Match Report: 2nd Match – Salt Pond Breakers vs Dark View Explorers
Dark View Explorers won the toss and choose to field first. Dean Browne bowled the first over to Ambris, who was in fine touch as he flicked elegantly for four first up. Couple deliveries later produced a run out chance which then benefited the batting team as the overthrow went for four. Ambris then hammered a pull to the wide long on fence to produce a good first over for the Breakers, taking the score to 16/0.
Shaquille Browne, first timer to the VPL bowled short first up and was pulled for four by Ambris. The next delivery was cut down to third man for four, Ambris, looking as stylish as ever. The over conceded a few wides to help motor the score along to 30/0 after 2 overs. Jaheil Walters, making a switch from Fort Charlotte Strikers, was pushed into the all rounder role. He struck with his first legal delivery trapping Leshawn Lewis lbw with a very full delivery. The over then contained a mix bag filled with lots of wide and a no ball that went for four. Ambris was bowled off the free hit but was then caught at long on by Dean Browne, who took an excellent catch after looking to initially misjudge it – the score to 47/2 from 3 overs with Ambris departing for 27.
Deron Greaves with his off spin, bowled the 4th over and kept things in check, only conceding 2 runs. Shamon Hooper bowled the 5th over and was greeted with a pull through mid wicket by Urnel Thomas, the Breakers little pocket rocket from the last VPLT10 edition. Urnel Thomas was caught brilliantly by Deron Greaves at mid wicket to finish the 5th over on 58/3.
Sealron Williams, top bowler for Dark View Explorers in the previous edition, came to bowl the 6th over. Urnel Thomas was run out from a direct hit which brought Ryan John to the crease. Picked for his explosive all round ability, he was quickly into the action as he clubbed one over long on for six – the 6th over finishing on 69/4.
Lindon James removed the wicket keeping pads to bowl the 7th over and was immediately struck over long on for six by John. Romano Pierre joined the party and hit an excellent straight drive for four, the over conceding 17 runs taking the score to 86/4.
Ryan John continued the big hitting in the 8th over, muscling effortlessly over mid wicket and wide long off. Dean Browne was back for the 9th over and Romano Pierre was run out going for the 2nd. Ricavo Williams came to the crease and pulled his first delivery for four. Ryan John then picked up a sweet flick for six, quickly aiming for a debut half century. Ricavo Williams was bowled by James in the last over but Delorn Johnson came in and blasted two sixes to push Salt Pond Breakers to the all time 2nd highest score of the competition, 139/6.
Alick Athanaze and Miles Bascombe opened the innings, to face up against the experienced Delorn Johnson. It was a very eventful first over. First delivery went for wide, 2nd was pulled to fine leg and the third delivery saw Bascombe pushing one into the air over covers only for Tijourn Pope to sprint and take an excellent catch diving forward. Two deliveries later, Dean Browne tried to pull Johnson but could only pop the ball back to the bowler without troubling the score. Hooper joined Athanaze at the crease and played a beautiful cut for four down to the third man boundary – the score 11/2 from 1 over.
Things were falling apart quickly for the Explorers as Athanaze was caught at mid off by Johnson off the bowling of John – the score 14/3 from 2 overs. Captain Lindon James joined Athanaze at the crease. Lindon James & Shamon Hooper tried their best but the scoring was being kept in check by tidy bowling from the Breakers, the run rate only climbing higher and higher as the innings progressed. With the score on 61/3 from 7 overs, Tijourn Pope was introduced to the attack to bowl the death overs that he has done well in club cricket. Shamon Hooper had other plans as he blazed him for three consecutive sixes in the over, carrying the score to 82/3 but still too much remaining from the last two overs. The Explorers got to 99/3 from their 10 overs finishing 39 runs short of their target. Shamon Hooper top scored with 52 from 28 balls, hitting 3 fours and 4 sixes while captain James remained unbeaten on 34 from 24 balls, hitting 2 fours and 2 sixes.
Summary Scores:
Salt Pond Breakeres 138/6 (10 overs)
Dark View Explorers 99/3 (10 overs)