Just imagine dominating your opponent for 37.3 overs out of the possible 40 overs and absolutely mucking it up in the 2.3 left of the game. Well, this is what occurred in the second semifinal with Jennings Tigers and CUB Bethesda Golden Eagles. Jennings literally took the game out of their back pocket and gave it to the opponent.
After limiting CUB Bethesda to a paltry 128 from 20 overs, the men from the south got off to a scorcher with that man again, George Munsey. He and Cabey put on 47 for the first wicket and had things under control for the first 6 overs. When he was dismissed, the score was 69 for 2 so it meant that they were scoring at the exact rate needed to win the game.
Skipper Orlando Peters was joined by Adrian Barron and the two put on 45 in 7 overs before the latter left been caught brilliantly behind by Deran Benta. And it was just nothing but nerves and panic that set in for the remaining fifteen balls.
Miller Brothers
Paul Miller walked out and nonchalantly left the first ball faced; a ball that he could have easily taken a single and put the set batsman Orlando Peters on strike. For the second ball, he attempted a cut shot to a ball pitched back of a length with a fourth stump line; too close to cut. On his final ball, he was beaten for pace and was comprehensively bowled facing three balls and leaving his team needing now 15 runs from 12 balls.
Older brother, Cameron Miller strolled out to the crease knowing the situation at hand decided to have a brain fade at the wrong time. After Orlando Peters got them back on par with the scoring by striking a four off the first ball of the 19th over, Tigers only needed 11 from 11 balls. He then hit a ball down to long on attempting two runs which looked possible until Cameron had a second opinion and stopped on his way back to the non-striker end. It resulted in Peters passing him at the striker’s end of the pitch. Miller decided to then complete the second run but Deran Benta quickly gathered the ball and sent it to the non-striker end where Miller was run out without scoring. Peters showed his frustration immediately at the other end.
Panic Set In!
Out came Jaheim Africa, another capable batsman for the Jennings Tigers with 10 runs from 9 balls decided on drive a ball airily to midwicket and effectively caught. So in the space of seven balls, we saw five runs scored, four wickets taken, three ducks walked and just about one over left.
Jedidiah Martin and Orlando Peters batted for the remainder of the innings. In the last over, Jennings needed 8 runs and the responsibility was given to West Indies Under 19 speedster, Kelvin Pitman. Peters was able to get 3 twos from the first five balls as the youngster bowled quick not allowing the batter to score fluently as he is known to do. On the last ball of the over, the Tigers needed to score two runs to win and just one run to take the game into a super over but failed to do so ingloriously. Peters missed the ball which went straight to wicketkeeper Benta, who effected a run-out as the batsmen attempted a run.
After dominating their group and 37.3 overs of the second semifinal, Jennings Tigers will have to settle for a third-place finish. Kudos to CUB Bethesda for playing fighting and determined cricket. All the best to the tea, of Finals Day!