There are three things the parish of Portland will always offer, scenic views, rain and exciting cricket and it was no different on Sunday June 12, 2022 as fans who turned out in Charles Town were treated to all aspects in the first feature matchup between four of the top 16 teams in the National Phase of the SDC/ Wray & Nephew National Community T/20 Cricket. Rain was the dominant feature for much of the morning as the game between Links United and Boscobel was called off.
But when the rain relent, gasoline and an open flame played the part of the sun as ground staff tried desperately to get the pitch in proper playing condition. In the end those who turned up were treated to some entertainment as Buff Bay united defeated St John’s East by 90 runs.
It was Buff Bay who batted first and the opening pair of Lawrence Tyrell and Dwayne Hyatt started their innings watchful but took 16 runs off Rjiv Chatrie’s first over. Opening Bowler Geovannie Stewart kept things quiet in his first two overs, conceding only 5 runs before the introduction of Rodrick Francis provided the wicket of Tyrell for 8 runs.
Hyatt and Emilio Reid then combined for a 59 run second-wicket stand. Hyatt played the anchor role in the innings as he rotated the strike while scoring the occasional boundary. Reid, however, dealt entirely in sixes hitting four in a 17-ball innings of 29 runs.
When Reid was bowled by Mario Davis, that triggered a slide as Buff Bay lost three wickets for 8 runs. Despite the wickets, Hyatt kept going, increasing his scoring run as he passed 50. He eventually top-scored with 69 runs for 58 balls and, in the process hitting 4 fours and 3 sixes before being bowled by Mikhail Miller in the 14th over. Carl Brissette, with three boundaries in a score of 16 runs, was the only other batsman reaching double figures as Buff Bay’s innings ended at 158 for 7.
Chatrie returned to end with 2 wickets for 30 runs from 3 overs while Francis had 2 wickets for 22 runs.
Needing 159 runs to win St John’s East was the worst start possible as Orlando Drysdale removed openers Alexio Daley and Marlon Davis for 2 and 1, respectively. At that stage, St John’s East was two wickets down for just 9 runs. Drysdale would add another as he bowled Kirk Brooks for 12 runs.
From there, it was all about Carl Brissett as he ripped through the St. John’s East middle order ending with figures of 5 for 21. Drysdale ended with 3 for 19 while Attoy Newell had 2 wickets for 22 runs.
Mikhail Miller with 15 runs, Kirk Brooks with 12 runs and Geovannie Stewart with 11 runs were the only batsmen to reach double figures as St. Johns East was bowled out for 58 runs.
In other games on the day in the national phase, Comfort and Whitehouse had wins over White Horses and Clarks Town, respectively, at the Trelawney Multi-purpose Stadium.
White Horses 127/7 (20): Kemar Scott 47, Jowayne Robinson 17, Chevon Simpson 18, Hanief Martin 4-37
Comfort CC 130/4 (12.3): Brian Barnes 55, Brad Barnes 34 Jowayne Robinson 1-22, Keno Wallace 1-26 Chevon Simpson 1-14
Result: Comfort CC won by 6 wickets
Clarks Town 111/7 (20): Jason Spence 37, Dhani Johnson 22, Kevin Walker 14 kevin Samuels 2-18, Hugh Blackwood 1-13
Whitehouse 114/5 (19): Hugh Blackwood 32, Ziggy Levy 22, Odel Samuels 14 Revorn Treasure 2-22, Oshane Palmer 1-10
Result: Whitehouse won by 5 wickets
South Star United 183/7 (20): Allen Powell 54, Sanjay Walker 32
Brian Buchanan 2-28, Fitzroy Hunter 2-50
Racecourse 157/8 (20): Albert Gopie 57, Jermain Thomas 34 not out, Brian Buchanan 26 Jamie Merchant 4-27, Sherdon Allen 1-36
Result: Racecourse won by 26 runs
Spicy Hill 156/7 (20) : Romario Simpson 35, Nia Dacosta 34, Omar Williams 29
Barrington Simpson 4-13, Peter Brown 1-23, Ramaine Nembhard 1-19
Junction 86/2 (7.4): Kerry Holnes 36, Jordan Holness 27 Romaro Hines 1-10, Nia Dacosta 1-21
Result: Junction won by 8 wickets on Duckworth/Lewis
The next exciting feature match is scheduled for Sunday June 19, 2022, and will take place at Factories Oval, St. Thomas. The match fixture dictates that St. Catherine’s Greater Portmore Cricket Team will face Kingston & St. Andrew’s Eastwood Park Cricket Team at 10:00 am. At 2:00 pm, the Yallahs Cricket Team from St. Thomas will go up against the Day’s Mountain from St. Mary.
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