La Soufriere Hikers vs Salt Pond Breakers Match Report – 17th Match VPL 4
Breakers won the toss and chose to bowl.
Kavem Hodge pulled Delorn Johnson off the 2nd delivery of the day for four. There was a skied top edge off the final delivery of Johnson’s over, which the wicket keeper ran back for but couldn’t judge it properly and Hodge escaped. Atticus Browne, bowling his off spin, shared the new ball with Johnson and was rewarded immediately as he had Gidron Pope caught on the mid wicket boundary tugging a fuller length delivery. Kavem Hodge made easy work off the remainder of the over as he cut twice for four then slogged a maximum to push Hikers to 27/1 after two overs.
Ryan John bowled the 3rd over and was treated with disdain by Dillon Douglas, who is showing signs of returning to his very best. He pulled two short deliveries for four then hammered a slower ball that ended up as a full toss for a maximum over mid wicket. John went around the wicket to change the angle but bowled a short ball which was pulled with disdain for six – the over conceding 20 runs. Jomel Warrican was called upon to bowl the final over of the powerplay and he bowled beautifully, having Hodge out stumped off a flighted turning delivery. Hikers finished the powerplay on 53/2, largely in charge of the game despite losing two crucial wickets.
There was a comedy run out during the 5th over, where Thomas and Douglas completed an easy single but Thomas was back down the track when the return from the boundary made a direct hit and found Thomas short of his crease. Jomel Warrican bowled the 6th over but underestimated the prowess of Douglas as an overly flighted delivery was sent flying for a maximum – the treatment that it deserved. Hikers pushed along to 80/3 after 6 overs, setting up for a big finish.
Douglas took Johnson for two maximums during the 7th over and brought up his 50 off 24 deliveries during the 8th over. Kadeem Alleyne bowled a very good 8th over as he removed Desron Maloney and Othneil Lewis off consecutive deliveries and only conceding 9 runs off the over. Ryan John despite bowling a horrible first over, was brilliant during the penultimate over, only conceding 7 runs. Rayan Williams pulled Alleyne for six in the final over and scrambled a few singles and twos to carry Hikers to a mammoth 124/5. Douglas remained not out on 56 from 28 deliveries, hitting 3 fours and 6 sixes.
Breakers got off to a horrible start, as they lost their first two wickets in the 1st over without troubling the score. Kadir Nedd and Ricavo Williams were the dismissed batsmen and Kavem Hodge being the destroyer with the ball. Breakers were in more trouble as Hodge had Beniton Stapleton caught at long off to leave Breakers at 10/3.
Ryan John tried his best to keep Breakers in the hunt, scoring 41 from 18 deliveries, hitting 1 four and 3 sixes. Dillon Douglas cut short his innings as he bowled a nicely flighted delivery that turned to bowl John through the gate. Douglas had Johnson comprehensively bowled the next delivery. He completed the hat trick when he had Barnum hitting a full toss down to long off. The long off fielder threw the ball to the nearby Othneil Lewis to safely complete the catch as he was dangerously close to the boundary rope.
Rickford Walker tried his best as his first four deliveries faced all went for maximums but was dismissed off his next delivery. Breakers were all out for 99 in 9.2 overs, falling 25 runs short of their target, and losing their first match of the tournament.
La Soufriere Hikers 124/5 (10 overs)
Salt Pond Breakers 99 all out (9.2 overs)