Eagles pace attack rock Red Force on opening to give champs leading edge

May 18, 2026 Sports

2026/27 West Indies Regional 4-Day Championships Finals…GHE vs. TTRF Day 1…

Eagles pace attack rock Red Force on opening to give champs leading edge

The Red Force had a horrible opening day with the bat before being bailed out late in the innings.

***– TTRF 1st inns. (240-9 Seales 63*) entering Day 2***

By Clifton Ross

Kaieteur Sports – A burst of venom at the Sir Viv Richards Ground courtesy of the Guyana Harpy Eagles pace attack led by Nial Smith, assisted the champs as they wrestled first day honours from the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force following the close of play yesterday, when this season’s Regional 4-Day Championship Final got underway.

The long-time arch rivals locked horns again as part of their historic competitive story in regional cricket, this time with the Eagles seemingly drawing first blood thanks to their seamers somewhat imposing themselves onto the Red Force batting order.

After utter dominance from the spinners throughout the season, the seamers got some more time to play the starring roles, as Smith returned opening day figures of (3-51), with aid from two bowlers with international experience in Keemo Paul (2-16) and the dynamic Shamar Joseph (1-55); who recently returned from injury.

Left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie (2-45) and Veerasammy Permaul (1-58), struck late in the game.

acers Nial Smith and Keemo Paul ripped through the top order of the Red Force yesterday.

The Eagles controlled a stop/start day which was heavily influenced by rain amidst issues with the pitch; which stopped the game for a period before rain took over proceedings for a brief period, leaving the Red Force reeling on 240-9 after 62 overs by the time stumps arrived.

Red Force buckled under the pressure which was administered by the Harpy Eagles fast-bowlers, as Smith, Paul and Joseph rocked the top-order which reduced Trinidad to 84-5 in the 29th over during one stage of the innings.

After Paul and Smith snagged openers Cephas Cooper (18) and out-of-sorts West Indies player Evin Lewis (0), top-scorer Jyd Goolie hung around for his 59-ball 26 with 5 fours before joining the pair of openers after falling to a catch off Smith’s bowling.

With blood in the water, Paul, much like Smith, kept a consistent length during his spells, consistently baiting the Red Force batters as he found some movement off the seam and would soon add another wicket to his collection; this time the big fish in Jason Mohammed (14); who fell to a good catch by glove-man/skipper Tevin Imlach.

A marauding Smith then dealt back-to-back blows, first knocking off the stylish Amir Jangoo (4) after he too had his bat edge broken and was easily taken by Imlach; followed by the huge wicket of Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva for naught.

Lower-order utility players in Terrance Hinds and Khary Pierre sought to fend off the hostility from the opposition pacers, as both batsmen got into double figures courtesy of a few lusty blows; a few of which cleared the ropes.

After an impromptu dismissal, top-scorer Jayden Seales showed his class as a batsman notching up a brisk 63*; before stumps arrived to help ease any nerves heading into today.

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