An inexperienced team filled with youngsters to begin with and not many would have expected them to win much of anything. They were led by the Cool N Smooth T20 MVP Mr. Kofi James who demonstrated what leadership was all about. He was the only player in the team with regional cricket experience and it was enough to help his team win the competition. The core of the team was set up around batting prodigy Jewel Andrew, the handyman Demari Benta and the resilient Glenton Williams.

These four players were expected to carry the team through the tournament but it didn’t always work out that way. What worked well for the Rangers than any other team was that it had contributions from more players than just a few. It wasn’t just Kofi James and Glenton Williams (Most Wickets in the Tournament) that carried the team only, but support from Jahvaughn James, Miandre James, Brent Joseph, Uri Smith, Tariq Benjamin, Jewel Andrew and Malik Marcellin gave this team an advantage above the rest.

To rub some salt in the wounds of many, this team had fringe players from the Liberta Blackhawks and Empire Nation who got limited opportunities in recently held Cool N Smooth T20 Competition. The likes of fast bowler Miandre James bowled brilliantly using his height and skills to bamboozle batsmen mixing his pace up intelligently; the diminutive all-rounder Brent Joseph bowled the new ball with guile and tenacity having batters looking for turn but drifted them instead; Jahvaughn James bowled with pace and skills having the ability to crank it up, get lateral movement off the pitch and changed his pace at will.

Furthermore, the team was victorious over teams that had managers and coaches who were well versed, more experienced than they had. Rockets had Leeward Islands Assistant Coach, Wilden Cornwall Sr, Abdiel Hughes at Pacers, Ian Tittle at Hawksbills, Ajarni Frederick at Renegades, Eldine Baptiste and Sylvester Joseph at Chargers. Coaching his first senior team at any level was Rangers Coach, Physical Education Teacher Mr. Andra Samuel who was able to keep a young team teeming with talent and ability motivated and focused on the task and he did just that.

In summary, Rangers didn’t have the experience but they wanted to win more than their opponents; didn’t have the big names but they were willing to make a name for themselves; they were more balanced and disciplined in their approach to the games than all other teams and finally they were the youngest team in the competition. Congratulations Rangers! Job well done!

Highlights:

Rahkeem Cornwall (Most Runs – 356 Runs | Highest Score – 98 & MVP)

Glenton Williams (Most Wickets – 17)

Kofi James (Most Catches)

Demari Benta (Most Wicketkeeping Dismissals)

The first-ever Joma Caribbean T10 final will bowl off later today, the 12th of May, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, with skippers Hayden Walsh and Kofi James competing. The two Liberta Blackhawks teammates will meet in the grand finale at 9:30 PM, with a third-place playoff happening at 7 PM between the Rockets and Hawksbills.

Both teams have had a rollercoaster ride to the final. After the tournament’s first four matches, the Chargers were last on the points table, and the Rangers, not far behind, sat in fourth place with just one win in four games. However, Walsh and James’s all-round solid performances and good leadership have taken their respective team to the final.

The Rangers relied on their captain, who was mightily important, scoring the seventh most runs in the tournament with 190 in eleven innings while scalping eleven wickets. In their comfortable semi-final win against the Hawksbills, a youthful spin attack suffocated the Justin Athanaze-led Hawksbills, restricting them to just 43 in ten overs, with the pick of the bowlers being Meandre James, who bowled 2-4 in his two overs. Young Antiguan left-arm spinner Glenton Williams continues to be a revelation with the most wickets in the tournament at 14 in eleven matches and an economy of just 5.48.

In semi-final two, Hayden Walsh and his Chargers pulled off a massive upset on the former tournament favorite, the Rockets, led by Rahkeem Cornwall. Walsh selected a young team, but his experienced management group consisting of former West Indies players Eldine Baptiste and Sylvester Joesph has found a way to inspire the team. Walsh’s Liberta teammate Amahl Nathaniel who played just one game at this year’s Cool & Smooth T20, has led the way with the bat scoring the second most runs in the tournament so far, averaging over 30 with a strike rate of 130. Orlando Peters has also chipped in with the 5th most runs and a responsible, match-winning 32 to place them into the final.

This matchup could come down to the best bowling lineup in the tournament packed with young, exciting, and skilled spinners in the Rangers up against the experienced Chargers, who also have their skipper Hayden Walsh who can provide a surge with both bat and ball. It is all to play for in the first-ever Joma Caribbean T10 final!

By Isaac Lockett

Following the exciting final of the 2023 Cool and Smooth T20 that saw the Empire Nation lift the trophy, it is time to reflect. Over 14 days of cricket, new names have come to the forefront of Antiguan domestic cricket as local talent emerged throughout the tournament and international talent showed their class.

The Empire Nation are the newly crowned champion after beating the Liberta Blackhawks on the final day to halt the Blackhawks’ dominance. The Nation finished the group stage with a record of four wins and three losses, then went on to win both knock-out matches during a thrilling run in the tournament which saw them also take part in the tournament’s only super over. After captain Kenrick Scott lifted the trophy, other teams will see the Nation as the team to beat in 2024, with the Blackhawks looking to return to the top while teams like the Bolans Blasters have a young core of players who will only be better for the experience.

When speaking to Nikhil Uttamchandani, homegrown hero and regional representative Kofi James made it known that he was looking to use the tournament as a springboard to get the attention of the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots coaches after being a part of their development side. After scoring 330 runs, averaging 47.14 and a strike rate of 143.48, James finished as the top run scorer at the event where batting was not always easy on spin-friendly pitches. The runs combined with 13 wickets got the attention of the fans at the Cool and Smooth T20 and showed the opportunity the tournament can give players. U19 starlet Jewel Andrew finished second in the run-scoring charts with 324 runs after a successful season for the Piggots Crushers, which saw Andrew’s stock rise across the Nation. Kittian cricketer Mikyle Louis finished third after scoring 264 runs.

In terms of wickets, the top wicket takers were all spin bowlers, as Empire Nation leg spinner Micah Mckenzie finished top of the pile with 17 wickets. Liberta Blackhawks and West Indies international Hayden Walsh Jr. finished second with 15 wickets, with the lowest economy out of any top wicket takers with 4.23. Jennings Tigers bowler Glenton Williams claimed third place in the wicket-taking charts after taking 14.

Through Cricket District and the hard work of individuals such as Melinda Farrell, Nikhil Uttamchandani and Toby Marriott, the tournament saw more social media coverage and interaction than ever. This growth is only the planned start for the tournament, with growth expected to continue for years to come, with the Cool and Smooth T20 hoped to become a staple on the Caribbean cricket calendar that gets support from across the area.

It was only possible to host the tournament with the work of the sponsors who helped the tournament reach its potential this year. The tournament organizers look forward to working with the sponsors again to put on another cricket festival. 

Finally, a thank you to all the fans that supported the tournament, whether on social media or at the ground. It was fantastic to see the passion both online and at the stunning Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, and hopefully, the attendance will only grow as the tournament continues. Without fans, cricket is nothing, and the sport cannot grow.

By Isaac Lockett

The final day of the 2023 Cool and Smooth T20 was upon us, and fans were going to see who would lift the trophy after 14 days of spectacular action set against the stunning backdrop of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Before the final, the bronze medal match saw the Pigotts Crushers take on the Bolans Blasters. During the group stage, the Crushers won the fixture by 105 runs, but another one-sided match seemed unlikely. After batting their opponents out of the game last time, Crushers captain Elroy Francis won the toss and elected to bat. But it would be the Blasters who would start the game on the front foot, dismissing both opening batters within the first two overs. Martin Caesar impressed with the ball for the Blasters finishing with figures of 2-23 from four overs, claiming the early wicket of Francis (3 off 7) but was then made to wait before picking up his second wicket. Jewel Andrew and Leniko Boucher combined for a partnership of 96 off 62 balls to stabilise the Crushers’ inning. Andrew has been one of the finds of the tournament and brought up his third half-century of the tournament as he claimed the second spot on the run chart after his inning of 64 off 52. Boucher played the aggressor in the partnership scoring 42 off 26, ensuring that the Crushers’ had a launching pad to set a challenging total. Cameos from Kadeem Henry (20 off 16) and Demari Benta (27 off 15) saw the batting side post 171-6.

The Blasters were missing Scotland captain Richie Berrington, their star batter throughout the tournament scoring 256 runs. This loss meant that  Rowan Watkins Jr was playing in only his second game of the tournament opening the batting with an in-form Kerry Mentore. Unfortunately for the Blasters, Mentore was dismissed early in the reply for eight off 12 balls by Demari Benta (1-7). The Crushers’ bowlers were able to make scoring difficult for the Blasters, with the run rate ever climbing as Tremors Athley finished with 1-15 from his four-over spell during his first match of the tournament. Watkins Jr (27 off 32), Gavin Williams (28 off 17) and Derek Mourillon (26 off 27) were the only batters to reach double figures as the Blasters ran out of time, finishing with 129-6 from their 20 overs. The Pigotys Crushers finished third in the tournament after their 42-run victory.

After the Crushers’ victory, attention then turned to the tournament finale. The Liberta Blackhawks had only lost one game in three years and were defending champions; however, the Jennings Tigers proved that during 2023 the team was not unbeatable. The question for the Nation would be how their batting order would cope with the spin-bowling attack of the Blackhawks, as this is where many teams had come unstuck this season.

After deciding to bowl first, the Blackhawks made the perfect start, with Leeward Islands Hurricanes bowler Javier Spencer claiming Mikyle Louis’ wicket during the match’s first ball. But through Tyrone Williams Jr and Matthew Cross, the Nation ensured that they were not going to be blasted out of the contest. The pair combined for a 33-run partnership, with Cross being dismissed for 21 off 13. Opening batter Williams Jr. continued onto the 15th over, scoring 42 off 41 playing an anchor role. The Nation competed against West Indies internationals Hayden Walsh Jr (2-20) and Rahkeem Cornwall (1-22), who both bowled beautifully. The Nation could not increase the scoring rate during the later stages of their inning, but through Kenrick Scott (35 off 36) and Justin Athanaze (13 off 11), the scoreboard continued to tick over. After their 20 overs, the Nation scored 145/8.

Chasing 146 to win meant the Blackhawks had an opening-required run rate of 7.3. However, Kofi James made early in-roads during the chase scoring 30 off 19 balls making the required run rate drop. Leroy Lugg also contributed 19 off 16. However, after both opening batters were dismissed, there was a middle-order collapse as the scoreboard went from 53-1 to 69-5. Damian Lowenfield came into the Nation’s side for his first game of the tournament. He finished with figures of 3-15, picking up the prestigious wickets of Karima Gore and Cornwall, as he combined with Justin Athanaze (2-7) and Micah McKenzie (4-16) during a superb middle-over bowling effort. Whilst the required run rate was not an issue for the Blackhawks, Andre Bailey (11 off 19) was the only other batter to make double figures as the Nation looked on course to win the title. What some thought was impossible was confirmed when Athanaze dismissed Oliver Davidson as the defending champions were bowled out for 99 after 16.1 overs.

The Empire Nation are the winner of the 2023 edition of the Cool and Smooth T20. 

By Isaac Lockett

Four teams were one step away from the final on day 14 at the Cool and Smooth T20. Before any team could think about lifting the trophy, there was the simple equation of winning their semi-final. Knock-out cricket can often lead to unexpected outcomes, and rain only added another element to the mix.  

The Empire Nation won the toss in the first semi-final and asked the Piggotts Crushers to set a total. Nathan Edward (1-26) claimed the early wicket of Leniko Boucher (6 off 8), but the third wicket partnership between Kristan Kallicharan and Jewel Andrew was impactful. Kallicharan, who hit a half-century during the group stage, looked in impressive form and found the boundary with some regularity during a 52-ball 71. Andrew complimented Kallicharan’s inning through a more supporting role before looking to increase his scoring rate. Andrew finished with 52 off 51 balls during a tournament where he has got a lot of people wondering what comes next for him after impressing throughout the tournament. Micah McKenzie was more expensive than usual for the Nation but picked up 2-41 from his four overs as the Crushers finished with 159 runs on the board.

The threat of rain then turned into a reality with a rain break, meaning that the Nation’s chase was shortened with their target adjusted. After DLS was introduced, the Nation required 125 from 15 overs. This change told that the Nation needed a run rate of 8.33 compared to 7.95, which may not sound like a lot but in T20 cricket, every run counts. Mikyle Louis has been impressive all tournament for the Nation, and he handled the semi-final pressure well, scoring 36 off 26, along with fellow opening batter Tyrone Williams Jr (22 off 17). The pair put on 43 for the first wicket, putting the Nation on track to chase the target. However, four wickets fell between the 7th over and the 10th, meaning that the run rate was climbing and the Crushers were in the driving seat. All-rounder Justin Athanaze has been a common feature with both bat and ball for the Nation and has put in some impressive performances. Athanaze displayed a combination of power-hitting and the ability to run well between the wickets as he finished on 29* off 17. But the question was whether the innings from Athanaze was enough to help the Nation over the line. It all came down to the last over, as Andrew, who had not bowled a ball in the tournament up to this point, was tasked with defending nine runs from the last over. After Tariq Benjamin (11* off 7) hit the second ball for four and then took a single off the fourth ball, it was over to Athanaze. The batter needed three of two balls. After hitting the fifth ball for a two, the scores were level, meaning that if it was a dot ball, the teams would have been headed for a super over. However, nerves were held as Athanaze found a single off the last ball to secure the Nations’ spot in the final. 

In the second semi-final, defending champions the Liberta Blackhawks came up against the Bolans Blasters. The Blackhawks have only lost one game in the last three years, but the Jennings Tigers proved that the juggernaut was not impenetrable. Unfortunately, the spin-bowling attack of the Liberta Blackhawks proved to be the undoing of the Blasters, as they lost wickets are regular intervals during the first inning. The Blackhawks bowled 13 overs of spin during the first inning, with those overs combining for 9-54. The final wicket came from a run-out as the Blasters were bowled out for 87 after 17 overs. Tajeja Tonge top scored with the Blasters with 21 off 30, but the score always looked under par. Andre Bailey picked up two wickets for the Blackhawks from his only over to finish with 2-2, while Hayden Walsh Jr finished his four overs for 2-20.

The chase was beyond what anybody could have predicted at the halfway point. The opening pair of Kofi James and Leroy Lugg chased down the target in rapid time as Jamaican Lugg demolished the bowling. On his way to 43* off 16 balls, Lugg hit five sixes and two fours, while James finished with 27 off 15 as the Blackhawks romped home by ten wickets chasing down the target in 4.2 overs. The final is now locked in, with the Empire Nation taking on the Liberta Blackhawks in what will be a winner takes all encounter.

By Isaac Lockett

Recently, Nikhil Uttamchandani spoke with Kofi James and Leroy Lugg to talk about the Cool and Smooth T20 from their different perspectives. James and Lugg are playing for the highflying Liberta Blackhawks side heading into the semi-final, having won six out of seven games, but their paths leading to this point are polarised. Antiguan national James came into the tournament off the back of scoring his first first-class hundred during the most recent West Indies red-ball domestic season.

The batting all-rounder played in every game for the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, establishing himself in the team at 25 years old, and found success finishing the tournament as the 15th-highest run scorer. Despite this success, James is yet to make his professional T20 debut. But he was coming into the tournament after being a part of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ development group

Jamaican Leroy Lugg has been around the Scorpions set-up since 2022 and, at 26 years old, has made an impressive start to his career, averaging 22.94 opening the batting. Lugg was a late addition to the Blackhawks’ side following Jahmar Hamilton’s withdrawal and was coming into the tournament as an overseas player. Lugg has made his T20 debut in the Caribbean Premier League for the St Lucia Kings against the Trinbago franchise against the likes of Tim Seifert and Kieron Pollard but is playing in new surroundings.

Expectations For The Tournament

Both players were asked about their expectations of the tournament, and it is clear that the Cool and Smooth T20 is making waves across the Caribbean region. When asked what he expected from the tournament, Lugg replied, ‘ I have been following the tournament over the last couple of years, and I expected the tournament to be of a high standard’ and made it clear that he was coming to Antigua to challenge himself. Further elaborating on his response, the opening batter explained that his ‘mindset was pretty straightforward. I came here to improve my cricket and play under lights as back home in Jamaica, I don’t have this type of luxury’.

For James, ”It is more than just coming to play cricket; I am still looking to improve my game a lot. I am still learning and looking to develop my game and into a good leader’. This hunger has proved to stand the versatile player in good stead, as he currently sits at the top of the runs-scoring charts hitting the 2023 tournament’s first and only hundred and has taken 11 wickets, including the tournament’s only hat trick. For James, his eyes are on the big picture.  

‘I’ve been doing well; I think I can do a little bit more. But personally, I just want to achieve as much as I can. For the last few tournaments, I missed out on MVP, scoring the most runs or taking the most wickets so this year I am looking to collected as many awards as I can’.   

Walking Into The Blackhawks Changing Room For James, who is playing on home turf, walking into the Blackhawks dressing room ‘hasn’t been that difficult because I am playing with a lot of players I have played with over the years’. However, he is walking into the changing room he knows so well with a different role this year.

After finding stability in the Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ dressing room, James walked into the Cool And Smooth T20 as a regional player, which comes with different pressures. When asked about the differences, the all-rounder explained that ‘the guys look up to me even more as a senior player in the squad … they expect more of me with the ball, the ball, in the field and my leadership’.

The Cool And Smooth T20 has concentrated on creating a welcoming environment for all and has developed a healthy balance of international talent integrating with the homegrown players. The 2023 edition of the tournament has seen a host of Scottish players join the tournament alongside players from the USA, Australia and Barbados.

For Lugg, coming as an overseas player, there is always the question of adapting to the different cultures and environments around him alongside focusing on cricket. When asked about the difference between playing in Jamaica and Antigua, Lugg presented that ‘Jamaica and Antigua have similar cultures’, making the adaptation easier. But the title of being an overseas player introduced an additional element to the tournament. When explaining what it meant to him, Lugg provided an insight into his mentality; ‘I am not really looking at it as a pressure, but [I feel there is] a responsibility to get big scores because I am the overseas and a regional player’.

By Isaac Lockett

Day 12 at the Cool and Smooth T20 saw the final two group-stage matches before the tournament heads to the semi-finals. Before the day’s play, there were still places up for grabs in the top four to move into the first match of the day, which saw the Bolans Blasters take on the New Winthropes Lions.

The Lions won the toss and elected to field, which proved to be the right decision early on as batting was not easy. Scoring was slower than what is typically seen at a T20 as Mikkel Govia once again impressed with the ball finishing with figures of 1-11 from his four overs, while Michael Palmer finished with 2-13. But the Blasters ensured that they adapted their batting style to match the conditions instead of trying to force their way to a big total and lost wickets along the way. Kerry Mentore scored 34 off 52 to maintain his excellent run with the bat, while Orlando Peters (22 off 27) also played a controlled inning. As with every T20 inning, acceleration towards the back end of the inning can make such an impact, and Gavin Williams’ 22 off 12 balls helped to propel the Blasters to 105-4.

With a target of 106 to win, the Lions knew that controlling the run rate would be key to their chase. However, the Lions’ batters struggled to maintain time at the crease in the same way the Blasters’ batters could. Wickets were falling rapidly, and every bowler used by the Blasters’ claimed on, as captain Taiem Tonge (2-13) and Micheal Harilall (2-7) picked up two wickets each. Harilall finished the group stage with 11 wickets at an average of 8 and a staggering economy rate of 4.19. Bartlette Henry provided some resistance for the Lions scoring 18 off 23 from number 7. Ultimately, more was needed from the Lions, who fell 15 runs short.

After claiming their first win last time, the Bethesda Golden Eagles were looking to end their tournament on a high against the Jennings Tigers, who needed a win to cement their semi-final spot. The Tigers won the toss and elected to bat, but scoring was challenging as the other teams found it during the day’s first match. There were three runouts in the Tigers’ inning which did not help the cause, as the number 9 batter Glenton Williams top scored for the team with 18 off 18. Despite going wicketless, Timmo Thomas had a fantastic display with the ball conceding six runs from his four overs. At the same time, Anthony Martin picked up three wickets while involved in a runout. The Tigers’ reached 71 all out after their 20 overs, but with scoring proving difficult, there was still a chance.

Kevin Pitman opened the Golden Eagles’ batting and focused on helping the team secure the win. The wicket-keeper batter played a responsible knock top scoring with 21 off 26, putting a sizeable dent into the total. There was a risk that when he was dismissed, the chase could stop progressing, and pressure would rise. Shacoy Floyd (12 off 18) and Sadique Henry (15 off 10) reached double figures along with Pitman, so when a late run out did happen, it was too late to derail the Golden Eagles’ inning as they chased the total down at the 13.3 over mark. Winston Nelson picked up the Tigers’ best figures of the match finishing with 2-14.

These results meant that the Blasters finished in the top four alongside the Liberta Blackhawks, Empire Nation and Pigotts Crushers. While the Tigers, New Winthorpes Lions, All Saints Pythons and Golden Eagles all missed out.

By Isaac Lockett

After a rest day yesterday, the Cool and Smooth T20 action resumed on the island of Antigua with an action-packed doubleheader. At the start of the day’s play, there was only one win separating the Empire Nation and the All Saints Pythons; the Nation could almost guarantee a place in the semi-finals with a with while the Pythons needed a win to stay in contention to qualify.

After winning the toss, the Nation elected to bowl first and picked up wickets at regular intervals, with key batters Liam Naylor (0 off 5) and Matthew Forde (3 off 5) missing out. Micah McKenzie has been one of the bowlers of the tournament whilst playing in the green of the Nation and again showed how effective his leg spin is. McKenzie made the 15th over a memorable one, bowling a double wicket maiden and finished with figures of 3-11 from his four overs. The Pythons found resistance through Christopher McBride (24 off 16) and Michael Dover (35 off 27). However, the batting side only managed 95 before being bowled out. Alongside McKenzie, Justin Athanaze (3-15) and Mikyle Louis, who took three wickets in two balls to finish with figures of 1-2 off three balls after being called to bowl for the first time in the tournament, also impressed.

Defending 95 was always going to be a challenge for the Pythons. However, when Forde (1-22) claimed the wicket of Tyrone Williams Jr during the first over, there must have been some hope within the camp. This hope was quickly nullified by the Nation’s pairing of Mikyle Louis (42* off 26) and Matthew Cross (49* off 23), as the bowlers did not have a reply to the dominant hitting display. The partnership took the Nation from 0 to 100, helping the team win by nine wickets with 11.2 overs remaining. The win propelled the Nation to second in the table after the match with a 4-3 record with an impressive net run rate, meaning they have all but secured a spot in the semi-final.

The day’s second game saw the Jennings Tigers face off against the Piggots Crushers. The Crushers won the toss and elected to bat first, knowing that a win was needed. Jedidiah Martin (1-17) picked up an early wicket for the Tigers, as the Crushers found scoring difficult during the early stages. But captain Elroy Francis once again played a captain’s knock helping to solidify the batting sides position. Francis came in at four and found the boundary with regularity hitting seven fours and one six during his 41-ball 54. Enrique Drew came in to join his captain and further bolstered the scoring rate, hitting three sixes during a 13-ball 24. Glenton Williams (2-22) and Winston Nelson (1-18) bowled well for the Tigers during an inning that had lots of twists and turns. The Crushers set the Tigers 150-7, with the Tigers probably feeling that with 13 wides, they made their job more difficult.

During the second inning, the Tigers could not find any footholes to stabilise their chase as wickets fell at regular intervals, and only one batter scored more than 20. Tigers captain Paul Miller scored 26 off 27. However, it was not enough as the Tigers were reduced to nine wickets due to an injury to Almoyie Webster and were effectively bowled out for 70. Francis finished an impressive game with figures of 1-13 from his four overs, while Chris Greaves (2-5), Kadeem Henry (2-20) and Demari Benta (2-17) all picked up two wickets each.

The win boosted the Crushers to third in the table on net run rate. But there are four teams all tied on 15 points, meaning that the final round of group matches will be crucial. Everything is still to play for here in Antigua as we reach the conclusion of the group stage tomorrow.

By Isaac Lockett

Day 10 at the Cool and Smooth T20 saw two mouthwatering encounters with the runaway team, the Liberta Blackhawks, facing off against the All Saints Pythons in the first game. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the Pythons deployed a new opening combination in Scotland duo Christopher McBride and Liam Naylor. The two batters had been in good form across the tournament, and it seemed to make sense to give two in-form batters a chance to face as many balls as possible.

Naylor was dismissed early in the match for six off four balls. But his opening partner continued with James Clarke (30 off 27). But the always impressive Blackhawks spin-bowling attack picked up regular wickets. One of the many undercurrents in the match was two potential tournament MVPs facing off against each other in the form of Kofi James and Matthew Forde. During the first inning, James shone the brightest, finishing with figures of 4-17 from his three overs, while Oliver Davidson (2-13) and Hayden Walsh Jr (1-14) also impressed. McBride made the most of his opportunity at the top of the order scoring 78 from 64 balls as he top-scored in the Pythons’ total of 149-9.

During the run chase, the Blackhawks reverted to the top-order partnership of Kofi James and monster six-hitter Leroy Lugg. The pair represents one of the most experienced and explosive opening partnerships in the tournament, and they quickly made inroads in chasing the total. The pair reached 56 from 7.3 overs before James was dismissed by Demetri Lucas (1-43) for 21 off 23. Lugg was at his destructive best, with the bat hitting three fours and four sixes on his way to 48 off 38 balls and ensuring the Blackhawks had the wind behind them. Karima Gore, who came to the crease after James’ dismissal, also found impressive timing playing another crucial knock for the team. Gore has often been the batter to finish not out for the Blackhawks as they get over the line, and he did it again, finishing on 37 off 26 during a five-wicket win. With six wins out of seven, the Blackhawks have now confirmed their place in the semi-final.

In the day’s second game, the Empire Nation batters may feel disappointed that nobody could kick on to post a big score after four batters reached the 20-run mark against the Bolans Blasters. Justin Athanaze top-scored for the Nation scoring 32 off 32, while the impressive Darron Nedd scored 27 off 15. This game proved to be a special one for the experienced Kerry Mentore, starting with him finishing his four-over spell with 3-30. At the same time, Micheal Harilall continued to be one of the most economical bowlers in the tournament, only conceding 13 from his four overs and picking up two wickets. The Nation finished on 146-7 from their 20 overs, a score which looked competitive.

In the second inning, Scotland captain Richie Berrington and Mentore took leading roles. The pair opened the batting forming a partnership of 138 from 13 overs as they made light work of the chase. Despite neither being there to score the winning runs, Berrington finished on an almost flawless 87 from 46 balls during an inning that consisted of 14 fours, while Mentore hit nine fours on his way to 50 off 38. Nation’s bowler Micah McKenzie (1-20) bowled well amongst the carnage, but the team couldn’t shift the momentum of the Blasters, who completed their chase with more than five overs remaining.

Written by Isaac Lockett

The first match during Day 9 at the Cool and Smooth T20 saw the Piggots Crushers take on the winless Bethesda Golden Eagles. Heading into the game, the Golden Eagles had lost five matches in a row, but there is always a chance to rip up the form book in sport.

The Golden Eagles’ captain Deran Benta wanted the team to try and set a defendable total and bat first. Number 3 batter Sadique Henry found himself at the crease during the powerplay and had been the Golden Eagles’ top scorer during the competition. On another difficult surface to bat on, Henry began navigating through the Crushers’ efforts. Crushers captain Elroy Francis who is having an impressive tournament with the ball, picked up figures of 3-14 from his four overs as wickets continued to fall around Henry. But Henry continued until the last ball of the inning, hitting three boundaries and one six in an inning of 46 off 52 balls, helping the Golden Eagles reach 119-8 from their 20 overs.

During the Crushers’ response, U19 player Jewel Andrew played a similar role to Henry keeping his team in the chase throughout the second half of the match. Andrew has been having a tournament to remember and has now got a lot of people talking about him, wondering what comes next for the exciting keeper-batter. Fans saw a different side of the Crushers’ batter, responsibly anchoring the inning, scoring 42 off 45. The only significant difference was the number of extras between the two teams, with the Golden Eagles conceding seven to the Crushers’ 17. But when the final over started, both teams were in with a chance of winning. Andrew’s efforts ended on the first ball, meaning the equation was 17 off five balls. Despite being hit for a boundary, Golden Eagles captain Benta guided the team to their first win of the tournament. The experienced Anthony Martin was given the Player of the Match award for his exceptional 3-15 for the Golden Eagles.

The second game saw another masterclass from the Empire Nation’s Darren Nedd against the New Winthorpes Lions. However, before Nedd entered the arena, fans were treated to impressive knocks by Mikyle Louis (46 off 42) and Scotland international Matthew Cross (41 off 26). The Nation looked on course for another big first-inning score when Nedd came to the crease with the score on 92-2 after ten overs, and he wasted little time getting stuck in. Nedd hit three fours and three sixes during a 35-ball stay at the crease finishing not out on 51 taking his tournament tally to 135 at an average of 45. The Nation’s efforts saw them reach 183-3.

With 184 to win, the Lions needed to make the most of the powerplay. However, tight bowling from openers Javaughn James (1-27) and Justin Athanaze (0-21) prevented the Lions from getting the upper hand. Scotland international Michael Leask has been in fine form with both bat and ball for the Lions. Coming in at number four during this contest, Leask briefly swang the momentum back in his team’s favour. With sensational power hitting, Leask scored 47 off 27 balls; however, the other Lions batters couldn’t stick with him. Instead, Nedd was in the wickets disrupting Leask’s charge. Nedd finished with figures of 3-31, including the vital wicket of Leask, ensuring that the Nation picked up the win. The Lions were bowled out for 129-10, falling short by 54 runs.