Botanical Gardens Rangers vs La Soufriere Hikers Match Report – 16th Match VPL 5
Rangers won the toss and bowl.
Roshon Primus bowled the new ball and pulled up after his second delivery, holding his lower back. Kesrick Williams took over and Carter was struck above the knee of his back leg and went down for a brief moment. The first over took 12 minutes to complete due to the stops for injuries. Jonathan Carter hit four consecutive fours off Williams bowling during the 3rd over, cutting and pulling shortish deliveries. Two no balls were bowled but the free hits were not costly. Despite Kenneth Dember’s two over spell only going for 8 runs, Hikers still got to 38/0 at the end of the powerplay.
Ravendra Persaud first delivery of his spell was short and Maloney did not time it as well as he would have liked and Cottoy made a brilliant effort on the boundary but his backward momentum caused him to step on the rope and the batsman got six. The next two deliveries were short and they were hit with more disdain to comfortably clear the boundary for maximums. Maloney also played a delicate cut to pick up a boundary and the over cost 25 runs.
Maloney drove Atticus Browne over long off for six in the 6th over and swung Cottoy over long for six during the 7th over. Jonathan Carter drove over cover to pick up a six off the 8th over but was later run out. Dillon Douglas, new batsman in, hit his first delivery over long on for six. Hikers finished their innings on 126/4 but would be disappointed to only take six runs from the final over. Jonathan Carter made 44 from 33 deliveries hitting six fours and 1 six while Desron Maloney scored 43 from 17 deliveries, hitting 1 four and 5 sixes. Dillon Douglas unbeaten cameo of 21 came from 6 deliveries and contained 3 sixes.
Larry Edward started the defense well for Hikers, bowling five consecutive dot deliveries to Andre Fletcher. Othneil Lewis came under fire during the 2nd over as he was pulled for consecutive fours behind square by Fletcher. Cottoy joined the action and hit consecutive sixes over long on to take 22 runs from the over. Larry Edward removed Cottoy during the 3rd over and finished a magnificent spell, going for 2 runs from his 2 overs. Fletcher took a liking to Lewis and pulled him behind square then drove hard over wide long on for six. Rangers finished the powerplay on 37/1.
Andre Hunte with his left arm spin, removed Andre Fletcher who was caught at point off the leading edge. Wayne Harper was also dismissed by Hunte, who was bowling very accurately, and dented the hopes of the Rangers fans. Rangers required 85 runs from 30 deliveries, a very daunting task.
Rangers had a massive 7th over, where they took 30 runs from Andre Hunte’s bowling. Ravendra Persaud swung two length deliveries over long on for sixes then Primus hit a four and two six down the ground, all hit with extreme and brutal power. Off spinner O-Jay Matthews put a stall to Rangers, as he took the wickets of Ravendra Persaud and Roneil Jeffrey, as both were trying to whack him out the ground. Rangers required 39 from 12 deliveries and Rayan Williams was given the penultimate over and he did his job, leaving 31 runs required from the final over.
Primus hit 3 sixes during the final over but it wasn’t enough as Hikers won by 12 runs. Roshon Primus was unbeaten on 49 from 18 deliveries, hitting 3 fours and 6 sixes. O-Jay Matthews was the pick of the bowlers with 2/25 from his 2 overs.
La Soufriere Hikers 126/4 (10 overs)
Botanical Gardens Rangers 114/5 (10 overs)