NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force produced a limp performance as they slumped to a five-wicket defeat in their second game of the Regional Super50 here Sunday.
Sent in at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, Red Force could only muster a 193 all out off 48.3 overs, with all-rounder Roshon Primus top-scoring with 60, opener Kyle Hope getting 43 and Nicholas Alexis, 28.
Seamer Ivan Thomas was the best bowler with four for 51 while left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum (2-33) and veteran pacer Darren Stevens (2-39) supported with two wickets apiece.
Kent were never threatened in reply as opener Sean Dickson struck a brisk 56 off 67 deliveries to inspire the English County side to victory in the 37th over.
The right-hander struck seven fours and posted 85 for the first wicket with Daniel Bell-Drummond whose 35 came from 60 with four fours.
Both openers fell within 19 runs of each other, the 23-year-old Bell-Drummond lbw to leg-spinner Imran Khan in the 19th over and Dickson caught at square leg by Lewis off Jason Mohammed.
Stevens then blasted a quick-fire 43 off 36 balls with four fours and two sixes, putting on 67 for the third wicket with captain Sam Northeast who stroked a busy 31 from 40 balls.
The partnership effectively condemned Red Force to defeat and even though Kent lost three quick wickets for seven runs as seamer Ravi Rampauls struck late, the damage was already done.
Rampaul led Red Force with three for 46.
Red Force had earlier struggled to find their footing, and were never comfortably placed at any stage during their innings.
They were struggling at 43 for three after Evin Lewis (12), Kjorn Ottley (0) and Mohammed (0) perished cheaply, and it was left to the rookie Primus to rally the innings with his maiden half-century at this level.
He punched eight fours in a 72-ball innings, adding 45 for the fourth wicket with Hope who counted five fours in an 83-ball knock, and a further 65 for the fifth wicket with Alexis.
However, the late order acceleration never came as Red Force lost their last six wickets for 40 runs.
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Scores:
RED FORCE 193 off 48.3 overs (Roshon Primus 60, Kyle Hope 43, Nicholas Alexis 28; Ivan Thomas 4-51)
SPITFIRES 194 for five off 36.1 overs (Sean Dickson 56, Darren Stevens 43, Daniel Bell-Drummond 35)
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RED FORCE
E Lewis c wkp Rouse b Thomas 12
K Hope c Stevens b Haggett 43
K Ottley c wkp Rouse b Stevens 0
J Mohammed lbw b Stevens 0
R Primus b Qayyum 60
N Alexis b Thomas 28
*+D Ramdin c Stevens b Thomas 0
Imran Khan c Gidman b Thomas 16
R Emrit lbw b Qayyum 1
R Rampaul b Gidman 13
S Gabriel not out 1
Extras (lb4, nb1, w14) 19
TOTAL (all out, 48.3 overs) 193
Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-43, 3-43, 4-88, 5-153, 6-156, 7-157, 8-158, 9-185, 10-193.
Bowling: Haggett 9-0-26-1 Thomas 9.3-0-51-4, Gidman 10-1-40-1, Stevens 10-0-39-2, Qayyum 10-2-33-2.
KENT
D Bell-Drummond lbw b Imran Khan 35
S Dickson c Lewis b Mohammed 56
*S Northeast b Rampaul 31
D Stevens c (sub) Pierre b Rampaul 43
W Gidman c wkp Ramdin b Rampaul 0
A Blake not out 22
A Ball not out 0
Extras (lb3, w3, nb1) 7
TOTAL (5 wkts, 36.1 overs) 194
Did not bat: +A Rouse, C Haggett, Imran Qayyum, I Thomas.
Fall of wickets: 1-85, 2-104, 3-171, 4-171, 5-178.
Bowling: Rampaul 8-0-46-3, Gabriel 5-1-15-0, Primus 3-0-24-0, Emrit 6-0-28-0, Imran Khan 9-0-51-1, Mohammed 5.1-0-27-1.
Result: Kent Spitfires won by five wickets.
Toss: Kent.
Umpires: G Brathwaite, V Smith.
