Emrit, Da Silva want repeat from Red Force

As “comprehensive” as the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s three-day victory over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes was, on Tuesday, in their opening West Indies Four-Day Championship fixture, both coach Rayad Emrit and captain Joshua Da Silva are keen to see their side keep up the pressure in the second game of their three-match series in Antigua.

That match starts Sunday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound, and the Red Force will go into it full of confidence after their innings and 271-run romp at Coolidge, in their first game. “It’s just for us to build on this and continue,” Emrit told the Express yesterday on the team’s extra day off.Jangoo later picked up a hand injury while fielding but Emrit said yesterday, “it’s just a sprain, he should be good.”He also noted that Hinds’ century showed his value to the side. “We know how important his batting is in the lower order and that’s why it’s so important to have him in the team.”

The Hurricanes were limited to just 138 and 98 in their two innings, totals that combined, still fell well short of the Red Force’s 507 for five declared. “I thought we set it up really, really well when we bowled them out for 138,” Emrit said.However, like Emrit, Da Silva said there could be no relaxation on the field for the next match. Victory there would guarantee the Red Force’s progress to the playoff round. He therefore wants to see, “more aggressive cricket; just positive, not reckless.”