Red Force end 20-year wait with ruthless fast-bowling masterclass

ST JOHN’S, Antigua — After years of frustration and near misses, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force finally reclaimed their place at the summit of regional four-day cricket on Wednesday, dismantling the Guyana Harpy Eagles with a devastating display of fast bowling to capture the West Indies Championship title for the first time in 20 years.

Led by a relentless pace attack featuring Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, Terrance Hinds and Joshua James, Red Force tore through the defending champions at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, dismissing them for just 139 in 35 overs shortly after lunch on the final day.

The emphatic victory handed Trinidad and Tobago their first regional four-day crown since 2006 and ended the Harpy Eagles’ hopes of securing a fourth consecutive championship.

Harpy Eagles collapse after early promise

The final morning began with both teams believing victory remained within reach.

The Harpy Eagles had been set a target of 281, challenging but attainable on a deteriorating surface, after wrapping up Trinidad and Tobago’s second innings with little delay.

Resuming the day at 265 for eight, Red Force added only two runs before the innings ended. Evin Lewis remained stranded on 122 after he was dismissed by Gudakesh Motie, while Veerasammy Permaul removed Phillip without scoring.

At that stage, momentum appeared to be shifting toward Guyana.

Instead, what followed was a complete unraveling.

Seales and Phillip strike early

The chase immediately descended into chaos once Seales and Phillip found their rhythm with the new ball.

Seales struck first, removing Matthew Nandu for a duck, before Phillip trapped Tagenarine Chanderpaul lbw to leave the Harpy Eagles reeling at nine for two inside four overs.

The defending champions never recovered from the early damage.

Captain Tevin Imlach briefly counterattacked with three boundaries during a quick-fire 16, but Seales removed him to tighten Red Force’s grip on the contest.

When Phillip then accounted for Kemol Savory, Guyana slipped deeper into crisis at 61 for four.

Red Force pace unit tightens the noose

With the pressure mounting, James entered the attack and continued the destruction.

He trapped Jonathan van Lange lbw for 10 and later dismissed Keemo Paul for 16, reducing the Harpy Eagles to 99 for six and placing the title firmly within Trinidad and Tobago’s grasp.

A brief resistance emerged through Kevlon Anderson and Motie, whose 29-run partnership for the seventh wicket represented the highest stand of the innings.

But even that stand only delayed the inevitable.

Once Seales removed Anderson for the top score of 41 from 68 balls, Hinds delivered the finishing blows.

Hinds cleans up the tail

The fast bowler wrapped up the innings with ruthless efficiency.

He bowled Motie for 18, had Shamar Joseph caught behind for five and then shattered the stumps of last man Nial Smith to trigger emotional celebrations among Red Force players and supporters.

Hinds finished with outstanding figures of 3-20, while Seales claimed 3-39. James supported effectively with 2-12, and Phillip added 2-63 as the four-man pace battery combined to produce one of the most decisive bowling performances of the regional season.

Long wait finally ends

For Trinidad and Tobago, the victory represented more than another trophy.

It marked the end of a 20-year championship drought and confirmed the return of Red Force as a dominant force in Caribbean first-class cricket.

After years spent watching others celebrate, they finally delivered a title-winning performance built on pace, discipline and relentless pressure when it mattered most.

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