By E. Glenford Prescott ([email protected])
West Indies U19 opener, Vincentian Gidron Pope has been called up by the Windward Islands Volcanoes for this weekend’s match against Guyana in St. Lucia.
Pope, one of the West Indies standout players on their way to winning the ICC U19 tournament for the first time, is said to replace one of either the out-of-form batsmen Tyrone Theophile or Keddy Lesporis, both of whom have struggled for runs this year.
On Sunday, Pope stroked 44 in The News Spartans’ 95 in their 8-wicket defeat by defending champions, Team Rivals, in the NLA T20 tournament.
Pope continued where he left off in the World Cup as he went after the bowlers after a somewhat quiet start. Credited with five overthrows to get off the mark, the pugnacious lefthander then brutally straight drove offspinner Casmond Walters for 4 before shattering the “pane barrier” when he smashed the next ball into a window in the Players Pavilion.
Mainly off strike from the pacey and confrontational Kesrick Williams, Pope then took the only points available in the brief exchanges towards the end of the bowler’s spell.
He attempted in his usual predatory manner to advance to Williams, who, on seeing his movement, went for what should have been a quick bouncer, which Pope, still moving, forward hooked for 6 in front of square.
But with only 4 overs allotted per bowler, Williams could find no time to respond.
Pope, after hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes, was caught of the deceptive Roneil Jeffrey with the total 63/4. Then it was all downhill for News Spartans who caved in for 86/5 to be all out for 94 in 18.1 overs. Left-arm spinner Asif Hooper 3/13, Orlanzo Jackson 2/15, Jeffrey 2/15 and Walters 2/23 shared the wickets.
Team Rivals then chased down the target in quick time as they reached 98/2 in 10 overs. Hooper completed a good all-round match with a blistering 53 off 28 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes to send his team through the preliminary round of the competition unbeaten.
In another match, Victors 1 opener Atticus Browne continued his excellent season with a well-chartered century against Guardian General Saints at the main Arnos Vale Playing Field Saturday afternoon.
Browne made 101 as Victors 1 reached 163/5 in 20 overs. He struck 7 sixes and 5 fours and raised 103 for the opening partnership with Miles Bascombe (38). Kentish Jacobs capitalised on Victors 1’s later overs push to grab 4/30 as they lost 4 wickets for 15 runs.
Guardian General Saints’ innings got off to the worst possible start when opener Joey Welcome was floored by a vicious bouncer to the side of the face by Ray Jordan. He was forced to retire hurt, groggy and visibly in pain.
However, with wickets falling steadily, Welcome returned to the crease to play a brilliant counter-attacking innings of 59*. He took on all the bowlers including Jordan whom he cut over point for 6 and slashed for fours to third-man. In all, he struck 4 sixes and 4 fours in his entertaining innings. Browne led the bowling with 2/19 from four overs.
Results of other matches
Arnos Vale Two: Combined Youths defeated Radcliffe Too by 8 wickets
SCORES: Radcliffe Too 141 for 8, Calvern King 79, Bowling for Combined Youths
Geron Wyllie 5 for 13, Oneil Endeavour 2 for 22; Combined Youths reply with 145 for 2 off 16.1 overs
Oneil Endeavour 44, Geron Wyllie 36 not out, Dexter Whinfield 27 not out
Buccament: Northern Stars defeated Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO by 48 runs
SCORES: Northern Stars made 149 for 8, Shamon Hooper 34, Elmore Robertson 24; Ronique Laborde 3 for 25, Kemson Dalzell 2 for 18; Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO reply with 101 all out in 17.1 overs, Ronique Laborde 31; Bowling for Northern Stars Shamon Hooper 2 for 26, Willando Samuel 2 for 23, Javorn Samuel 2 for 31, Benniton Stapleton 2 for 7
Sion Hill: Team Rivals defeated Ishallz Byam’s Physical Therapy by 40 runs
SCORES: Team Rivals made 159 for 7 off 18 overs; Harley Skerrit 70, Asif Hooper 27; Ishallz Byam’s Physical Therapy in reply made 119 for 5 off 18 overs; Cuthbert Springer 35, Rawdon Bentick 27; Olanzo Jackson 2 for 15
ParkHill: Police Two defeated KCCU Triumph United by 39 runs
SCORES: Police Two 194 for 2, McLeon Williams 87 not out, Danson Andrews 47, Salvan Browne 32; KCCU Triumph United replied with 155 for 8, Keroy Roberts 27, Andrew Glasgow 25.
Sunday, Feb. 21
Arnos Vale One: Lime Radcliffe defeated KCCU Triumph United 88 runs
SCORES: Lime Radcliffe made 181 for 6 in 19 overs, Kadir Nedd 47, Romano Pierre 37, Rodney Lawrence 26; Keroy Roberts 3 for 19; KCCU Triumph United 93 off 19 overs, Andrew Glasgow 26*, Travis Cumberbatch 31; Lindon James 4 for 9 off 3 overs
Arnos Vale Two
Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO defeated Combined Youths by 6 runs
SCORES: Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO 133 in 17.5 overs, Andre Hunte 29; Geron Wyllie 4 for 32 Marlon Farrell 3 for 13, Nickie Antoine 2 for 23; Combined Youths 127 for 6 in 20 overs, Oneil Endeavour 42, Dexter Whitfield 30; Andre Hunte 2 for 15
Arnos Vale 2
Police Two defeated Victors 2 by 4 wickets
SCORES: Victors Two 145 for 4 in 17.0 overs, Adinal Richards 40, Leon Samuel 32*; Police Two 149 for 6 in 15.1 overs, Salvan Browne 48, Danson Andrews 39.
National Lotteries Authority T20
Fixtures (Week 7)
Saturday, Feb. 27
- Match 1 Team Rivals Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO, AV 2, 2 p.m.
- Match 2: Victors One The News Spartans, Park Hill, 2 p.m.
- Match 3: Lime Radcliffe vs. Guardian General Saints AV1, 2 p.m.
- Match 4: Northern Stars Police 2, Sion Hill, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 28
- Match 5: Winner Match 1 Winner Match 4, AV1, 2 p.m.
- Match 6: Winner Match 2 Winner Match 3, AV2, 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 6
- Match 7: Winner Match 5 Winner Match 6, Park Hill, 1:30 p.m.