Match Report – 17th Match: Dark View Explorers vs La Soufriere Hikers
Explorers won the toss and chose to bat.
Greaves started with a cut down to the thirdman boundary off left arm spinner Harry for four. Pierre cut past point for four and a deflected leg bye for four gave Explorers a tremendous start of 14. Othneil Lewis followed up with a maiden over to make the game even stevens at the time. O’Jay Matthews got inform Pierre out caught attempting a big hit over mid off but could only sky it into the air for an easy catch by Douglas. Lewis struck on the 1st ball of 4th over, having Greaves playing a big drive but getting the leading edge to short thirdman. Othneil Lewis made a rarity, bowling his two overs without conceding a run – a VPL record.
Lindon James pulled out a slog sweep for six to get off the mark after facing five dot deliveries. The little pocket rocket in Shamon Hooper started to pick up the pace and flayed Javid Harry’s bowling to push Explorers to 60-2 after 7 overs. He was even more severe on the bowling of Douglas, Explorers taking 26 runs from the 8th over. Beniton Stapleton bowled James off his first delivery, taking a hat trick across multiple games. The over only conceded 6 runs and taking Explorers to 92-2 after 9 overs, looking for a big finish. Hooper smoked a huge six over mid wicket to bring up his consecutive half century in style. Explorers finished on 105-2 thanks to a brilliant 59 not out from 27 deliveries by Hooper, hitting 4 fours and 6 sixes.
Hikers lost Maloney in the 2nd over, to Shamon Hooper’s bowling. Salvan Browne was struggling, playing and missing often – Hikers 16-1 after 3 overs. Hikers was dealt another deathly blow by Hooper, as he had Dillon Douglas hitting in the air and taking the catch himself. Hikers at the end of the powerplay were 23-2, requiring 83 runs from 36 balls for victory.
Salvan Browne and Othneil Lewis kicked into over drive and started to pick the boundaries. They smashed 48 runs between overs 5 to 7, leaving 35 required from 18 deliveries. Luke Wilson for the first time, couldn’t make any impact with the ball, as he was hammered around the park, his 2 overs going for 33 runs. The 8th over conceded 11 runs, the game now a tanty merle affair with 24 required from 12 deliveries.
Dean Browne was charged with bowling the penultimate over and had his brother Salvan run out on the 3rd delivery. He delivered a wonderful over, only conceding 7 runs leaving 17 runs to defend off the final over. Rayan Williams delivered the final over and had Othneil Lewis caught on the 2nd delivery. Lewis made 28 from 14 deliveries, hitting 1 four and 3 sixes. Beniton Stapleton got a four off the 4th delivery, leaving 12 runs for victory. Stapleton tried going for the maximum but found the hands of Pierre on the cover boundary, which sealed the game for the Explorers. Explorers won by 11 runs, and moving to the top of the table.
Dark View Explorers 105/3 (10 overs)
La Soufriere Hikers 94/6 (10 overs)