Match Report – 5th Match VPL 4: Fort Charlotte Strikers vs Salt Pond Breakers
Strikers won the toss and chose to bowl.
McSween had a better start to his bowling than on his debut yesterday. Nedd however, jump down the track and flat batted a 6 down the ground to take 8 runs off the over. Rasheed Fredericks had Nedd swinging down to long on but was dropped by Sealroy Williams. Rickford Walker added salt to the wounds as he pulled the next delivery for six then followed with a stylish flick to deep backward square for four. Fredericks got some reward as he had Walker holding out at long on, caught safely by the bucket hands of Joshua James.
Preston McSween in his 2nd over had a mishap as Kadeem Alleyne drove back fiercly and McSween was unable to hold on and sustained an injury in the process and left the field. Javid Harry was brought on to complete the over and was swung for four over mid wicket by Nedd. Nedd attempted another slog but top edged an easy catch to Ozico Williams at backward point.
Ray Jordan was brought on for the final over of the powerplay, and as usual, gave a good effort, only conceding 7 runs – Breakers 38/2, the game firmly in the balance. Harry was brought back for a 2nd over and Alleyne cashed in hitting 2 sixes. Harry however continued taking wickets as he got Alleyne caught at long on. Kirton Lavia was charged with bowling the sixth over but there wasn’t any pace to worry the batsmen and they obliged to swing for the fences. Ryan John in particular was harsh, hitting hard down the ground and cutting for four, before playing a savage pull shot over wide long on for a massive six.
James had Ryan John run out of his own bowling, a horrible bit of communication between both batsmen. Benniton Stapleton picked up where John left off and smashed 2 fours and 1 massive six to ensure the runs continued to flow – Breakers 91/4 after 7 overs. Ray Jordan was brought in to stem the flow of runs but couple misfields and wides still allowed ten runs to be taken from the over. Breakers, aided by extras in the last two overs and getting the odd boundary, managed to pile on 123/7 from their 10 overs.
Bascombe started Strikers innings in fine fashion, cutting Johnson for four. He finished the over with a six over long on. Hackshaw joined the party and took 2 fours and 1 six from Ryan John’s over. Breakers into the 3rd over, already guilty of gifting easy runs through wides. Bascombe continued to hammer away, driving Stapleton over long off for six. Kenzley Joseph, usually a part time spinner, had Hackshaw caught behind and only conceded 5 runs in the over – Strikers finished the powerplay on 49/1.
Breakers continued to be ill disciplined with their bowling, gifting runs off no balls. Joseph was back for the sixth over and picked up another wicket, that of Sealroy Williams, to restrict Strikers to 72/2. Stapleton bowled the 7th over well, apart from the last delivery of the over that was smashed out the ground by James. With 35 runs required from 2 overs, Ryan John didn’t help the cause of the Breakers as he bowled three wides and was smashed for six off the last delivery of the over.
With 19 runs required for victory off the last over, James went big off the first delivery bowled by Johnson. The following deliveries were 1 Bye, 1, 2, 2 – 7 runs required from one delivery for victory. James tried his best but could only get a boundary from the final delivery, Strikers falling two runs short of their target. Breakers taking their tournament streak to two wins from two games.
Salt Pond Breakers 123/7 (10 overs)
Fort Charlotte Strikers 121/3 (10 overs)