Fort Charlotte Strikers vs La Soufriere Hikers Match Report – 26th Match VPL 5
Strikers won the toss and chose to bat.
Strikers got off to the perfect start as Gidron Pope drove the first delivery of the match for four and Salvan Browne took 3 fours from the final three deliveries off the first over. Hikers briefly got back into the match when they brought the game back to 30/1 after 3 overs, as Andre Hunte removed the dangerous Salvan Browne lbw. It brought Hiram Shallow to the crease and he was in impressive form as he played his trademark cut shots and drives to hit four consecutive fours and push Strikers to 48/1 at the end of the powerplay.
The onslaught to come was dominated by Gidron Pope who was dishing out the treatment to everyone as he made 80 not out from 33 deliveries, hitting 3 fours and 9 sixes. This was Pope’s highest score in VPL and his third half century overall and it couldn’t have come at a better time as it powered Strikers to an impressive 158/1. Hiram Shallow supported magnificently with 55 not out from 24 deliveries, hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes.
There was only one over in Strikers innings which went for less than 10 runs, which was the over that produced the only wicket of the innings. The final 18 deliveries went for 63 runs.
Hikers got off to a good start as they took 19 runs from the first over bowled by Ray Jordan, Desron Maloney in particular enjoying his bowling hitting 2 fours and flicking a beautiful six square of the wicket. Hikers finished the powerplay on 53 without loss but Bobb broke the partnership, removing the dangerous Maloney for 26 runs that came from 11 deliveries.
Carlos Brathwaite was called upon to deliver the 6th over and that basically sealed the game for Strikers as the hit man of VPL, Dillon Douglas was removed for one run and two deliveries later, Rayan Williams was bowled by a yorker. Hikers finished their innings on 121/5, falling short by 37 runs. Jonathan Carter top scored with 58 from 31 deliveries, hitting 4 fours and 4 sixes to continue being in contention for the tournament’s leading run scorer. Carlos Brathwaite took 2/18 from his 2 overs and Gidron Pope took 2/14 from his solitary over to cap off a fine day on the field.
Fort Charlotte Strikers 158/1 (10 overs)
La Soufriere Hikers 121/5 (10 overs)