Match Report: 3rd Match – Grenadines Divers vs Dark View Explorers
Dark View Explorers won the toss and choose to field, on what looks a very placid surface.
Dean Browne taking the new ball was up to bowl against his brother Shem Browne. There was no brotherly love as Shem immediately got into his groove and pulled powerfully to the wide long on boundary. Few deliveries later Shem top-edged a pull for six, then flayed a savage pull shot for four then followed up with a powerful on drive for another boundary. But wait, there was more, the last ball of the over was flat batted through mid off for another boundary – the score to 24/0.
Deron Greaves was brought in for the 2nd over. Shem played respectfully for two deliveries then blazed a six over long on then cut beautifully through the off side gap for four.
Shamon Hooper bowled the 3rd over and pegged things back somewhat, as he only conceded eight off the over. Deron Greaves came to bowl the final powerplay over but Asif Hooper joined the party as he made a beautiful flick over square leg for four then slogged powerfully over mid wicket for six. It was followed up with a straight six and the Divers finishing the powerplay on 62/0.
Shamon Hooper was back again and it seems as if it was Asif Hooper’s turn to dominate as he bludgeon two sixes down the ground taking the score to 76 after 5 overs. Jade Matthews, an impressive young seam bowling all-rounder, on VPL debut bowled an impressive over that only conceded eight runs, keeping the attacking Divers batsmen under some control.
Shaquille Browne was introduced for the 7th over and immediately got Shem Browne caught at mid off, Miles Bascombe taking an excellent catch diving forward. Shem Browne made 38 from 20 balls, hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes. Theophile, Divers star of the first match joined Hooper at the crease. Hooper pulled massively over mid wicket for six to bring up his fifty off 18 balls. Theophile then skied one up for Keeper James to take an easy catch, giving Shaquille Browne two wickets in the over – the score 93/2.
Dromo Toney bowling the 8th over was immediately carved through covers by McCoy for four – McCoy promoted solely to slog. Couple deliveries later, McCoy pulled powerfully over mid wicket for a big six, and with that, the rain came to put a halt to play. After the resumption, McCoy continued and blasted two more sixes, putting Divers in firm position to post a massive total.
Shaquille Browne had other plans and delivered a beautiful penultimate over that only conceded three runs and finishing with 2-12 from his two overs. Jade Matthews, the other impressive bowler of the day, was back for the final over. It was a respectable over in context of the match, only conceding 12 runs – the Divers finishing on 135/3.
Explorers had Deron Greaves and Miles Bascombe opening. Asif Hooper delivered the first over and had Bascombe caught at point cutting. Greaves finished the over with two boundaries down the ground. Abraham bowled the 2nd over and had the dangerous Shamon Hooper caught on the mid wicket boundary trying to flick-heave a six. Things went further downhill as James was caught by a back pedalling short third man off the bowling of Abraham – 3 down in the 2nd over chasing a mammoth 136.
Deron Greaves was looking good at the other end, showing class when he timed a length ball from the left arm spin of Hooper through mid wicket for four. Wicket continued to fall, as Hooper had Dean Browne clean bowled looking to send the ball into the defunct airport – 24/4 from 3 overs.
Deron Greaves was showing his team mates how it’s done, timing the ball so sweetly to pick up four consecutive fours then finishing the over with a pull slog. Greaves continued to be imperious with the timing and flicked beautifully behind square off McCoy to take him to 41 from the team score of 49. Dromo Toney joined the party slogging a six over mid wicket off McCoy, taking the score to 61-4 at the end of the 5th over.
Death overs specialist Razine Browne was into the attack for the 6th over. It was a good over in the context of the game, only conceding ten runs. Greaves brought up his half century in the over, timing two full pitch deliveries on the pads past short fine leg for boundaries.
Braxie Browne was up to bowl the 7th over and he delivered a very good one, only conceding 8 runs and ensured the required runs per over went up to 20 runs. Razine Browne was back for the 8th over and Deron Greaves, boy oh boy, he continued to blunt the attack with shots of the highest quality, adding three more boundaries to his name.
After hitting 15 fours, he hammered Braxie Browne down the ground for his first six of the match. The very next ball was pounded in short and Greaves pounced on it to hammer another four through the mid wicket region, going past Sunil Ambris’ highest score of the VPL – 75.
Explorers needed 27 runs to win from the last over, the over to be delivered by Obed McCoy, the West Indian speedster. The Explorers could only manage 7 runs from the over, and McCoy showing why he is one of the better short format bowlers around. Despite the loss by 19 runs, Deron Greaves was the highlight of the 2nd innings, playing one of the best innings of the VPL, finishing with 82 from 36 balls, hitting 16 fours and 1 six.
Summary Scores:
Grenadines Divers 135/3 (10 overs)
Dark View Explorers 116/4 (10 overs)