2003 BARBADOS FIRE & COMMERCIAL CUP REVIEW

SERIES 2 – JUNE 22

ZONE ‘A’

AT BLENHEIM ‘A’: BCL may count themselves a bit unlucky after rain intervened and helped Carlton to a two-wicket victory with just two balls to spare.

Chasing a revised target of 179 in 42 overs – BCL made 213 for eight in 50 overs – Carlton were under pressure at 150 for eight before captain Marlon Graham and Ryan Austin showed level heads in squeezing them home.

Graham made 29 not out and Austin contributed 12 in the unfinished partnership following a topscore of 61 by Shirley Clarke before he was run out.

Vonrick Nurse scored 35 in a fifth wicket stand of 72 with Clarke.

Another Clarke, opener Dave, was the mainstay of BCL’s batting. The new captain hit 71 as he and Jarvis Forde (58) featured in a second wicket partnership of 118.  Byron Morris and Lonelle Hutson each made 23.

Graham, who shared the new ball with his clever off-breaks, took three for 49.

AT BANK HALL: EMPIRE, behind fast bowler Chesterfield Walcott’s five-wicket haul, won a battle of nerves in a seven-run triumph as the Pickwick last wicket pair of captain Rondelle Yearwood and Thomas Harris kept the game alive.

Chasing 150 for victory in 50 overs, Pickwick rallied from 104 for nine to 142 all out in 41.3 overs. Yearwood and Harris both scored 21, the latter unbeaten following the topscore of 45 from Mike Matthews.

Walcott snapped up five for 24 off 8.3 overs.

Earlier, Robin Parris made 35 not out after Roland Holder won the toss. Opener Jason Parris contributed 25, and Holder and Nicholas Bowen, 21 each.

Seamer Tennyson Roach took three for 29 and there were two wickets each for spinners Ryan Hinds and Harris but off-spinner Ryan Hurley was the most economical, conceding 15 runs from ten overs though failing a get a wicket.

AT BECKLES ROAD: RAIN intervened at a crucial stage to force a no-decision when YMPC were fancying their chances of victory against Banks.

Captain Adrian Jones led the way with 42 at the top in YMPC’s 187 all out off 45.4 overs after he won the toss. Lonsdale Blake got 35 and Calvin Watson 27.

Left-arms spinner Anderson Sealy and off-spinner Marlon Hoyte took three wickets each for 29 and 37 runs.

Banks were 95 for five in 22.5 overs when rain ended play. Richard Carter scored 27.

ZONE ‘B’:

AT PARAGON: BDFSP squeezed a one-wicket win over Combined Schools, thanks to a last wicket stand of 47 between Marlon Blagrove and Jason Roberts, along with ragged bowling.

Needing 211 to win from 50 overs, the home side got home with ten deliveries to spare. Blagrove made 34 not out and Roberts’ contribution was only two as the Schools hurt their cause with 34 extras including 21 wides.

Dadrian Forde, with the topscore of 36, and 29 each from Norman Willoughby and captain Stephen Howell kept BDFSP in the hunt.

The Schools, who lost the toss, would have bargained for a bigger total than 210 for eight after reaching 121 for two at one stage. That effort was due to Jamal Smith (45) and Prince Parris (40), who added 77 for the third wicket after skipper Martin Nurse made 28. Nikolai Charles hit 27 towards the end.

AT BAYFIELD: ST. CATHERINE beat Police by three wickets in a low-scoring match.

Put in on a slow pitch, Police were bowled out for 125 in 37.5 overs. Stanton Proverbs made 36 and captain Trevor Griffith 28.

St. Catherine were tottering at 38 for five and 69 for six before veteran Thelston Payne, who topscored with 39 and skipper Derick Bishop (24 not out) rallied them. Victory came in 41.1 overs. Left-arm spinner Sadiq Hill took three for 19.

AT DAYRELLS ROAD: A series high total of 260 for six from 50 overs proved telling as Maple defeated Wanderers on a faster run-rate after rain ended play.

Jefferson Gibbons, who opened, hit 98 and all-rounder Khalid Springer 49 not out in Maple’s impressive score after they were put in.

Kirk Straughn, unbeaten with 37, added 78 with Springer following a second wicket stand of 94 between Gibbons and Andy Payne (23). Elvis Medford also scored 23.

Gavin Beresford took three for 37.

Dwayne Nurse scored 44 in Wanderers’ 108 for five in 28 overs when the rain came.