ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Barbados Pride and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will renew one of the fiercest regional cricketing rivalries when they clash in the eagerly anticipated semifinals of the West Indies Championship here on Sunday.
The two teams will do battle at the Coolidge Cricket Ground for a chance to meet the Guyana Harpy Eagles in next week’s final.
Both teams qualified for the playoffs in contrasting fashion in their bilateral series, with the Red Force easing past the Leeward Islands Hurricanes. At the same time, the Pride was made to fight tooth and nail before getting past the Jamaica Scorpions.
Those results saw the Red Force finish second with 53.6 points, while the Pride placed third with 42.2 points.
The Pride will be looking for revenge after being thrashed by the Red Force by an innings and 56 runs inside two days in their last encounter in 2025.
Their confidence will be high heading into the playoff match, as they boast the most 300-plus team totals in the tournament and feature the competition’s leading scorer, Kevin Wickham, who has amassed 371 runs in four innings at an average of 123.66.
The Pride’s bowling, however, has been a concern. In their three matches against the Scorpions, they only managed to take 20 wickets on a single occasion.
In an effort to bolster their bowling attack, the Pride has replaced out-of-form fast bowler Jair McAllister with Akeem Jordan.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite said he was looking forward to an all-around performance from his side.
“Overall, I just want to see discipline in both departments, but especially bowling.
“Batting-wise we had four innings where we scored above 300 plus, but I think we still need to make improvements all round; batting, bowling, and getting better in the field, because there are always things to work on and we can’t take things for granted because we have to get stronger,” Brathwaite said.
The Red Force, on the other hand, will also be confident heading into the matchup as they boast two of the leading fast bowlers in the tournament.
West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales, who has so far taken 13 wickets in two matches, returns to the squad after being rested in their last match, while Anderson Phillip’s 17 wickets are the most by a pace bowler this season.
Captain Joshua Da Silva is also coming off a career-best 220 against the Hurricanes in the last round and is the fourth-highest run scorer with 318 runs.
While admitting he was satisfied with his team’s performance to date, Da Silva said he would not underestimate Barbados.
“It is about getting back to the basics and the drawing board by sharpening up a few skills that we may need for the upcoming games, but all in all, the team is gelling well.
“We have a good core here that I think can take us to the final and win it,” Da Silva said.
SQUADS
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RED FORCE: Joshua Da Silva (captain), Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper, Jyd Goolie, Terrence Hinds, Joshua James, Amir Jangoo, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Khary Pierre, Anderson Phillip, and Jayden Seales.
BARBADOS PRIDE: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Joshua Bishop, Jediah Blades, Leniko Boucher, Roston Chase, Jonathan Drakes, Akeem Jordan, Johann Layne, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Shamar Springer, Jomel Warrican, and Kevin Wickham.
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