Featured Game
The 2020 ABCA Two Day Competition was off to an exciting start on Saturday 8th February 2020. We saw the defending champions Piggots Crushers taking on the ABCA State Insurance 40 Overs champions Empire Nation at the Pigotts playing field. Batting first, the men from Grays Green posted 225 all out with ‘Captain Courageous’, Justin Athanaze, top scoring with 44, while Kenrick Scott and Tariq Benjamin ably supported with 43 and 34 respectively.
When the champions went to bat, they started pretty solidly but youth seemed to get the best of Captain Elroy Francis. After the fall of the first wicket at 26, the second pair batted valiantly adding 52 before Hilroy Andrew was bowled by the mystery spin of Athanaze. Then, the unexpected happened. Both Benta who only faced two balls and the fearsome ‘ball beater’ Javier “Ice” Drew were also comprehensively bowled mere balls apart. It meant that three valuable wickets fell in the seventeenth over and Athanaze was on a hat trick. However, some resistance was offered by former Rising Sun batsman, Kadeem Henry who made 49.
It seemed as if the Crushers would be bowled out before the end of the day but Jewel Andrew answered the call. The 13 years old appeared to be batting on a pitch different to his other teammates. He handled both spin and pace quite comfortably, certainly showing his class above the rest. He batted with the tail, but the tail had ideas of their own or was it that Justin Athanaze (14.2-6-34-7) was just too good. They eventually were bowled out for 142.
But let’s talk about Empire’s Second Innings. No doubt rain was around, but 8 runs per over in a Two Day game? Sounds like a nation marching towards a goal. Pigotts drew first blood when Treverson Atley removed Tyrone Williams Jr but then Mr. Burton walked out to bat and the rest was history. He slammed the bowlers to all parts of the field with little sweat before departing for 56 from 36 balls at a strike rate of 155.56. But it wasn’t over just yet. Captain Courageous came in and faced 10 balls; 4 of which somehow got over the ropes. Nation eventually declared for 163 for 6 from 21 overs.
Setting a target of 246, Omali Heyliger quickly removed Francis Jr. which definitely put a damper to the run chase. Soon after, Shane Burton took care of H. Andrew who was bowled for the second time in the match. But Henry and Benta batted until the heavens opened up and there was no more play after.
Elsewhere
SIC Jennings got first innings to PIC Liberta. Left arm spinner Glenton Williams picked up 6 wickets for 21 runs as he was well supported by former Bolans and veteran all-rounder Orlando Peters who took 4 for 14. The Liberta batsmen were simply hapless against these two bowlers as they faltered to 106 all out. Jennings then posted a total of 214 for 7 declared with Paul Miller top scoring with 73.
But amazingly, the Liberta men seemed to have gotten some good night rest and were different players on Sunday. In their second innings they posted 147 in 17 overs until the rain had other ideas. Amahl Nathaniel, a former player of the All Saints Pythons smashed 5 sixes and 5 fours in an unbeaten 68, not forgetting Kioni Greenaway who smashed 48 from 28 balls.
At the Rising Sun Grounds, All Saints Pythons were privileged to have their ace player in their ranks for a few hours. They won the toss and decided to bowl and dismissed the home team for a paltry 95 with former Rising Sun player, Rodney Williams picking up 5 scalps.
When the Pythons took their turn to bat, spectators were treated to a delight of immaculate hitting by West indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph. The batsman toyed with the bowling of Rising Sun Spartans as he hit 7 sixes in a 40 ball 82. He was well supported by Malik Marcellin’s 32 but just when everything seemed to be going great, Joseph fell caught and bowled to G. Harillal. The pair put on 118 for the second wicket after Michael Dover went for a duck in the first over. From a solid position of 118-1, the men from All Saints were bowled out for 176.
With an 81 run lead, All Saints met up some counter attacking play from openers, Tassilo Allen and Shacoy Floyd (former CUB Bethesda Golden Eagles player) who put on 95 for the first wicket. But then they quickly tumbled to 114-5 at end of play for Day 1. At the resumption of play on Day 2, All Saints were able to reduce Rising Sun to 149-7 but Harillal and Melvin Charles had other plans. The two scored at will and put on 82 in 10 overs which increased their lead as they began to set a target for All Saints Pythons. But after Harillal fell, Pythons still could not stem the flow of runs, as Melvin Charles registered the first century of the 2020 edition.
Rising Sun was eventually bowled out for 276 setting a target of 195 for the Pythons. With many rain interruptions during the day, it was only likely that the same would occur in the end and so it did. At the close of play, Pythons were 59-3 with Harillal picking up two wickets and Xaiver Marshall picking up one.
New Winthorpes beat Bolans by an innings and 2 runs. The game at New Winthorpes was shifted to the Sugar Factory Grounds as they were unable to have their field match fit. However, Bolans were inserted in by the men from Blizzard and got off to a solid start with the first and second wicket falling at 39 runs before Shavon Moore made a double blow to remove the openers. However, there was little resistance presented from the batting order as they were quickly bundled out for 109 in 35 overs. Zavear Otto was the pick of the bowlers as the wickets were shared amongst them. Otto and Dishon Henry picked up 3 scalps each while Moore and Asher Cornelius took two each.
After the innings break, Bolans were able to strike back in the 3rd over but Jamaul Fernandez quickly steadied the ship as he found support from Roland Francis. Fernandez batted in one day mode smashing 9 fours and a six in a boundary laden 43. However, after the fall of Francis, the men from Bolans continually made inroads in the batting lineup. But someone forgot to remind the bowlers that Moore was no slouch with the bat. He batted with little trouble as he anchored the innings with wickets falling all around him. He top scored with 53 as the New Winthorpes mean rolled over for 178.
With a lead of 69 runs, Bolans were bowled out for 67 runs thus giving the men from Blizzard their first win of the season. It was that man again Moore who contributed to the demise of the men from south. This time he joined forces with Cornelius and both took 3 wickets each. Jevaughn James top scored with 18 as no other batsman scored more than 11. The duo were well supported by Henry, Otto and Peters. NW are now leaders after round one of the ABCA competition.
Combined Schools traveled to Bethesda for their encounter with the home team but rain disrupted proceedings on the first day. After the second day was fit for play, the schoolboys batted with some purpose as they made 45 for the first wicket. Kelvin Pitman coming back from injury made the breakthrough much desired for the country men. Schools were able to build some decent partnerships with contributions from Malique Walsh and captain Essan Warner who made 36 and 31 respectively, but fell away in the end as the pace of Jawakie Joseph seemed too much for them to handle. He picked up 4 wickets and was assisted by the unknown player of M. Hiarsham who picked up 3. Combined Schools were eventually bowled out for 173 in 49 overs.
When the innings came for the men from east, they seemed quite focused on getting the first innings before the rain disrupted the game again. However, their better than a run a ball strike rate was all in vain as the rain came down causing the match to be abandoned. Jalen Francis picked up the only two wickets as Bethesda made 67-2 from 11 overs. Kevin Pitman was left unbeaten on 34 with skipper Daren Benta. The team will now focus on round two on the weekend.