Match Report – 7th Match: Botanical Gardens Rangers vs La Soufriere Hikers
Rangers won the toss and chose to bat first.
Rangers managed for the first time in this tournament to not lose a wicket in the first over, being 11-0 without loss. That was short lived as Mcleon Williams terrible form with the bat continued as he was once again dismissed by a spinner. Hikers were quite sloppy in their bowling effort, gifting 12 wides within 2 overs, allowing Rangers to roll along without pressure. Strough decided to pound short to Harper, but was pulled savagely over square for a maximum. Strough continued his wicket taking form as he had Walters lbw in the 3rd over – Rangers 32/2 after 3 overs. Captain Kesrick was lbw in the final powerplay over, with Rangers being on 34/3 at the end of it. Not a bad score by their campaign standards but losing a wicket too many.
Hikers continued to be ill discipline with their bowling and by the time the 6th over was completed, they had bowled 17 wides and gifted an easy over throw for four – Rangers enjoying their share of fortune to be at 56/3. Thomas and Harper had a good partnership of 37 from 21 deliveries. Rangers continued to move along well and finished their innings on 93/4 – a big improvement to their play. Wayne Harper top scored with 33 not out from 21 deliveries, hitting 2 fours and 3 sixes. Urnel Thomas supported nicely with 24 from 15 deliveries, hitting 3 fours and 1 six.
Hikers lost Salvan Browne in the first over, bowled by Providence. Maloney & Douglas took 31 runs from the following two overs to soar to 38-1 after 3 overs. Providence was back for the final powerplay over and struck gold as he had two wickets in two deliveries to peg back the Hikers. Rangers enjoyed a good 3 over spell, only conceding 15 runs, including 2 wickets.
The equation was down to 41 runs from 24 deliveries. Maloney lifted Winston Samuel over long off for 6 but Samuel fought back having Stapleton caught and conceding 8 from the over, making the game a tense affair. Maloney slammed a flat bat over Cover for 6 to keep the runs flowing, the 8th over conceding 12 runs. With 21 required from 12 deliveries, it was anyone’s game.
Captain Williams brought himself to bowl the penultimate over. He was greeted with a six over mid wicket by Maloney. A no ball followed but Maloney wasn’t able to capitalise on the free hit. Hikers got 12 from the over, leaving 9 runs required for victory. Hikers only needed 2 deliveries in the final over to finish the game, and fittingly done by captain Maloney who hit a boundary to also bring up his half century. His knock of 52 came from 32 deliveries and contained 1 four and 5 sixes.
Botanical Gardens Rangers 93/4 (10 overs)
La Soufriere Hikers 95/4 (9.2 overs)