Captain Da Silva stings Scorpions

Captain Joshua Da Silva showed class in scoring a belligerent century to guide Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to a formidable opening-day score against the Jamaica Scorpions in their final-round West Indies Championship match at Sabina Park yesterday.

The West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman faced 140 balls and hit 15 fours and a six in scoring 106 as the Red Force closed the day on 308 for seven.

The Red Force were asked to take first strike and steadily accumulated runs throughout the day against the hosts, who handed debuts to three players - pacer Andre Dennis, all-rounder Andre McCarthy and young batsman Justin Beckford.

McCarthy got the day's first breakthrough, removing opener Cephas Cooper for 12.

Opener Kjorn Ottley got to 45 before being the second wicket to fall to captain Peat Salmon at 81 for two.

After Jeavor Royal sent back Jason Mohammed for one and Salmon took care of Jyd Goolie for 19, the Red Force were in a precarious position at 96 for four before Amir Jangoo struck 51 to resuscitate the innings.

The left-hander hit seven fours and a six in his half-century knock as he and Da Silva put on 80 for the fifth wicket, with bad light interrupting play.

Da Silva then found another useful partner in debutant Navine Bidaisee, and they added 92 runs for the sixth wicket, with the latter falling to Javaughn Buchanan for 31 at 268 for six.

Da Silva stepped up the ante and struck some telling blows, bringing up his century and taking the visitors over the 300-run mark.

The right-hander was the last wicket to fall, bowled by Jeavor Royal for 106.

Over at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in Trinidad, the Guyana Harpy Eagles trail the Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners on first innings by 86 runs with nine wickets intact.

The Marooners were routed for 200 as Harpy Eagles replied with 114 for one.

At the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, Barbados Pride were dismissed for 155, with West Indies Academy replying with 111 for four.

At Queen's Park Oval, the Windward Islands Volcanoes were six for one, replying to the Leeward Islands Hurricanes's 300.