Arnos Vale, St. Vincent – January 30, 2017 – There is all still to play for, as the teams go into the penultimate weekend of the preliminary round of the 2017 National Lotteries Authority Neil Williams T20 Cricket competition this weekend, February 4th and 5th.
Not even the seeded, with the exception of Guardian General Saints, have secured a place in the Super Six, as the point standings indicate that no opponent can be taken for granted during the final weekends of the preliminary round.
Defending champions, Flow Radcliffe, continued their winning ways in Group A, and stayed on top of the group with a 37 runs win over Owia Stars on Sunday 29th. The game was reduced to 18 overs during which Flow Radcliffe managed 151 for 3. Former National under 19 captain, Romano Pierre stroked 86 while Wayne Harper added 30. Shem Browne was Owia Stars best bowler taking 2 for 36. Owia Stars in reply were dismissed for 114 in 16.4 overs. Dean Browne and Enron Lorraine both scored 25 respectively. Andy Harper and Lindon James took 2 for 20 bowling for Flow Radcliffe.
In another Group A game last Sunday, Strike Eagles had their first victory of the competition with an upset win over Triumph United, defeating them by 40 runs. Strike Eagles stroked their way to 177 all out off the final ball of their allotted 20 overs. Darren John led the way with 32 and Adrian Stapleton contributed 23. Rohan Ash was Truimph United’s best bowler taking 3 for 28. In reply, the United unit was dismissed for 137 in 17.1 overs. Ahmed Baptiste hit 47 while Rohan Ash scored 30. Javid Wilson 5 for 17 and Darren John 3 for 25 destroyed the Triumph United’s innings.
Strike Eagles however went under to Owia Stars on Saturday 28th, in the third Group A matchup of the weekend. Owia Stars hammered 184 for 5 in their 20 overs behind a 64 balls 97 by Shem Browne. In reply Strike Eagles were restricted to 130 in 18.1 overs with Relllan Mckie scoring 32. Shem Browne completed an excellent alround performance grabbing 3 for 12 bowling for Owia Stars.
Team Rivals, Police Two and Smashers are all still in the hunt for a Super Six spot from Group B. Team Rivals leads the group with 12 points after four consecutive wins, two of which they recorded this past weekend. Team Rivals had an easy 10 wickets win over Radcliffe Too. Radcliffe Too were restricted to 95 for 9 in their reduced allotment of 18 overs. Phillip Baptiste top scored with 24. Casmond Walters was the main destroyer for Team Rivals, taking 5 for 21. In reply, an unbeaten 96 runs partnership between Hyron Shallow and Harley Skeritt, 46 and 44 respectively, saw Team Rivals home in 10.5 overs.
Team Rivals also had the better of Smashers, defeating them by a mammoth 154 runs. Team Rival became the first team to hit the 200 runs mark as they amassed 237 for 2 in their 20 overs. Hyron Shallow and Casmond Walters both hit 102 not out off 67 and 39 balls respectively. In reply, Smashers were shot out for 83 in 13.1 overs. The veteran Olanzo Jackson bagged 4 for 15.
Also in Group B, Police Two kept their chances alive for a Super Six spot, with a 92 runs win over Radcliffe Too. Police Two got up to 179 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Kenneth Dembar 54 not out and Parnell Browne 53 led the way with the bat for the lawmen. Canute Lewis took 3 for 42 bowiling for Radcliffe Too who could only manage 87 in 15.5 overs. Kensley Joseph made 36. Parnell Browne completed a fine alround performance taking 2 for 17 while Sylvan Spencer took 2 for 21 bowiling for Police Two.
The final Group B game last weekend saw Victors Two having the better of RW Sporting World SVG Community College by 12 runs. Victors Two were restricted to 104 for 8 in 20 overs, mainly due to Hector Cordice 38 and Shamick Roberts 26. Rayshorn John bagged 5 for 16 for the RW Sporting World College unit who were dismissed for 92 in 18 overs. Anfernee Joseph was the College’s main stay with 35. Adinol Richards grabbed 4 for 22 bowiling for Victors Two.
Turning to Group C, in the match up featuring the two seeded teams in the group on Sunday 29th, Guardian General Saints had the better of Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO by 6 wickets to lead the group with 10 points. ASCO stumbled to 121 all out in 17.5 overs with Oheyon Toby getting 27. Spin duo of Romel Currency 3 for 12 and Teron Simon 3 for 28 did the damage for Guardian General Saints who lost 4 wickets on route to 123 in 17.1 overs. Seon Sween 41 and Romel Currency 26 not out saw the Saints team to victory. Anthonio Barker took 3 for 31 bowling for Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO.
Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO also went under to Belfongo by two wickets last Saturday. ASCO were dismissed for 112 in 19.5 overs. Deron Greaves hit 43. Kentish Phillips 4 for 14 and Oswald Soleyn 4 for 32 bowled well for Belfongo who replied with 113 for 8 in 16.4 overs. Travis Cumberbatch came to their rescue with a 27 ball 52 dotted with six sixes and three fours. Kenson Dalzell picked up 4 for 17 and Andre Hunte 3 for 6 bowling for ASCO.
Belfongo moved to second position in the group with a their third win on Sunday 29th over Bequia Cricket Association. The lads from the Grenadines were dismissed for 93 in 16.2 overs. Kentish Phillips completed a good weekend with the ball with a second 4 wicket hall, bagging 4 for 24. Belfongo then shot up to 95 for 3 in 9.5 overs. Oswald Soleyn led the way with 43.
The fourth Group C game of the weekend saw Providence Electronic Solutions North Leeward getting passed French Verandah SVG Community College by 10 runs. North Leeward got up to 120 for 9 at turn of the crease. Amansford Richards and Shamon Hooper got 21 each. Jeremy Layne 2 for 15 and Tijorn Pope 2 for 18 took wickets for the College team who replied with 110 for 9 in 20 overs. Jeremy Layne top scored with 24.
Flow Radcliffe lead Group A on 9 points and are followed by Victors One on 6 points. Team Rivals are ahead of the pack in Group B. They are followed by Police Two and Smashers on 9 points each. Guardian General Saints leads group C with 10 points, and has already secured their spot in the super 6. Belfongo 9 points and Providence Electronic Solutions North Leeward 7 points will know their fate this coming weekend when they battle each other, with the winner advancing to the super 6.
The two top teams will qualify to the Super Six round based firstly on Points, then Net Run Rate and head to head result if the first two are the same.
