By E. Glenford Prescott
Former champions, Team Rivals, underlined their aspirations of regaining their title after two more commanding displays on the weekend, while defending champions, FLOW Radcliffe and contenders, Guardian General Saints posted convincing victories when action continued in the 2017 National Lotteries Authority Neil Williams T20 competition.
On Sunday, Team Rivals, who were dethroned in 2016 by FLOW Radcliffe, crushed surprise team, Smashers, on the backs of unbeaten centuries by the irrepressible Casmond Walters and the enigmatic Hyron Shallow, by a resounding 154 runs in their match at the Sion Hill Playing Field. SCORES: Team Rivals237/2 (20 overs), Smashers 83 (13.1 overs).
Team Rivals who were asked to take first knock in batsman-friendly conditions, began disastrously after losing opener Randeem Williams (0) with the total on six and Husani Porter (17) at 35/2 by the start of the sixth over.
This brought Shallow and Walters together and the pair added an unbroken record -setting 202 for the third wicket with Shallow scoring 102* and Walters 102*.
While both batsmen, scored impressive tons, it was Walters who once again stole the spotlight with another stupendous display in the middle in which he scored his century in 38 balls.
Currently the most talked about player in local cricket, Walters gave an indication of what things were going to be like for the Smashers bowlers by dispatching his first ball over the boundary — and as the bowlers found out that was the curtain-raiser to proceedings for the next hour and a quarter.
Playing with a strong wrist and excellent hand-eye coordination, he cleared the boundary on both sides of the wicket, including over extra-cover in another awesome display of power-batting.
His pyroclastic display saw him striking 11 sixes and four fours and collected his runs at a jaw-dropping SR of 261.54.
Shallow, meanwhile, at the other end, was his usual self with some exquisite drives and rasping cuts that saw him count 12 fours and three sixes and by virtue of getting most of the strike was able to pip his partner to the century mark.
Despite all the carnage, Courtney Joyette returned the impressive figures of 1/16 from four overs.
Although Walters and Shallow had a display, which not many things would have hard-pressed to overshadow, there was in fact one such event and once again it was the action of umpire Roger Davis. Davis who has been able to keep controversy as a close companion over the last few seasons, on Sunday moved from just being a silhouette in the game to “spotlight Dondada” as he not for the first time called a bowler for “chucking”.
This time the humiliated bowler was Kuthberth Springer of Smashers, whose action reports say had been questioned by Davis and others previously.
While the ICC has suggested that umpires report bowlers whose actions are believed to be suspect, it still gives the umpires the option of calling the bowler on the field. Springer bowled a solitary over on Sunday and conceded 29 runs.
Smashers who were asked to get their target of 238 in just under 12 an over, never got even close with veteran legspinner, Orlanzo Jackson (4/15), pacer Roneil Jeffrey (2/15) and Rayshorn Durrant (2/24) confining them to a miserable day.
It was the second win for Team Rivals on the weekend after registering a 10-wicket victory over Radcliffe TOO at the main Arnos Vale Playing Field in an 18-over affair.
SCORES: Radcliffe TOO 95/9 (18 overs) Casmond Walters 5/21, Team Rivals 96/0 (10.5 overs) Hyron Shallow 46*, Harley Skerritt 44*.
Defending champions FLOW Radcliffe raised little sweat in carving out a comfortable 37 run win over newcomers Owia Stars on Sunday Sion Hill Playing Field.
FLOW Radcliffe behind former SVG U19 captain Romano Pierre’s impressive 86 reached 151/3 in their 18 overs. The lefthander struck three fours and six sixes off the sixty balls he faced. Wayne Harper made 30. Shem Browne took 2/36 to be Owia’s best bowler.
The Owia batters with Dean Browne and Emron Lorriaine both getting 25 and Rohan Lavia 24 put in a game but futile effort and were dismissed for 114 in 16.4 overs as left-arm spinner Andy Harper (2/20) and medium pacer Lindon James (2/20) both took two wickets.
On Sunday at Arnos Vale TWO Guardian General Saints overcame a few nervous moments before an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 66 between Seon Sween (41*) and Romel Currency (26*) saw them to a six wicket victory over Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO at Arnos Vale TWO.
SCORES: Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO 121 (17.5 overs) Guardian General Saints 123/4 (17.1 overs).
Winning the toss and choosing to bat Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO only counted Oheyon Toby 27 and Extras 31 as their main contributors. The Guardian General Saints bowling was led by Currency 3/12, Teron Simon 3/28, Kimalie Williams 2/16 and Nezron Samue 2/24.
Guardian General Saints then found themselves in the dicey position of 57/4 in the 9th over before Sween who struck three sixes and two fours and the experienced Currency (3×4) joined forces. Anthonio Barker 3/31 led the bowling.
Police TWO recorded a 92 run victory over Radcliffe TOO at the main Arnos Vale Playing Field on Sunday but it looked far from the “walk in the park” it eventually turned out to be in the opening scene.
SCORES: Police TWO 179/8 (20 overs) Radcliffe TOO 87 (15.5 overs)
They were precariously perched at 10/3 in the third over, as their top order took on the approach of a target-less firing squad-firing shots at anything that moved shadows included. Danson Andrews (31) and Parnel Browne staged a mini recovery in taking the total to 55 before the former went.
It was then left to Browne with 53 (5×4, 1×6) and captain Kenneth Dembar 54* (4×4, 3×6) in a partnership of 89 for the fifth wicket to see their team to what turned out to be a challenging total.
Canute Williams took 3/42 and Mickron Mc Dowell 2/38 for Radcliffe TOO, who were then bowled out for 87 with Browne 2/17 and Sylvan Spencer 2/21 leading the Police TWO bowling.
In other results Owia Stars defeated Strike Eagles by 54 runs in there match at Arnos Vale TWO.
SCORES: Owia Stars 184/5 (20 overs) Shem Browne 97; Strike Eagles 130 (18.1 overs) Relllan Mckie 32, Shem Browne 3/12.
Victors TWO defeated RW Sporting World SVG Community College by 12 runs.
SCORES: Victors TWO104/8 (20 overs) Hector Cordice 38 and Shamick Roberts 26. Rayshorn John 5/16; RW Sporting World College 92 (18 overs), Anfernee Joseph 35, Adinol Richards grabbed 4/22.
Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO went under to Belfongo by two wickets.
SCORES: ASCO 112 (19.5 overs), Deron Greaves 43, Kentish Phillips 4/14, Oswald Soleyn 4/32; Belfongo 113/8 (16.4 overs); Travis Cumberbatch 52, Kenson Dalzell 4/17, Andre Hunte 3/6.
Belfongo defeated Bequia Cricket Association by seven wickets. SCORES: Bequia Cricket Association 93 (16.2 overs) Kentish Phillips 4/24; Belfongo 95/3 (9.5 overs), Oswald Soleyn 43.
Providence Electronic Solutions North Leeward defeated French Verandah SVG Community College by 10 runs.
SCORES: North Leeward120/9, French Verandah SVG Community College110/9 (20 overs).
Strike Eagles had their first victory of the competition with an upset win over Triumph United, defeating them by 40 runs.
SCORES: Strike Eagles 177 (20 overs), Darren John 32, Rohan Ash 3/28; Triumph United 137 (17.1 overs), Ahmed Baptiste hit 47, Rohan Ash scored 30. Javid Wilson 5/17, Darren John 3/25.