Red Force crush Hurricanes to clinch Super50 title

TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC):

Unbeaten Trinidad and Tobago Red Force romped to their 14th Super50 title Saturday night when they whipped Leeward Islands Hurricanes by seven wickets under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern in a lopsided final at the Brian Lara Stadium.

In a match reduced to 43 overs per side following two breaks for rain, Red Force routed Hurricanes for 135 in the 42nd over, with fast bowler Terrance Hinds with three for 16 and veteran off-spinner Sunil Narine with three for 17 spearheading the attack.

Jahmar Hamilton top-scored with a valiant 62 off 102 deliveries, with No. 8 Hayden Walsh, who scored 20, the other batsman to show any enterprise.

Asked to chase a revised target of 138, captain Darren Bravo struck 40 off 35 deliveries to end as the tournament's leading scorer with 416 runs at an average of 83. Left-hander Nicholas Pooran finished the game in style with a sensational 20-ball unbeaten 39 as Red Force clinched victory in the 24th over.

"We always knew that if we controlled the power-play, the quality of our spinners coming into the back end of the innings would be a threat for them," said Bravo, featuring in his 200th List A game.

"Our fast bowlers [also] came on really nicely at the end of this tournament."

Hurricanes captain Alzarri Joseph lamented their under-par effort with the bat.

"It's clear - we didn't score enough runs. In a 50-over game and you only score 135, it will not win you the game," the West Indies fast bowler said.

"I think, all in all, we had a good tournament. We have to go back to the drawing board for next season."