With three teams on the 16 points, the pressure was indeed on. Rising Sun Spartans, All Saints Pythons and Pigotts Crushers were under great pressure on the weekend as they all knew how important wins on the weekend would help their cause. The scenario presented the case where two would go through to the semi finals.
All Saints seemed to have the best opportunity at qualifying for the next round since they were playing Jennings & Combined Schools and their star fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph would be donning the navy blue uniform, but unfortunately it was not to be so. Jennings delivered a great upset and joining Pythons on 16 points, consequently putting them on the back foot going into the next game where they knew it was a ‘must win’.
I Elsewhere, Pigotts beat Bolans comprehensively to move up to 20 points, while CUB Bethesda trounced Spartans by 26 runs. This meant that Pigotts could breathe a bit easier for the next game against New Winthorpes Lions. As a result of those games on Saturday, a new scenario was presented. Jennings being on 16 points just needed to beat Rising Sun on Sunday and they would be in their first Semi-final. Rising Sun needed to beat Jennings and hope that Combined Schools could upset All Saints Pythons having lost to Pythons in the 3rd Round.
On Sunday, as expected All Saints were better than their previous game, chalking up a big total after a reduced game due to inclement weather. They then strangled Combined Schools batting line up with early wickets from their fast bowling in Joseph and Peters. The Pythons continued their squeeze with 17 year old leg spinner Rasheed Henry who took 5 scalps. They won comprehensively, but immediately had to turn their attention to the game at Rising Sun.
The Rising Sun vs Jennings game was very valiantly fought out by the two teams. Rising Sun posted a fairly challenging total where Shaquan Hewlett smashed 91. Jennings knew what was at stake and truly gave a fight but with the steady fall of wickets proved futile and too much work for the lower middle order. Winston “Hama” Nelson, batted and batted very well restoring a sense of belief that they could actually progress, however that was not so. After Nelson being out, Rising Sun quickly wrapped up the game .
In the other game, Pigotts beat the New Winthorpes Lions as they defended the total they posted. This meant that Pigotts would finish in 3rd position with 24 points, while Pythons and Spartans ended on 20 apiece to tie for 4th position. It then came down to head to head ruling which Pythons, having beaten Spartans, claimed 4th place. It means now that All Saints will meet Liberta, while Empire and Pigotts will battle for supremacy on the 23rd of March 2019.