In a thrilling showdown at the Port Rhodes Sports Club in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, Fairfield United emerged as the champions of the 2023 SDC CAL’s National Community T20 Cricket Competition. The rain-affected final, which was reduced to 7 overs per team, saw Fairfield United defeating former five-time winners Junction Ballards Valley by 8 wickets on the Duckworth/Lewis method.
Fairfield United, who were aiming for their second title, showcased their dominance with an impressive performance. Having won the toss and opting to bowl, they restricted Junction Ballards Valley to a modest total of 45 runs for 8 wickets off their allotted overs. Troy Powell’s quickfire 20 off 8 balls, including 3 sixes, was the standout contribution for Junction.
Oshane Walters and Adrian Silvera played pivotal roles in the Fairfield bowling attack, with Walter grabbing 3 wickets for just 2 runs, and Silvera taking 2 wickets for 7 runs. Their exceptional efforts held Junction’s batting lineup in check, as no other batsman managed to reach double figures. Oshane Walters all round performance earned him the man of the match title.
Chasing a revised target of 43 runs due to the rain interruption, Fairfield’s batting lineup showcased determination and skill. Oshayne Walter, who had already made his mark with the ball, returned to the crease and played a match-winning role. He remained unbeaten with 23 runs off 15 balls, guiding his team to victory with a total of 44 runs for 4 wickets.
This triumph marked Fairfield United’s second championship victory in just 3 years, highlighting their consistent prowess in the T20 cricket format. The victory also came with a lucrative prize of 1.5 million dollars, underscoring the team’s remarkable achievement.
The competition rules require all winning cricket teams in all categories to donate a minimum 15% of their prize money to a project that addresses a need identified in their community.
In other divisions of the tournament, the St. Mary Angels secured their third consecutive Women’s T/10 title and earning five hounded thousand dollars by defeating Talented Blazers by 9 wickets. The final scores reflected St. Mary Angels’ dominance, with Talented Blazers posting 77 runs for 3 wickets, and St. Mary Angels comfortably reaching 78 runs for 1 wicket. Jodian Morgan’s unbeaten 52 runs earned her the title of player of the match.
In the Masters T/10 category, Portland Masters emerged victorious, besting Western Strikers by 38 runs to claim the coveted title and earning five hounded thousand dollars. Portland Masters posted a formidable total of 105 for 4, with Lerone Tyrell’s impressive 47-run contribution standing out. Western Strikers struggled in their response, managing only 67 runs for 7 wickets. Stanford Robinson and Dennis Moore shone with the ball, each taking 2 wickets.
With this electrifying conclusion to the 2023 SDC CAL’s National Community T20 Cricket Competition, cricket enthusiasts celebrated Fairfield United’s triumph, St. Mary Angels’ continued dominance, and Portland Masters’ well-deserved victory in their respective categories.
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