Fort Charlotte Strikers vs La Soufriere Hikers Match Report – 14th Match VPL 5
Hikers won the toss and chose to bowl.
Strikers had a horrible time in the powerplay, being 20/2. Larry Edward had Salvan Browne stumped, dancing down the track and beaten by a wide turning delivery. Hiram Shallow was bowled by a beauty from Edward, going for a golden duck. Strikers batsmen tried to get after the spin duo of Othneil Lewis and Larry Edward but they couldn’t time the ball properly. Edward finished his spell with 2/10. Lewis didn’t take a wicket but only conceding 9 runs from his 2 overs.
Strikers started to get some momentum from Carlos Brathwaite, as he took 18 runs from the 6th over to push Strikers to 54/3. He hit a huge six that hit the roof of the double decker stand, a feat which only a few cricketers have managed. Brathwaite kept propelling Strikers as he clubbed a six over mid wicket during the 7th over.
Hikers continued their strangle hold on the Strikers, in particular on Gidron Pope who failed to time the ball. Carlos Brathwaite set up an exciting finish, hitting 5 sixes from the final over, three of them went out the ground. Strikers powered away to 103/3 thanks to Carlos Brathwaite knock of 64 not out from 24 deliveries, comprising 2 fours and 8 sixes.
Ray Jordan picked up the wicket of form man Desron Maloney, who was bowled off his legs. Dillon Douglas attempted to flick his first delivery from Ray Jordan but it took a leading edge and flew over the keeper for six. The next delivery was flicked properly, over square leg for six. Carter pulled and drove Abraham for boundaries. Douglas drove Abraham to the extra cover boundary to allow Hikers to finish the powerplay on 45/1.
Dillon Douglas hit Alston Bobb for six but held out the next delivery at long on. Hikers got the odd boundary and collected singles in between to ensure they kept up with the run rate. After 7 overs, they were 77/2 and required 27 runs from 18 deliveries.
Jerome Jones removed Othneil Lewis with his first delivery, then bowled Jeheil Walters with a very deceitful slower delivery. Jonathan Carter survived a close lbw shout then smacked Jones over wide long on for six to bring the equation down to 17 from 12 deliveries. Carlos Brathwaite bowled the penultimate over and it was a spectacular over, with only three runs coming from it.
Jones bowled the final over and removed Jonathan Carter on the 3rd delivery and left Hikers requiring 11 runs from 3 deliveries. Jones over was sensational as Hikers could only score three runs from it and Strikers won the match by 9 runs. Jonathan Carter top scored with 45 from 30 deliveries, hitting 4 fours and 3 sixes. Jerome Jones spell of 3/13 was match winning and was probably the difference in the end.
Fort Charlotte Strikers 103/3 (10 overs)
La Soufriere Hikers 94/5 (10 overs)