Latest update November 13th, 2024 1:00 AM
Buxton and Better Hope clash in Elizabeth Styles/East Coast Cricket Board tourney- $450,000 cash and trophies at stake…
Clive Andries
Ravi Singh
Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Sports Club and Better Hope Cricket Club stormed into the final of the Elizabeth Styles/East Coast Cricket Board 40 overs tournament. Up for grabs are a 1st prize of $375,000 and the Elizabeth Styles trophy, the second place team will receive $75,000 and a trophy, while there will be a trophy for the player-of –the-final.
The preliminary rounds consisted of nine matches for each participating team with Lusignan Sports Club and Clonbrook Cricket Club along with the finalists reaching the semi-finals.
At the Friendship/Buxton Community Centre ground (Semi-final 1) last Sunday. Despite a cautious opening stand of 55 runs between Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Sports Club openers Mervin Cato (28) and Devon Benjamin (27) and a belligerent 41 from Anthony McFarlane. Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Sports Club was restricted to 184 all out from 28 of the allotted 35 overs by some fine bowling from Clonbrook Cricket Clubwho kept the free scoring Buxtonians at bay. They lost wickets at regular intervals as Andre McFarlane (21), Clive Andries (17) and Kwesi Douglas (16) chipped in with useful scores but failed to capitalize on an ideal cricket pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers. Bowling for Clonbrook, Cricket Club left-arm pacer Travis Gilbert 3-36(7) and spinners Dion Ferrier 3-38(6) and R. Small 3-50(7) were the main wicket-takers.
Clonbrook Cricket Club in reply were dismissed for 166 off 32.5 overs, despite an attacking opening partnership of 63 runs in 7 overs between R. Phil (44) and M. Rajmangal (34). The only other resistance came in the form of former national t20 player Dion Ferrier (38) who threatened to take the game away from Buxton‘Carl Hooper’ Sports Club until he was cut short by a magnificent one handed catch by Mervin Cato off the bowling of medium pacer Ryan McKay. None of the other Clonbrook Cricket Clubbatsmen managed to pass 10 runs as they were severely restricted in the latter stages of game by some tight bowling by Ryan McKay 3-13(3.5), Devon Benjamin 2-29(5) and Clive Andries 1-18(7). In the end Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Sports Club won by 18 runs and secured a spot in the final in front of a jubilant home crowd.
At the Better Hope Community Centre Ground (Semi-final 2).The host team got the better of Lusignan Sports Club in what could have been deemed as a one-side affair. Lusignan Sports Clubasked to bat after Better Hope Cricket Club won the toss were bowled out for a meagre 118 all out in 30.3 of the allotted 40 overs. Lusignan‘s batting was led by Emran Khan (28) and Vishnu Ramjeet (15). None of the batsmen managed to get past 15 runs in the face of disciplined bowling by Better Hope B on their home soil and with their supporters rallying behind their team. The bowling for Better Hope B was led by off –spinner Jayaden Manna 4-21 (8), Left arm spinner Ravi Singh 3-8(5) and left arm medium pacer Bharrat Samaroo 2-11(3).
In reply Better Hope B found smooth sailing as they were able to reach the required target for the loss of one wicket in 28.1 overs. In so doing Better Hope B would have secured both a nine wickets victory and a spot in the final. Better Hope B batting was led by a well compiled innings of 58 not out by opening batsman Ravi Singh and 47 not out by Rajendra Singh batting at number three. The lone wicket to fall was that of Roy Persaud (2) who was LBW off the bowling K. Bishundial 1-19 (5).
A date and venue will be announced shortly after a meeting with the finalists and the Competitions Committee of the East Coast Cricket Board.
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