Recently appointed head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Rayad Emrit, has urged his team to stay humble and focused, even after a strong start in the West Indies Championship. The Red Force is gearing up for their third-round match against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Warner Park, St Kitts, starting Wednesday. The Hurricanes, after beginning their campaign with a win against the West Indies Academy, currently lead the standings with 45.4 points, following a five-wicket victory over the Jamaica Scorpions. The Red Force trails closely behind with 44.4 points, holding third place.
Despite two impressive victories—an innings and a 75-run win over the Combined Campuses and Colleges, followed by an innings and a 176-run win against the Windward Islands Volcanoes—Emrit stressed the importance of maintaining focus. “We are taking each game as it comes. We are not thinking too far ahead. We are off to a very good start, and we want to maintain this momentum throughout the tournament. The Leeward Islands will be a tough challenge,” he stated.
With the Hurricanes at the top of the table, they present a formidable challenge, but Emrit is confident in his team’s discipline and preparation. “As long as we control what we can control and do our part, the results will take care of themselves. I am pleased with our current position and hope we can continue to improve,” he emphasized.
Looking back on their latest victory against the Volcanoes, Emrit praised his team for their performance. The Red Force excelled in the day/night match, with Khary Pierre achieving a career-best bowling performance, taking 12 wickets in total, including an impressive 8 for 27 in the second innings, leading to the Volcanoes being bowled out for just 114 runs.
On the batting side, standout performances from Cephas Cooper, who scored 117, and Jason Mohammed, who contributed 103, helped the Red Force amass 456 runs in their first innings, paving the way for a dominant win. “It was a comprehensive victory. The bowlers did their job, and the batters performed excellently. Cephas Cooper deserved his maiden century; he showed great maturity,” Emrit reflected.
Mohammed, playing in his 100th first-class match for Trinidad and Tobago, continued his excellent form, having scored 176 in the opening match against the Combined Campuses and Colleges. He is now only the second Red Force player to reach this milestone, joining Imran Khan in this exclusive group. “He demonstrates why he is a valuable player, leveraging his experience to lead the batting. Many of the younger players are learning from him,” Emrit remarked.
He also noted impressive innings from Amir Jangoo, who scored in the 80s, and Yannic Cariah, who was dismissed for 95, highlighting their potential to drive the batting forward. Emrit could not praise Khary Pierre enough for his leadership in the bowling attack. “He has been instrumental in keeping things tight for us over the years, and in the last two matches, he has taken over 20 wickets. We are truly enjoying each other’s success,” he concluded. (Sportsmax)
