Salt Pond Breakers vs Fort Charlotte Strikers Match Report – 5th Match VPL 5
Strikers won the toss and chose to bat.
Delorn Johnson started the proceedings by going short to Gidron Pope who managed to get it over the square leg fielder to collect two. Johnson, realising Pope struggled with the previous short delivery, bowled another one and got him pulling weakly to mid on to present a simple catch to Ricavo Williams. Salvan Browne, aggressive by nature, pulled a short delivery from Johnson for four. Johnson, as is the case with most fast bowlers, didn’t like that and let the next one fly past the batsmen head.
The left arm spin of Rasheed Fredericks was stingy, not allowing Strikers batsmen to have any easy swing to keep the start sedate – Strikers 10/0 after 2 overs. Ryan John bowled the 3rd over and the grass on the pitch was suiting him as he beat the bat on occasion and seem to be rushing the batsmen. Salvan Browne picked up some boundaries, cutting John for four and sweeping Fredericks for four to push Strikers to 27/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Kadeem Alleyne removed Browne, wonderfully caught at long on by Ryan John. Shallow, who was striking it brilliantly yesterday, struggled today and his slow stay came to an end when he was deceived by a back of the hand slower delivery from Alleyne. Strikers were struggling at the half way mark, being 33/2.
Brathwaite and Sealroy Williams started to pick up the pace, with Brathwaite pulling Warrican over mid wicket for six. Sealroy Williams slapped Alleyne over cover for four then Brathwaite flicked over long leg for 6 then played a guided cut shot for four to push Strikers to 64/3 after 7 overs.
Jomel Warrican bowled a golden 8th over, dismissing Sealroy Williams and Donwell Hector to sink Strikers to 67/5. Ryan John bowling the penultimate over committed a cardinal sin, bowling a no ball and the free hit was smoked over long on and out the ground by Brathwaite. John followed up with wider, fuller deliveries and had Brathwaite nicking behind to continue to pressure Strikers. Johnson, bowling the last over, was too good for the lower order batsmen as Strikers could only take 5 runs from the over, to get their score to 82/6.
Ray Jordan taking the new ball for Strikers had Ambris dismissed during the 2nd delivery of the innings, a straight delivery on the legs taking the edge and was held well at deep slips by Donwell Hector. Kadeem Alleyne flicked a half volley on the legs for four to get the innings started for Breakers. Jerome Jones shared the new ball and was causing problems with his left arm seamers, extracting steep bounce and some movement off the wicket.
Brathwaite bowled the 3rd over and could have sunk Breakers further but they dropped key batsman Alleyne. Alleyne struck Brathwaite for a six later in the over to rub salt into the wounds, to take Breakers to 16/1. Bobb introduced into the attack for the 4th over, made an immediate impact as he has Nedd bowled. Alleyne on the other hand continued to make Strikers pay for the drop chance as he pulled Bobb for six then drove over mid off then cut beautifully to take Breakers to 32/2 at the end of the powerplay.
Ray Jordan was back to try and put the brakes on Breakers chase but Johnson put on an assault in the over. Johnson hit 2 sixes and 1 four but was then dismissed by Jordan but the over conceded 22 runs, containing 3 wides and 1 no ball. Brathwaite removed Alleyne and finished his spell with 1/14 from his 2 overs.
Breakers required 26 runs from 24 deliveries. Ricavo Williams pulled a four and six in consecutive overs to bring the equation to 12 runs from 12 deliveries. Ricavo Williams finished the game in emphatic fashion as he smoked two sixes down the ground to win the game for Breakers with 8 deliveries to spare. Alleyne top scored with 29 from 15 deliveries, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes. Ricavo Williams unbeaten 27 came from 15 deliveries and contained 1 four and 3 sixes.
Fort Charlotte Strikers 82/6 (10 overs)
Salt Pond Breakers 85/4 (8.4 overs)