SVRS Grounds Staff Rebounds From Early Pitch Scare as WICB Championships Final Evenly Poised
By Neto Baptiste Play in the final of the West Indies Championships between the Guyana Harpy Eagles and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, resumed just after lunch on Sunday’s day one of the four-day clash after concerns over hazardous pitch conditions halted play just four deliveries into the clash at the Sir Vivian Richards […]
Black News 
By Neto Baptiste
Play in the final of the West Indies Championships between the Guyana Harpy Eagles and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, resumed just after lunch on Sunday’s day one of the four-day clash after concerns over hazardous pitch conditions halted play just four deliveries into the clash at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) at North Sound.
Luckily, there were no further pitch concerns with Red Force reaching 240 for nine off 62 overs at stumps after being asked to bat by the Harpy Eagles.
West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seals is not out on 63 off 71 deliveries with six fours and two sixes. Khary Pierre added 40 off 48 deliveries while Terrance Hinds and Jyd Goolie chipped in with 29 and 26 runs respectively.
Nial Smith was the pick of the bowlers for Red Force, claiming three wickets for 51 runs in 13 overs. there were two wickets each for Keemo Paul (2/16) Gudakesh Motie (2/45).
It was the second time in less than a month that pitch conditions at the country’s premier cricket venue had come under scrutiny.
Match officials, after just four balls, were forced to halt the match when Red Force batters complained that a delivery from fast bowler Nial Smith, removed bits of soil from the pitch. Commentators also revealed that there were concerns with some areas of the pitch ahead of the match.
In late April, a match between the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force was abandoned on the third day after Leeward Islands batsman, Jeremiah Louis, was struck on the helmet by a full length delivery from seamer Jayden Seales. Players and team officials had previously voiced concerns over the pitch.
Chief groundsman at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Norville Simon had, during an interview on the Good Morning Jojo Sport Show, accepted full responsibility following the abandonment of the West Indies Championships four-day fixture in April.
