Fort Charlotte Strikers vs Botanical Gardens Rangers Match Report – 8th Match VPL 5
Strikers won the toss and chose to bowl.
Ray Jordan bowled the 1st over against Andre Fletcher and Fletcher stamped his authority by charging him twice and hitting him for maximums down the ground and over long on. He also clipped a free hit through mid wicket for a boundary to take 19 runs from the opening over. Alston Bobb brought things back during the 2nd over, conceding 6 runs. Jerome Jones broke the partnership with a classical left armer delivery, swinging back a length ball through the gate of Wayne Harper. Roshon Primus received a gift from Jones for his first delivery, and cracked a cut shot for four to maintain Rangers momentum. Fletcher went down the track after Bobb, who was bowling the final over of the powerplay, and smoked a humungous six, hitting the roof of the double decker. Primus joined in the fun and punched Bobb hard through the off side to pick up a boundary. Rangers finished the powerplay at 43/1.
Carlos Brathwaite broke a threatening partnership, having Primus caught at mid off trying to pump a length delivery over the top. Rangers were 47/2 at the half way mark. Kevin Abraham with his first over of the tournament, removed Andre Fletcher, caught at short third man attempting a big hit. Winston Samuel, also bowing his first over of the tournament, removed Ravendra Persaud, who hit him for a six the previous delivery, to reduce Rangers to 62/4 after 6.3 overs. Keron Cottoy cut Samuel for four then clubbed Jones over mid wicket for a maximum. Jones then out foxed Cottoy with a slower delivery to finish his spell with 2/16.
Carlos Brathwaite had Rangers batsmen under heavy manners as his two over spell only conceded 5 runs for 2 wickets. Strikers finished an incredible bowling effort to keep Rangers to 87/7.
Roshon Primus was creamed through the off side by Salvan Browne in the 1st over of the chase but he should have gotten his wicket as a pacy bouncer was flying miles into air and put down. Browne picked up another four during the 2nd over but Rangers still kept things steady – 12/0 after 2 overs. Strikers cashed in during the 3rd over as Pope whacked a big six over mid wicket then Salvan Browne drove over cover for a boundary to push Strikers 25/0 after 3 overs. Kenneth Dember bowling miserly, got the wicket of captain Pope off the last ball of the powerplay, taking an easy return chance off his own bowling. Strikers were 28/1 and requiring 60 from 36 deliveries.
The 6th over was a game changer for Strikers, as they took 20 runs from it. Donwell Hector drove over wide long off then advanced down the track, rolling back the years, and picked up a maximum. Salvan Browne cut fiercely over point to pick up a maximum and that pushed Strikers to 57/1, leaving 31 runs from 24 deliveries. Rangers didn’t help their cause as they dropped catches.
Persaud and Cottoy combined well during the 7th and 8th over to only concede 13 runs – Cottoy accounting for the wicket of Brathwaite. Strikers required 18 runs from 12 deliveries, a potential tante merle affair was at hand. Captain Williams bowled the penultimate over and removed Salvan Browne. Kesrick Williams made an error and went short off his final delivery but the batsman Sealroy Williams was late on the shot and it flew over the keeper head and went for four.
Strikers needed 8 runs from the final over, which was bowled by Primus. Primus delivered a no ball and Sealroy Williams smacked the free hit for six and won the game for Strikers with 5 deliveries remaining.
Botanical Gardens Rangers 87/7 (10 overs)
Fort Charlotte Strikers 88/4 (9.1 overs)