Match Report: La Soufriere Hikers vs Botanical Gardens Rangers – 6th Match VPL 6.0
Hikers won the toss and chose to field.
Desron Maloney was trying to make a statement against his former team who he spent five seasons with, cutting his first delivery for four. He was bowled off his next delivery by Othneil Lewis. Fletcher drove Fredericks over long off for six and Cottoy cut and swept for four to take 17 from the 2nd over. Lewis removed the dangerous Fletcher in the 3rd over, skying a big drive in the air for point to settle under.
Ranger pressed on the accelerator and were 56/2 at the half way mark, with Cottoy continuing his impressive form. Hikers breathed a sigh of relief when they dismissed Cottoy with the score on 69. Cottoy made 40 from 23 deliveries, hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes. Rangers started to lose a lot of wickets and not capitalising on the excellent platform set by Cottoy. Rangers still got to a decent score of 108/7 after their 10 overs. Othneil Lewis, who has been tremendous with ball in all seasons of the VPL, returned figures of 2/9 from his spell of off breaks in the power play.
Hikers were not messing around in their run chase and they were out the blocks early, taking 37 runs from the 1st powerplay block of 3 overs. Dejourn Charles was hitting powerfully and Jeheil Walters was flailing the ball around. The 4th and 5th overs were huge, conceding 25 and 21 runs respectively. Charles and Walters put on a partnership of 72 in 4.4 overs, when Jeheil Walters was dismissed. he made 30 from 17 deliveries and his innings contained 4 fours and 2 sixes.
There was no respite for Rangers as the runs kept flowing quite easily. Captain Dillon Douglas made a quickfire 16 from 7 deliveries, playing some cheeky shots, one which eventually got him out. The damage was already done and Hikers marched home with 11 balls to spare. Dejourn Charles bagged the man of the match award, for his unbeaten knock of 51 from 23 deliveries, which had 2 fours and 5 lustily hit sixes.
Rangers 108/7 (10 overs)
Hikers 112/3 (8.1 overs)