87 not out came off of 101 deliveries and included 14 boundaries and one maximum.
Hinds snared 4/72 while Charles ended with figures 4/46.
In response, the Red Force only suffered one casualty, Khary Pierre who fell for a duck off the bowling of Darius Martin with the score at 6. By stumps, Jeremy Solanzo (18 not out) and Darren Bravo (32 not out) were looking solid and had reduced the 1st innings deficit to 193 with their team on 50/1.
The 592 Dugout 