La Soufriere Hikers vs Dark View Explorers Match Report – 22nd Match VPL 5
Hikers won the toss and chose to bat.
Explorers rested key players, knowing that they cannot qualify for the playoffs. Desron Maloney pulled for six early but was removed by Denson Hoyte. Dillon Douglas smashed his first delivery for six but fell the next delivery, caught by the wicket keeper, trying to pull a very wide delivery from Hoyte, who had a double wicket over.
Dalzell dropped Urnel Thomas off his own bowling but held on to Jonathan Carter off Denson Hoyte’s bowling. Despite the fall of wickets, Hikers kept the scoring rate up, being 58/3 at the end of the powerplay.
Hikers was strangled by the Shaman Hooper’s spell of two overs which only cost 8 runs and he picked up one wicket. Hikers lost two wickets via the run out route and were restricted to 75/6 after 7 overs, a massive comeback from Explorers.
Rayan Williams brought the game swinging back to Hikers as he blitzed 20 from 9 deliveries, which contained 2 fours and 2 sixes. Hikers finished on 113/7, a competitive total. Denson Hoyte was the pick of the bowlers with 3/34.
Navin Stewart got things on the way as he advanced down the track against Larry Edward and drove him down the ground for six. Stewart cut Lewis for four during the 2nd over then slogged Edward for six during the 3rd over. He proceeded to cut then stand tall and drive to pick up consecutive fours off Edward. Othneil Lewis removed Romano Pierre and his spell of two overs for 8 runs kept the brakes on the Explorers, who finished the powerplay on 31/1.
Explorers took 40 runs from overs 5 to 7 and were left with 43 runs to win from 18 deliveries. Descarte hammered two sixes off O-Jay Matthews but Matthews took back to back wickets to rock back Explorers to an extent.
Explorers required 24 runs from 12 deliveries. Rayan Williams, who was bowling well but struggling with an injury, didn’t get his last few deliveries right and conceded some extras and was also hit for a six to leave Explorers wanting 8 runs from 6 deliveries. The off spin of Dillon Douglas was trusted with the final over and was pulled hard down the ground was six by Denson Hoyte.
Navin Stewart won it, fittingly, by taking a single and finishing not out on 59 from 31 deliveries, hitting 5 fours and 4 sixes. O-Jay Matthews bagged 2/31.
La Soufriere Hikers 113/7 (10 overs)
Dark View Explorers 114/3 (9.4 overs)