Finals: La Soufriere Hikers vs Botanical Gardens Rangers Match Report – 30th Match VPL 4
Rangers won the toss and chose to bowl
Larry Edwards took the new ball and was very tidy, managing to keep Gidron Pope in check. Although Pope drove the 3rd delivery down the ground for four, the over only conceded five runs. Kenneth Dember bowling the 2nd over, realising Pope was trying to hit everything through the leg side, bowled slower outside the off stump and had Pope dragging a back of a length delivery into the hands of Mickel Joseph at long on. Dillon Douglas hit Dember through the offside for a boundary off the first delivery of the 4th over but Dember had him plumb lbw trying a cheeky leg side tuck the next delivery. Rangers were in charge at the end of the powerplay with the score being 22/2. Dember had figures of 2 wickets for 12 runs from his two overs while Larry Edwards, although wicketless, was very economical in his two overs only conceding 9 runs.
Hikers were dealt a deathly blow as Kesrick Williams had captain Maloney caught on the third man boundary off a thick edge to reduce Hikers to 26/3. Hodge started to step on the accelerator as he cut Razine Browne for a boundary during the 5th over them pumped two sixes off Kesrick Williams during the 6th over to push Hikers to 54/3.
Winston Samuel who took a hat trick in his last game, was treated with disdain with 20 runs coming from the 8th over. Andrew Thomas drilled a full toss over mid wicket and Hodge drove through covers for four then slogged over square for a maximum. Razine Browne was excellent during the penultimate over, allowing no boundary and conceding 8 runs, brilliant in the context of the game. Hodge brought up his half century during the final over as he pulled Winston Samuel for six – his feat took 28 deliveries.
Salvan Browne, nursing an injury from the first innings, drove Hodge over the top to take a boundary in the first over. Wayne Harper followed suit during the 2nd over from Othneil Lewis. Salvan Browne swept Lewis for four then tried the slog over mid wicket but could only top edge to Nigel Small running back from square leg. Kavem Hodge was smoked on the roof by Mickel Joseph during the 3rd over but he was dismissed immediately after as he edged an attempted big hit to backward point. Othneil Lewis bowled the final powerplay over and was excellent, only conceding 3 runs and Rangers were struggling at 26/2.
At the half way stage, Rangers required 66 runs from 30 deliveries, the pressure building on the Rangers. Hikers were poor during the 6th over, dropping Wayne Harper and the ball then trickled into the boundary for four. Harper then cut over point to pick up another boundary. Hikers paid for the drop catch as Harper smacked Kemron Strough for a four then a six. Strough changed the angle by going around the wicket and had Harper top edging a pull shot into the hands of Jeremy Layne. Hikers were back into the game after the dismissal as Rangers could score 7 runs from the proceding 9 deliveries after the fall of Harper’s wicket.
Rangers required 35 runs from 12 deliveries. Rayan Williams bowled the penultimate over and was good up to the final delivery, which Keron Cottoy pulled powerfully onto the players’ pavillion to take the equation to 18 runs from 6 deliveries. In a strange decision, the off spin of Dillon Douglas was given preference for the final over. It turned out to be a genius move as Rangers could only get 12 runs from the overs and Hikers bagged a hat trick of trophies with this victory. Wayne Harper top scored with 9 from 20 deliveries, hitting 4 fours and 1 six. Keron Cottoy supported with 27 not out from 17 deliveries, hitting 2 sixes.
Hikers won by 5 runs in another wonderful finals!
La Soufriere Hikers 100/4 (10 overs)
Botanical Gardens Rangers 95/3 (10 overs)