Defending Champions Boscobel secured their first win of the Group stages as the 2023 SDC Cal’s National Community T20 Cricket continued on Sunday May 28.
Boscobel who had lost to Gayle in their opening game in the group stages a week before, bounced back in relentless fashion crushing Rock River by 8 wickets at the Boscobel Sports Complex in St Mary.
Boscobel won the toss and decided to field which handed a grave task for their opponent’s Rock River. Rock River were uncomfortable from the start of their innings and were reeling at 13 for 3, however Linval Thompson (56) and Roman Brown (24) steadied the ship with a 4thwicket partnership of 84.
All Rounder Harrnett Williams chipped in with an unbeaten 17 to help Rock River to 123-7 at the end of 20 overs.
Spinner Rushane Bell was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 wickets for 35 runs from his four overs and was supported by Jason Goldson with 2 for 14 also from 4 overs.
Boscobel searching for their first group win started their innings like a bullet from a gun led by captain Maurice Harrow, and supported by opening partner Zendai Williams. Harrow launched the deliveries all over the park, with speed just as the planes which were landing at the Ian Flemming International Airport behind the ground.
Harrow finished with a top score of 53 before he was bowled with a slower delivery from Rock River’s skipper Noel Thompson. Williams who was the anchor at the other end was caught on 26.
Rojae Brown, contributed to the total with some lusty blows and closed the game with a six to be unbeaten on (31) while Dwayne Hamilton was there at the end on (2). Boscobel made a winning total of 124-2 in the 11th over to garner their first 3 points of the tournament.
Meanwhile the first game at Boscobel between Gayle and Geddes Town United was decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Gayle who came into the match with 3 points under their belts won the toss through their captain Sheldon Pryce and elected to bat.
Middle-order batter Milton Mills top scored in the innings with 53, as he launched seven glorious sixes and found the ropes with 2 delicate fours. He shared in an 87 run unbroken 6thwicket stand with Robert Bailey who supported with 30 of his own, lacing the ground with six crunching fours.
Earlier top order Batter Antony Walter scored 40 with 5 sixes under his belt while Ellando Robinson chipped in with 34 as Gayle made 187-5 from their allotted 20 overs.
Bowlers Romario Newton, Joseph Daley, Jermaine McCucharan, Richard Gray and Sherland Stephenson all took a wicket apiece for Geddes.
With overcast conditions looming over the ground of Boscobel, Geddes who were searching for 188 runs for victory handed in a dismal response. They lost wickets with the score on 5, 5, 6, 8, 9, 20 24, 24 to be reeling on 28-8 before rain intervened and play was halted.
Only Stephenson who was unbeaten on 11 reached double figures in the batting department. Umpires Everton Davis and Winston Richards made the decision to call off the game as time had expired. That resulted in Gayle gaining the victory by means of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method putting them on 6 points and sole leaders of the group.
In Manchester at French Park Oval in a reduced 12 over game due to rain Fairfield United defeated Marcus Garvey Youth Club by 59 runs in the first game of the double header.
It was Fairfield who took first strike and led by Brian Clarke’s top score of 76 made 155-3 from the 12 overs faced. Jamaine Morgan and Oshane Walters chipped in with 26 and 24 runs respectively.
Marcus Garvey’s response was never up to-par, as they were restricted to 96-9 from 12 overs faced. Shacquiel Brown top scored in the innings with 29 as National Senior off-spinner Jamie Merchant took 3 wickets for 13 runs while Oshane Walters and Courtney Allen grabbed 2 wickets apiece.
In the second game, led by a century from Odayne Thomas Home team French Park CC crushed French Park-Providence Uprising by 158 runs.
Thomas led all scorers on the day with 112 and was supported by Roydon Dixon with 75 runs as French Park totalled 243-4 from the 20 overs faced. Alfredo Kirlew was the pick of the Uprising bowlers with 2-42.
Uprising, failed to rise to the occasion and were skittled out for 85 runs from 15 overs faced. Jason Bramwell was the pick of the batter’s with 26 runs as Daniel Mclymont was in a destructive mood taking 5 wickets for 13 runs. He was supported by Jordon Jobson 2-15 and Antonio Allison 2-13.
In the Parish of St Catherine, Bushy Park-Church Pen registered their second win on the trot in the Round Robin competition defeating Old Harbour Cricket Club by 28 runs. Kevon Lettman led the way with 62 runs as Bushy Park Church Pen who batted first scored 165-8 from their 20 overs. Rovman Powell took 3-22 for Old Harbour.
Old Harbour in their response could only muster 136-8 from their time at the crease, with Powell leading the charge with 39 runs. Jeavour Royal took 3-13 and Elvis O’Connor 2-25 for Bushy Park.
In the second game at Chedwin Park the Senior brothers took control leading Greater Portmore to a blazing127 run win over Ewarton-Slaznger.
Portmore took first strike scoring 216 runs for 4 wickets from the 20 overs faced. Ramon Senior top scored with 111 and his younger brother Raewin made 51. Slazenger’s Dwayne Boines took 2-27 and Peter Pottinger 2-42.
At Slazenger’s time at the crease they crawled to 89 runs from 16.1 overs faced. Shawn Parchment landed 26 runs against the bowling of Nicholas Lewin, Adario Walcott and Milton Luckain all taking 2 wickets apiece.
At the Bridgeport Sport s Complex also in St Catherine Bridgeport Super Sixers hammered Old Harbour Red Ground by 9 wickets in a reduced over game. Red Ground first faced crawling to 43-6 from 10 overs faced. Cleon Thompson top scored with 17 while Robert Herron took 2-5 for the Super Sixes.
In Response the Super Sixes romped to victory from 2.5 overs scoring 45-1 with Junior Morrison on 19 and Lloyd Gould 18.
In the Second Game Spanish town Central De La Lions brushed off the challenge of St John’s East by 6 wickets.
St John’s who first faced scored 129-7 from 20 overs with Shawn Harris top scoring with 47. Phillip Hylton took 2-21 from 4 overs for De Lions.
The Lions in response roared to victory registering 130-4 from 14.2 overs. Shaquille Greenwood led the way with 65 as Gerald Morgan grabbed 2-20.
Action in the SDC Cal’s National Community T20 Crciket continues this Sunday June 4.
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