La Soufriere Hikers vs Salt Pond Breakers Match Report – 13th Match VPL 5
Breakers won the toss and chose to bowl.
Breakers had an incredible start, as Ryan John bowled four consecutive pacy and bouncy dot deliveries then had Carter edging behind off the 5th delivery. Dillon Douglas, first player to 1,000 runs in VPL, dispatched his first delivery elegantly off his pads for four. The plan for the Breakers were clear, bowling short as much as possible and Delorn Johnson executed it well as Hikers were restrained to 11/1 after 2 overs, their most sedate start for the season.
Alleyne bowling the 3rd over, not extracting the same pace of Ryan John or bounce of Johnson, was pulled for consecutive sixes by Desron Maloney. He corrected his length and went fuller but Maloney powered it down the ground for four. The over went for 28 runs as Maloney hammered a cut for four then Dillon Douglas advanced down the track and swung over long on for six. Despite the slow start, Hikes still managed to finish the powerplay at 50/1.
Maloney smoked Warrican for a six but Warrican was rewarded the next delivery as Maloney held out to the man on the mid wicket boundary. Rasheed Fredericks bowled Othneil Lewis who advanced down the track trying to hit Fredericks into the sea. Jeheil Walters, new man in, swung two sixes over mid wicket off Fredericks bowling to carry Hikers to 75/3 after 6 overs.
Breakers tall bowlers stuck to the plan of bowling short and it was working as Hikers were not getting easy runs. However, Hikers got 17 runs from the final over to get 122/5, probably a par score on this wicket. Desron Maloney top scored with 41 from 17 deliveries which contained 4 fours and 3 sixes while Dillon Douglas made 37 from 21 deliveries, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes. Ryan John was mighty impressive with the ball, bowling with pace and hostility to take 2/15 from his two overs.
Larry Edward bowled the new ball, and Breakers were off to a flyer. Edward strayed down the leg side, giving away five wides then Ambris slogged over mid wicket for six. Ambris placed a back of a length delivery from Edward wide of long on for four then swung a length delivery over long on for six. The opening over conceded 23 runs. In contrast, Breakers were unable to get away Othneil Lewis and they were kept to 26/0 after 2 overs.
Rayan Williams, who bowled the 3rd over, was pulled for six by Ambris then the next delivery, which was a full toss, was sent sailing for six over fine leg. Breakers were dealt a harsh hand during the 4th over as Alleyne was run out due to miscommunication. Lewis then had Ambris chopping on to his stumps to reduce Breakers to 39/3. Johnson, facing his first delivery, swung it over mid wicket for six and Breakers finished the powerplay on 46/3.
Breakers were put in a state of disarray during the 5th over, which was bowled by Larry Edward – he took 3 wickets off the last 3 legal deliveries off the over. The hat trick wasn’t possible as he bowled a wide. Breakers 50/5 after 5 overs, required 73 from 30 deliveries.
Breakers got a life line during the 6th over which went for 26 runs, 11 which were extras and the equation came down to 47 runs from 24 deliveries. Jonathan Carter bowled the 7th over and didn’t concede a boundary. Ryan John drilled Rayan Williams down the ground for four in the 8th over and followed it with a pull shot over fine leg for six. Rayan Williams got his man as he bowled John with a yorker to reduce Breakers to 97/7.
Carter bowled the penultimate over which went for 13 runs but key wickets of Sween and Barnum fell and 13 runs was left for the tail enders, Warrican and Fredericks, to get from the last over. 7 runs were remaining from 2 deliveries and Warrican got an outside edge that flew over the short third man fielder for four, leaving 3 runs for victory from the last delivery. Lavia bowled a length delivery which Warrican swung after and it took the edge and flew down into the hands of the third man fielder, who was moved from short third, to secure another victory by 2 runs for Hikers.
Larry Edwards was the pick of the bowlers with 3/27 and Rayan Williams took 2/28. Ryan John top scored with 30 from 16 deliveries while Sunil Ambris made 29 from 12 deliveries.
La Soufriere Hikers 122/5 (10 overs)
Salt Pond Breakers 120 all out (10 overs)