LONDON — Half-centuries from compatriots Nico Reifer and Joshua Bishop have helped the WICB Invitational Under-15s to victory in the two latest matches on their tour of the United Kingdom.
Reifer cracked 60, spurring the WICB Under-15s to a 9-wicket victory over Hertfordshire Under-15s Thursday at West Herts, and Bishop scored a vital 57, propelling the visitors to a one-wicket victory over Barmy Army Colts Friday at Stanmore.
Summarised scores:
- At West Herts CC on Thursday, August 27: WICB Invitational Under-15s won by 9 wickets. HERTFORDSHIRE UNDER-15s 134 for 7 off 20 overs (A. Neal 39, A. Verdi 32, W. Latham 23 not out, O. Marin 22 not out; Collin Barlow 3-23, Nyeem Young 2-36). WICB INVITATIONAL UNDER-15s 135 for 1 off 17.2 overs (Nico Reifer 60, Crystian Thurton 42 not out, Kirstan Kallicharran 29 not out).
- At Stanmore CC on Friday, August 28: WICB Invitational Under-15s won by 1 wicket. BARMY ARMY COLTS 142 off 43.2 overs (A. Laws-Mather 40, W. Latham 25, A. Neal 24 not out; Raewin Senior 4-22, Johnnel Eugene 3-20, Nyeem Young 2-18). WICB INVITATIONAL UNDER-15s 143 for 9 off 37.5 overs (Joshua Bishop 57, Johnnel Eugene 30; C. Yorath 3-26, T. Stock 2-22, A. Neal 2-26)
The results were a welcomed boost for the WICB Under-15s, after the weather wreaked havoc with their two previous matches, which followed a 64-run defeat in their tour opener against London and East Region on Sunday.
On Thursday, Reifer, the younger cousin of former Barbados batsman and West Indies captain Floyd Reifer, smashed 5 fours and 4 sixes from 48 balls, as the visitors successfully chased 135 for victory in a Twenty20 contest at the Herts Under-15s.
Before he was the only scalp claimed by the Herts Under-15s, Reifer shared an opening stand of 91 with Crystian Thurton, whose run-a-ball 42 not out included five fours and one six. The visitors’ captain Kirstan Kallicharran was not out on 29.
Collin Barlow had been the pick of the Caribbean side’s bowling with 3-23 from his allotted 4 overs, after West Herts won the toss, chose to bat and posted 134 for 7 from their 20 overs.
On Friday, a rearguard innings from Bishop which included four fours and five sixes from 41 balls catapulted the WICB Under-15s to victory.
The visitors were wobbling on 42 for seven in the 18th over, chasing 143 for victory, before Bishop entered to get them back on track with a stand of 83 for the eighth wicket, with Johnnel Eugene, son of former Windward Islands batsman John Eugene supporting with 30.
Earlier, Raewin Senior grabbed 4-22 from 9 overs and Eugene captured 3-20 from the same number of overs to undermine the Barmy Army Colts’ batting.
The WICB Invitational Under-15s take a break on Saturday before returning to the field of play for the Lashings & House of Commons/House of Lords Twenty20 Tournament at The Mote.
The Tour was organised following an invitation from the England Barmy Army Colts. It has the potential to become an annual event depending on its success this year.
It will provide the players with the opportunity to showcase their skills against their peers from another country and serve as a great tool for talent identification and development.