BATTING WOES | Local sports

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force coach Mervyn Dillon lamented the lack of production from his top drummers and said that despite a lot of fighting on the final day, he felt that the Red Force had been fortunate enough to be out of their sixth round West Indian Championship match against the Leeward Island Hurricanes with a draw.

Personally, I think again, our batter once again failed us. If you look at the first rounds, it was Terrance Hinds who pulled us out with a partnership, and the second round was Joshua Da Silva standing up and showing some fight, Dillon noted.

We didn't play well and I think we were lucky to draw. The performance is not at all close to where we want to be in hitting … we have to put up more runs on the board. We certainly need to beat better and we haven't gotten high enough in the last two or three games. We need more top level if we are to continue and succeed in this tournament, lamented the Red Forces coach.

Meanwhile, skipper Yannick Ottley was disappointed that the team was unable to seize the opportunity to dominate their opponents in what he described as a rocking match. Both teams had the opportunity to mark their authority over the proceedings, but neither was able to do so.

The final day of competition provided a thrilling end with momentum moving from side to side and the Red Force coming back to the brink of defeat and stealing almost an outright victory.

But in the end, points had to be split, the last pair of leeward gates standing to deny the Red Force a well-deserved victory.

In the pursuit of 192 for the victory, the Hurricanes drove 166 for four, Rahkeem Cornwall (48) and Terrance Warde (27) setting up a fifth wicket stand of 65 points. But left arm spinner Akeal Hosein (4-40) and leg spinner Imran Khan (3-44) combined to destroy the Hurricanes in middle and lower order, as five wickets fell for 17 points in the space of 35 balls, leaving the sleeves tottering on 183 for new.

It was then left to Devon Thomas, who had retired injured earlier at 57 for three, to return, and in combination with the last man Sheeno Berridge, to see the hosts for fun.

It was a good game, Ottley told the Express yesterday. It was unfortunate that we could not win at the end, but the match was very rocky and both teams were likely to dominate the game and lead, but neither team really grabbed the opportunity to do so, added Ottley.

Momentum moved from side to side throughout the match, but on the first day, the Red Force struggled at 154 for seven before rallying on second day to post 287. Similarly, the Hurricanes were 99 for five in their first innings before recovering to post 251.

The Red Forces had more problems at 28 for six in their second innings before rallying again to reach 155 and defining the hosts which turned out to be a tough goal of 192.

"I think we didn't take the chance to dominate the Leewards when we should have," said Ottley. But on the positive side, it was good that we fought until the last day and did not give up.

The players have really fought against all the obstacles and challenges that the Leewards have thrown at us and congratulations are to be given to both teams for putting the game in play and I guess a draw is not was just a reflection of the nature of the game, added Ottley.

The Red Force, currently in fifth place in the standings, returned to Trinidad yesterday and will train at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, today and tomorrow, before taking on the current leaders of the Barbados Pride at the same location from Thursday.

Coach Dillon revealed: The selectors will meet tomorrow (today) or Wednesday to decide the team for the next game, but I'm not at all happy with the stick. Imran Khan came back and hit with Joshua and did well with the ball too, so there are good signs but still a little bit of concern with the stick.