French Park outclassed Chistiana Strivaz with a dominant display as the 16th staging of the SDC Cal’s National Community T20 Cricket bowled off on Sunday May 7.
With 145 teams on show in the 2023 edition with games playing all across the island, home side French park stole the show at French Park Oval in Manchester with a 72 run victory over Christiana Strivaz.
The day started with the opening ceremony, showcasing players from both teams facing the gathering at the ground, separated by Senior Programmes Co-ordinator Terrence Richards, Parish Manager Beverly Boothe, and Public Relations Manager Mandel McKulsky all from the SDC.
Alongside the SDC team members were sponsors’ representatives Carol Ivy -Cal’s Manufacturing Ltd Promotions Manager, Danielle Drysdale-Lasco Financial Services Marketing Manager and Melonie Lawes –Head of External Communication at Bank of Jamaica ( Jamdex).
Umpires Richardo Robinson and Jermaine Lindo got things going with the coin toss which was won by Christiana Strivas who elected to field due to overnight rain which had left moisture in the pitch.
However the home side French Park was in a no-nonsense mood and led by Royton Dixon Richard Thomas and Raigian Malcolm, they piled on the runs to total 172-7 from their allotted 20 overs.
Dixon top scored in the innings with 37 runs, caressing the ground with SDC fours while hoisting Wray and Nephew’s sixes all over the Park.
Thomas was just as efficient with the bat finding all ends of the park and at one point he hoisted a delivery in the valley alongside the field which was never returned.
Malcolm on the other hand who scored most of his 24 runs on the ground was helped with some sloppy fielding from Christiana Strivaz.
Opening fast bowler Fitzroy Plumber who varied his pace during his 4 over spell ended with figures of 2-43 while the spinner Shevon Mitchell held his own to take 2-28.
After the innings break, Strivaz who were searching for 173 runs for victory, found their task difficult from the start. Strivaz lost their first wicket with the score on 10 and continued on that mathematical path, collapsing for100 runs all out from 19.2 overs.
Michael Whyte led Strivaz’s innings scrambling 25 runs with the bat. Shaun Mullings was the next best with 21 and Dane Coley chipped in with 14.
Left arm spinner Jordan Jobson spun his web taking 2-10 from 4 overs while pacer Zavior Burton bowling from the northern end finished with 3-29 while his brother Shamri Burton took 2-21.
French Park progressed through to the next round with a 72 run win over Christiana Strivaz as their aim is to become the parish champions where the prize money of $120,000 awaits..
The second game of the double header at French Park oval between Alligator Pond-Southern Warriors and Broadleaf ended prematurely due to rain.
Broadleaf had won the toss in bleak conditions and put in alligator pond-southern warriors to face.
The combined community team made 61-4 before the heavens opened and the rain came.
With the showers on and off a decision was made to call off the match After deliberation between the captains of both teams, umpires Richardo Robinson and Jermaine Lindo and Senior Programmes Co-ordinator Terrence Richards.
It was decided that the match would be replayed on May 14 at the same venue.
In the replayed affair Alligator Pond-Southern Warriors came out victors scoring a winning total of 152-5 from 16.3 overs.
Batsmen Gregory Bent and Lansford Spence were left unbeaten with top-scores of 46 runs apiece.
Broadleaf’s spinner Kymani Williams took 2-26.
Earlier Broadleaf who were sent to bat, , made 151-7 from their allotted 20 overs as Jerome Smikle top scored with 33 against the bowling of Omar Creighton 3-28.
The next round of games will be played May 21, 2023 with the featured match set for Chegwin Park, St. Catherine.
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